Just got my IS350 black on black today - absolutely love it !!!

Quick question that I am hoping someone can answer.

What is the max speed you should adhere to during the break in period? The owners manuel states not to drive at extremly high speeds for the first 621 miles. Is 75-80 "extremely" high?

The reason I am asking is that I am driving from Phoenix to Tucson tomorrow to visit my family and the speed limit on the main freeway is 75 mph.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

Yes, 75-80 MPH is "extremely" high for us in Hawaii where freeway's posted speed is 55 MAX. I think it is also "extremely" high for break-in, and according to your trip plan, it might also be "extremely" prolonged. I've read somewhere that you shouldn't be driving at high speed for a prolonged period of time during break-in (your engine, not breaking-in someone else's car )

I would rent a car to travel that distance if I were you.. and lend me the IS to use in Hawaii for the first 621 miles for it to be broken-in (again, the engine... ) properly. Congrats on your IS purchase!!!!!

 

Thanks for the reply. I am definitely going to go. If I have to keep it aound 55 so be it. When I spoke to the salesman today - he said that if I keep it around 65 I should be ok.

Does anyone else have any thoughts?

 

i drove from LA to nor cal ( 400 miles ) after the day that i bought my IS. did around 90 - 100 mph constantly, but i kept rpm lower than 4K all the time. may be that was such a bad idea?

 

The drive from Phoenix to Tucson is only about 85 miles soo...not so long. I definitely wasn't going to approach 90. Just wanted to keep with traffic when the speed limit is 75mph.

thanks!

 

Ah, another crystal white LA to Nor Cal migrant! I shudder to think of what that 5+ hour, 400 mile drive might have done to my pistons and cylinders ... but hey, I'm past the break-in period now, all runs smooth, and I love the car, what can I say.

Congrats on your new IS, after 2100+ posts -- wow! I'm still a newbie, in forumspeak.

 

I don't think you'll have any problem running 75. The bad thing for break-in is to run at the same speed for an extended period, so I'd vary it a bit. 65, 70, 75, 80, 70, etc., try to change speeds every minute or so.

 

Congrats on your new IS also i have the same color combo as yours and i love it! what's the breakin period anyway? i thought 1000 miles?

 

the manual says 1000 km or 612 miles

 

Engine RPM should be your concern more than speed. Keep the RPM below the recommend max and also vary your speed/RPM often. Do not just set the cruise to one speed and go. Vary your speed often.

 

thanks! What it the recommended max rpm?

 

It's in your owner's manual. Read it! We don't have our car yet so I can't look it up for you.

 

ummm, under the break-in section of the manual it doesn't mentioned ANYTHING about a max rpm.


I have reviewed the manual and this is why I am asking my question -- the owners manual is very vague on this topic. That is why I was asking for clarification.

Merry Christmas SilverBolt

 

I tried to keep it below 4,000 rpm. To do that, I'd not use the paddle shifters or the "sport" setting on the automatic -- in both cases, too easy to have the revs mount quickly. But highway driving should be no problem, even at the speed limit -- it's an engine thing, not the rest of the car. Do vary the engine speed though.

 

Another big no-no with a new engine is idling. You should not let a new engine idle. That's harder to do in either really not or really cold climates because you are tempted to keep the engine running, when you are sitting still, to keep yourself comfortable. Don't do in until the engine is out of the break in period. And, as others have said here, need to very your speed regularly and NO FULL THROTTLE acceleration. The trip, if you do it properly, should take longer than normal.

Actually, I agree with one of the early posters that you should rent a car and let your new car sit until you can break it in properly. Or, as I have done with a couple of my new cars (I've had 22 brand new cars now), drive it around locally until you have about 200 miles on it before heading out for a cross country drive.

My $.02. You do get what you pay for!