Break In Question....

[twenty8eight]

So....
Every car I have ever had has been at least 5 years old, so I have never had anything new...I will be picking up my 05 GT any day now, and was wondering if anyone could give me some break in pointers, or things to be careful of ?????

This is gonna be my baby and I wanna keep her pristine...

 

[NewPony'05]

run it like you're going to drive it regularly.

 

[MadFish]

Right as the salesman hands you the keys. Get in the car and do a big smokey burnout right in front of the showroom. That'll break it in good j/k


Most people say drive it pretty soft for the first 500 miles or so. But, really, just drive it like normal.

 

[351CJ]

Go easy on the brakes until the pads seat in (500 - 1,000 miles depending on how much stop & go driving that you do)

Try not to drive for long periods of time at the same speed for the 1st 1,000 miles. You can run it right up to red-line if you want.

That's it, no other special break in is required. It says so, right in the manual.

 

[twenty8eight]

RE:

Thanks for the quick responses...

Unfortunately, I do not have any manuals yet or I would have read that....I'll get my manuals when I pick up the car...

 

[OFiveGT]

Take it easy on your clutch pads if you get a 5speed. Also the brakes. first 500 miles drive it "easier" than you normally would... Ive seen people trash out their clutches in 10k miles cause they "drove it like they would" off the showroom. 351CJ is correct as well.. no long period driving at any one speed.

Thats my experience and opinion with new car break in... 500 miles isnt that long to wait before kickin the sht out of it.

 

[rich8566]

Thanks for the quick responses...

Unfortunately, I do not have any manuals yet or I would have read that....I'll get my manuals when I pick up the car...

No need to wait for the manual.. it is online here or on Brad's site. I' got the manual months before I got my 05 stang gt

 

[nik73]

I;m going to be picking up my mustang gt in nj and driving to nashville when i pick it up. Is this going to be a huge problem, I'm going to be driving at a relatively constant speed for about 900 miles. I'm planning on changing the oil to full synthetic when I pick up the car and when I reach nashville. Thanks for the tips I'm looking forward to picking it up

 

[PONY XPRESS]

I;m going to be picking up my mustang gt in nj and driving to nashville when i pick it up. Is this going to be a huge problem, I'm going to be driving at a relatively constant speed for about 900 miles. I'm planning on changing the oil to full synthetic when I pick up the car and when I reach nashville. Thanks for the tips I'm looking forward to picking it up

Don't change the oil when you get it. It needs the blended oil to help set the rings, etc.

You can vary your engine speed by using the trans. If auto go in & out of the OD position & manual between 4&5. Vary your mph as much as you can.

Your going to find the car wants to cruise at 90 with just barely touching the gas.
100 is only 3K rpm.

Have fun.

 

[nik73]

Thanks for the prompt reply, I am getting a manual so I will just vary the revs and not keep it in cruise control and switch between 4th and 5th. I will definitely follow your advice about not changing the oil right off. I will probably change it to the full synthetic at a 1000 miles as I've heard that's recommended after the break in period. please correct me if this is innacurate. I ordered it last tuesday windveil blue gt, with spoiler delete IUP and shaker 1000. I'm looking forward to driving it. My first new car!

 

[Rootus]

Personally... I'd let it warm up to full operating temperature, and then beat the everloving piss out of it for at least 20 miles. Then at about 50 miles I'd change the oil (not synthetic yet). Then after another couple thousand miles I'd switch to full synthetic and go to a normal oil change schedule.

Dave

 

[slegos888stang]

just make sure you run throught all the gears!! dont drive for a long peroid at the same speed but dont only do city driving get on the highway and use all your rpm's and gears then get off and do some city and back and forth!! basically do every type of driving you will ever do right from the begining

 

[oilypushrod]

I am surprised nobody has said to keep the revs down, or that Ford does not recommened it. Every car I've had has said to keep it under 4k revs for the 1st 1k.

 

[351CJ]

I am surprised nobody has said to keep the revs down, or that Ford does not recommened it. Every car I've had has said to keep it under 4k revs for the 1st 1k.

Please show us exactly where that was said. Most cars don't even have tachs.

I've posted this 100 times before, but your brand new engine is run up to redline right after it is built on a dyno in the engine plant.

From the 2005 Mustang Owner's manual:

BREAKING-IN YOUR VEHICLE
Your vehicle does not need an extensive break-in. Try not to drive
continuously at the same speed for the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of
new vehicle operation. Vary your speed frequently in order to give the
moving parts a chance to break in.
Do not add friction modifier compounds or special break-in oils during
the first few thousand miles (kilometers) of operation, since these
additives may prevent piston ring seating. See Engine oil in the
Maintenance and Specifications chapter for more information on oil
usage.

 

[Vensem]

It says in the manual "Try not to drive it continously for the first 1000 miles. Vary your speed frequently in order to give the moving parts a chance to break in."

You can read the manual online at: http://bradbarnett.net/mustangs/timeline/05/05/2005MustangOwnersManual.pdf

My concerns are the same as nik73's. I should get mine a few days before christmas and will be driving it home for 500+ miles of mostly interstate driving. Any pointers on how to break the car in easier? Will changing speed and gears on the interstate help at all?

 

[OFiveGT]

That will work. Just vary it as much as you can.. 500 miles is quite the trip. The problem with breaking in a car at a certain speed (sometimes) is that it may only like that speed once its all broken in... you might get downright crap gas mileage unless you are in that speed range, or it may just not run like it should in other speeds.

In other words, the car might favor only one type of driving style.

 

[blackonblack05]

OK, I will just ask here. I probly won't get my mustang delivered until in the dead of winter. If I only get to put 30 miles on it and garage it for a few weeks then put 50 on it and garage it and so on. Will that hurt the break in period??

 

[Rootus]

OK, I will just ask here. I probly won't get my mustang delivered until in the dead of winter. If I only get to put 30 miles on it and garage it for a few weeks then put 50 on it and garage it and so on. Will that hurt the break in period??

Not a problem. It's really the first 20 miles that count the most anyway.

 

[Darkhorse845]

Be easy on it for the first 1000 miles so,the ring seals seat
properly! It's worth it!

 

[twenty8eight]

RE:

Well, picked up my lovely black on black GT Monday...
What else can I say..I am in love...

(my wife likes it also...)