I'm picking up my brand-spanking-new Matador Red Mica '08 GS350 today! W00t! :-)

The question is... what are everyone's thoughts/recommendations on the break-in period? Vary Speed? Don't exceed xxx RPM? For how many miles, etc?

Thoughts please!

Thanks,
Mark

 

keep it under 100mph, vary RPM, 1000 mi

then you are good to go.

 

What, exactly, does "vary RPM" mean?

Let's say I'm on a 20 minute stretch of highway... do I need to change speed every 1 minute? every 5 minutes? or not at all for 20 minutes?

And how much variance is required?? is going from 65mph to 70mph (assuming it's always in 6th at this point) enough??

I'm so confused.... :-)

- Mark

PS- Keep it Under 100 MPH? LOL that shouldn't be a problem for me..... :-)

 

Congrats on your new car!.. where in ma are you?

 

I would follow the recommendation in the owner's manual.
The variation in rpm during normal driving is enough, just change your speed frequently if you need to take a long trip on the highway early in the break in period. Check out the brake break- in procedure also.
Best of luck with your new ride!

 

I'm also currently in my break in period with only about 250 miles or so. I just do normal city driving with occasional highway at about 65mph or so. I haven't even hit 3k rpms yet. lol.

Someone just mentioned that the brakes need breaking in too? I never heard of that. Are you just talking about no sudden (slam on the brakes) stops? I know about that rule.

 

Vary RPM means you don't want to keep at a certain RPM for extended period of time. What you want to avoid is constant speed/rpm 3k/80mph the whole time for that 100 miles road trip, daily commute should be fine as you'll probably be stuck in traffic somewhere.

during break in, you'll want to occasionally take the rpm above 4k as well.

orbital817 - yes, new brakes need to follow the proper "bedding" procedure , follow here

http://www.zeckhausen.com/bedding_in_brakes.htm
http://www.tirerack.com/brakestechpage-1/85.shtml

 

Some manufacturers say a good mountain drive, as in a drive that will place more load on the engine will help to properly seat the rings.. If you live in a mountainous or hilly region its not a problem.. If you don't, than occasionally accelerate in 2nd gear to 4k rpm then let off the gas (use the sequential mode and leave it in 2nd gear) which creates back pressure helping to seat the rings.. As the manual says "avoid racing the engine" - I take this as don't floor it ever during the break in period and avoid engine speeds above 4500 rpm.. It really can make a big difference in the longevity of the engine and oil consumption..

 

It seems as if each manufacturer has a different process for "bedding". What kind of brake manufacturer is on our Lexus?

 

tire rack one is more focused on different manufactures and types of brakes.

Follow the one on zeckhausen, he is the king of brakes on the bmw forums.

if those procedure seems a bit extreme, all you have to do is take it easy with the brakes for the first few hundred miles.

Don't ride them hard, avoid sudden and emergency stops and your brakes will last a long time without a warped rotors..

 

on stock brakes be gentle on the brakes for the first few hundred miles, that will do.

 

In the manual, it saids do not race engine for the 1st 800 miles and dont jam on your brakes for the 1st 500 miles unless you have to. Breaking in a engine is not as important as it was in the old days, Just dont take it out of the showroom and drag race someone in the 1st day and you will be fine.

 

Just for reference.
My buddy owns the world fast documented Porsche 997 TT.
The 997 car went 10.80 @ 135mph (15psi)Now the car has 125 shot of juice for added fun. Youtube 360forged and look for the video. That car was bought and flogged since the day it left the showroom floor. I talking 140k Porsche...with 0 break in time.. the car was driven HARD since day 1.... 5k miles later zero problems...
Break in..... over rated! they have warranty :-)
my .02

 

I would hope a 140K Porsche's engine would be already broken in right from the factory

 

of course problems are not going to show up at 5k

update us in 10 yrs, we'll see...