Hi, this is my first post, I couldn't find a specific thread on here about this. I just got a 2023 is500 and currently have about 300kms on it. When I picked it up I asked about the break in period, they told me not to worry about it but use my best judgment. I've been absolutely in love with driving thus thing the first couple of days and couldn't help myself and I've pushed it a bit a few times, no redlining but hard acceleration up to 5500 rpm. Then I read the manual which said not to do that until at least 1000kms. Should I be worried about that at all? I also heard that these engines are broken in at the factory, it that true?

 

Your car is ruined.

 

Lol thanks

 

I would say just follow the suggested steps from the manual. If you happen to break one of them for safety reasons, it's not the end of the world.

 

It's in the owner's manual: 621 miles.

You are probably fine, but if I were you I'd at least do the following:

• Avoid wide-open throttle and exceeding 5k RPM much more.
• Don't cruise on the highway at a specific RPM for too long. Vary your speed.
• Avoid short trips (i.e., trips that don't allow the oil to come up to temp).

Having said that, I'd also state that these recommendations don't have to be followed to a "T". But it's best to play it safe at least the first few hundred miles. I definitely hit 6k RPM twice before I got done with the break-in period, but I also was very gentle on the car for the first 250-300 miles and didn't even hit 5k RPM before that.

 

I just hit 630 miles on the car so it's now open (throttle) season! I have got on it a handful of times but most of the time not much more than part throttle. I will say the one time in sport mode and flooring it it shifted quite smooth and quickly. I can also say I have never floored it without the temps having warmed up to normal / redline going to it's warmed up position. You should be fine I would think.

 

When I picked up my 500, Dealer said the same thing that the engine can take it and not to worry too much about the Break In period, that they are tested and broken in a little bit at the factory. I gave him the side eye, but then proceeded to race my old 350 fsport off the line on the way home (Little Bro was driving my 350 FSport from the dealer and revving it at a stop light 1/2 way home grinning at me w/ the window down and I couldn't resist giving it the beans), nothing negative happened.

I then drove it to Vegas to get past the 621 in a hurry the next weekend, and I didnt keep it under 5500 the whole time. Fast forward from 12/2021 to now, she's running fine, shifts have become smoother if anything. I didn't go stupid w/ it and bounce it off the Rev Limiter repeatedly and do any aggressive downshifting till after the break in period though, but stomping on the Gas off the line and "spirited" highway driving didn't hurt anything.

Congrats Cekr85 on your new Baby and have a GREAT Spring/Summer taking your new girl out on the roads.

 

I will say watching the redline creep up as the engine warms up is a cool thing to see. I don't remember my 2018 IS 350 F Sport doing that. I realize I have seen this on some other performance cars but this is the first one I have owned that has done it. I treat all my cars with the same care. I let them warm up / have a few miles on them before giving it the beans! I have not bounced off the rev limiter, etc or done much manual shifting. I did a little manual downshifting to try some engine braking but that was about it.

 

Thanks, I'm not super worried I was just a little surprised when I read the manual after what they told me at the dealer. It's such an awesome car though, worth the almost year I had to wait for it. I'm really curious to know what kind of break in they do at the factory.

 

Ya I like watching the redline change too, gives you a good idea of what the lexus engineers were thinking about with regard to warm up. I've only got about 350kms on mine now but so far I keep it under 2500 rpm until the oil temp is roughly in the middle of the gauge.

 

Yeah the IS 350 didn't do the whole redline changing thing. Not many cars I can think of do. I remember seeing something like that for the first time on the F80/F82 M3/M4. I think the new C8 Corvette also does. It's good company to have.

I also make sure that oil temp gauge is up to the middle before going over 3k RPM. In most "normal" drives, I don't get much above 2k RPM anyway, unless I need to make a quick pass. I am so glad we have an oil temp gauge - the IS 350 did not.

 

The break-in isn't just for the motor, but the whole drivetrain. I still think you're fine getting on it once or twice, but I wouldn't redline it until 621 miles. Getting on it a little will help the piston rings seat better.

 

That part.

A year later and I still use the remote start before I am ready to leave to warm up the car. It’ll stay on for 10 minutes and then shut off. When I get down to the parking garage, the car is ready to rock-n-roll! 😎

 

I bounced off the limiter a handful of times at 200 miles on my odometer. Couldn’t help myself At 472 miles now so can’t speak to reliability after doing what I did.

 

Hey Guys, I don't want to be a downer, but just be careful what you state on the forums. I'm not saying Lexus would do this, but I know that certain other car manufacturers (and definitely some car insurance companies) sometimes deny warranty or insurance claims based on what an owner stated on a forum, usually based on statements about what happened at a "track day" event. You can always speak in hypotheticals or say some friend told you something about what happened to their car (not yours) and you were just wondering ....