Break in period
Driver
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: TX
Per the manual:
■Breaking in your new Lexus
To extend the life of the vehicle, observing the following precautions is recommended:
●For the first 186 miles (300 km):
Avoid sudden stops.
●For the first 621 miles (1000 km):
• Do not drive at extremely high speeds.
• Avoid sudden acceleration.
• Do not drive continuously in low gears.
• Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods.
■Breaking in your new Lexus
To extend the life of the vehicle, observing the following precautions is recommended:
●For the first 186 miles (300 km):
Avoid sudden stops.
●For the first 621 miles (1000 km):
• Do not drive at extremely high speeds.
• Avoid sudden acceleration.
• Do not drive continuously in low gears.
• Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,104
Likes: 34
From: California
Per the manual:
■Breaking in your new Lexus
To extend the life of the vehicle, observing the following precautions is recommended:
●For the first 186 miles (300 km):
Avoid sudden stops.
●For the first 621 miles (1000 km):
• Do not drive at extremely high speeds.
• Avoid sudden acceleration.
• Do not drive continuously in low gears.
• Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods.
■Breaking in your new Lexus
To extend the life of the vehicle, observing the following precautions is recommended:
●For the first 186 miles (300 km):
Avoid sudden stops.
●For the first 621 miles (1000 km):
• Do not drive at extremely high speeds.
• Avoid sudden acceleration.
• Do not drive continuously in low gears.
• Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods.
@ 1500 miles!
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Driver
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 188
Likes: 26
From: Ga
I agree. I wouldn't expect it to break down but if it did, I would rather it do it when it's covered by warranty. Ours is my wife's daily driver. She doesn't drive hard but when I'm driving it's a different story. I didn't worry about the break in period and I can bet that if anyone test drove your car before you bought it, they didn't worry about a break in period either.
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Rookie
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: FL
I drove mine very carefully the first 700 miles and now intermittently drive it harder as the miles go up, I haven't gone over 5000 rpm yet tho.
I think the break-in period is designed to set in the bearings and work out tolerance issues on wear items like pistons / rings etc, as well as season the metals by not really stressing them with heat and inertia.
I think the break-in period is designed to set in the bearings and work out tolerance issues on wear items like pistons / rings etc, as well as season the metals by not really stressing them with heat and inertia.
Thread Starter
Rookie
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Canada
Thanks all for the point of views. I actually hadn't read that part of the owner's manual. ;-) And what got me to doubt whether or not break in was still required is actually my Lexus dealer himself. When I bought my previous car, the HS, he told that me engines are tested and broke in at the plant. All required, he said, was to avoid sudden breaking... Regardless, I'm 1/3 of the way there. I'll stick to reasonable driving, just to be on the safe side.
Thread Starter
Rookie
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Canada
To fuel the discussion... My Lexus salesman emailed me to follow up and see how I liked the car a week later. I took advantage of that and asked him about the required break in period. He told me it wasn't really necessary anymore and the only thing I should try and avoid are sudden stops in the first 300 miles or so. Begs the question, why keep the reference in the manual then? Perhaps a legal precaution...
Pole Position
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 377
Likes: 1
From: TX
To fuel the discussion... My Lexus salesman emailed me to follow up and see how I liked the car a week later. I took advantage of that and asked him about the required break in period. He told me it wasn't really necessary anymore and the only thing I should try and avoid are sudden stops in the first 300 miles or so. Begs the question, why keep the reference in the manual then? Perhaps a legal precaution...
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