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Texas911 said:
The title of this post saya Difinitive. Obviously it isn't.
Yep, saw that and had to chuckle and roll my eyes. I guess I've got to take stuff like this as a compliment about the magazine and its writers, but it scares me, too. We are just one voice that is providing data points that are hopefully accurate and helpful.
I am not sure there is such a thing as a definitive break-in procedure when you have so many data points that are conflicting.
In summary, here's what we know:
-The factory owner's manual has a (very) conservative set of hints that dictates low rpm and light loads for many, many miles.
-Porsche tests engines for power output as soon as they're built and then installs them in cars, so many of the engines being gingerly driven before their "first" trip to the upper reaches and redline have already been there.
-Two high-ranking Porsche engineers have been quoted as saying that there is no real, mechanical *engine-related* reason to limit rpm early on, one by BA, whom many of us trust, and the other by me, and I think I can trust this quote since I was there to hear it.
-An engineer at the highest level has said that it's the whole car, not the engine, that they are worried about if someone pushes it to the max right off the showroom floor. Being realistic, a car is very complex and relies on a lot of bits being attached correctly. I suspect failures are rare, but unavoidable. The other reason, hinted at but not said, is to "persuade" drivers to warm up to a new and very high performance automobile slowly and safely. In all but a few cases, the most suspect and limiting element in a new Porsche is the nut behind the wheel, and I suspect those exceptions (WR is one, IMHO) would tell you that it is no different for them, either.
-Many engine builders (respected ones) put engines on the dyno after a fresh build and a break-in that is far less than 1,000-2,000 miles. Builders like Jerry Woods, Alois Ruf, Olaf Manthey...
Now, can a good analysis of the above (and possibly a few more data points) turn this into the definitive thread on this subject? I think it can.
So, going from what we know, we can each make our own decisions. If I buy a new car, I align it immediately, warm up to the car slowly, listen for clunks and watch for strange behavior, change the oil and filter at 400-600 miles and...
...have no guilt in using its upper rpm from just about the word go.
But then, that's JUST me and there are a lot of great things to be learned and observed in owner's manuals. Like not holding power steering on its lock for more than a few seconds, or making sure how to tow an AWD car depending on what system it uses, or that all 986s and 996s came with little aluminum screw-in pegs in their tool kits that are really helpful when changing those heavy alloy wheels by the side of the road, or...
pete
