Break-in

kdub · **Joined:** Sun Nov 25, 2007 1:09 pm **Posts:** 21

This week is going by so sloooowww....

Hi everyone. Just wanted to introduce myself first off. My name is Kevin and I am a recovering Escape fan. I am currently waiting the arrival of my first jeep. I ordered a KK about a month ago and it was built last tuesday and should be here sometime this week. I am upgrading from an '02 Explorer Sport.

I am getting a Sport 4x4, manual, and I put most of the bells and whistles. I wasn't brave enough to try the sky slider, but I did go with the tow package, skid plates, and popular equipment group.

My question for you all: I will get the KK sometime this week. On Dec 21 I will be leaving to drive down to the florida keys for a week of scuba diving over christmas. I have been asking around and gotten a few opinions about break-in on it, but I wanted to see what you all thought. Most opinions have generally been to run the first 300 miles or so through with stop and go driving, basically my normal, around town driving, roughly my first tank of gas. That should not be a problem, I can run a tank through before the trip easy.

A few months ago I hadn't planned on getting a new vehicle, I had planned on running the explorer as long as possible since it was almost paid off, but it has been having some issues and I don't see it as a long term vehicle, especially with only 2 doors. So now I am getting what I can in terms of trade-in, and hoping that the liberty can be that kind of vehicle for me, and I want to break it in right.

So, hello, and any suggestions on breaking in my new Wal-Mart Assault Vehicle will be appreciated. Thanks!

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2007 11:00 am

and on the highway just vary your speed once in a while....65...55...70...

Katmandu · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2007 11:40 am

kdub wrote:

any suggestions on breaking in my new Wal-Mart Assault Vehicle will be appreciated. Thanks!

Welcome aboard!

I would immediately change out the "Break-In" oil in the engine!!

rickm · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2007 2:06 pm

Don't worry, an annoying little chime will come on and your odometer display will say "change oil" when it's time. Rumor has it the oil change warning is based on your driving habits/conditions, and not on mileage. Mine came on at about 1,500 miles the firest time. We'll see when it comes on next time. :lol:

I think the owners manual says not to maintain a constant speed for the first few hundred miles, or something like that.

Katmandu · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2007 3:01 pm

rickm wrote:

Don't worry, an annoying little chime will come on and your odometer display will say "change oil" when it's time.

I always change out the oil in brand new engines. The manufacturing process is never 100% clean and there's a risk of tiny metal shavings floating around.

Just me.

kj in a tight spot · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2007 4:42 pm

So your sayin the new KK actually comes with a "chime" that tells the owner when to change the oil??

Isnt that just basic mechanics 101 when your oil should be changed... :roll:

KJ4ME · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2007 5:41 pm

everything is getting environmentally friendly now a days. the computer avaoids the driver replacing oil when it is not needed, thus reducing impact on the environment. in some cars its no longer 3,000 miles or 3 months... its now when the "change oil soon" lamp comes on

kj in a tight spot · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2007 8:19 pm

KJ4ME wrote:

everything is getting environmentally friendly now a days. the computer avaoids the driver replacing oil when it is not needed, thus reducing impact on the environment. in some cars its no longer 3,000 miles or 3 months... its now when the "change oil soon" lamp comes on

Hmm...Ive always changed my oil at 8-10k on all my vehicles in the past using full synthetic with no poor side effects. I have friends with firsthand experience with different oils and their contaminants and if you take it in to get analyzed sometime youd be surprised of how clean your oil actually is...thats just IMO but I know that many others do the same

KJ4ME · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2007 8:33 pm

i wish mine had the computer so it would tell me when to change the oil, since the request for pennzoil isnt cheap; it adds 21.50 to my service bill :shock:

it dosent help that my dealer dosent stock it either...

kj in a tight spot · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2007 8:36 pm

KJ4ME wrote:

i wish mine had the computer so it would tell me when to change the oil, since the request for pennzoil isnt cheap; it adds 21.50 to my service bill :shock:

it dosent help that my dealer dosent stock it either...

So screw the dealer and spend the 20minutes to do it yerself...

rickm · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2007 11:21 pm

kj in a tight spot wrote:

So your sayin the new KK actually comes with a "chime" that tells the owner when to change the oil??

Isnt that just basic mechanics 101 when your oil should be changed... :roll:

Well, when you first start the engine, there is a single chime and the odometer displays "change oil" for a few seconds. This happens until the oil change warning is reset.

The owners manual says the warning is not displayed by mileage, but rather by driving conditions and habits. We'll see when it turns on again.

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Wed Dec 05, 2007 12:37 am

mine hasn't chimed at me yet and i drive it pretty hard..(lets just say the tcs light comes on pretty often) and when it snows, :twisted:

.....any way, we will have to see whne it comes on for me

Dje Ryu · **Posted:** Wed Dec 05, 2007 12:44 am

Katmandu wrote:

rickm wrote:

Don't worry, an annoying little chime will come on and your odometer display will say "change oil" when it's time.

I always change out the oil in brand new engines. The manufacturing process is never 100% clean and there's a risk of tiny metal shavings floating around.

Just me.

Again, as a machinist who sees what his fellow co-workers put out as "good, clean" parts everyday, I'd have to agree with this. It only takes a second to hit it with the air-hose but not many people bother. Drain that stuff out and look for metal "chips" as we call them, in the oil. If you see anything that makes you suspect, change it again in a few hundred miles. As for Pennzoil: again, I'm a machinist, and I've seen engines that have only run certain oils. Pennzoil and Quaker State are two of the worst oils you can put in a crank-case, imo. Sorry.

John91C · **Posted:** Wed Dec 05, 2007 12:52 am

Is it better to change the oil (using synthetic) right away before the break-in period or should I wait until the break-in period is over and then use synthetic?

InCommando · **Posted:** Wed Dec 05, 2007 2:41 am

Agreed on the engine speed. Just vary the engine speed and do not maintain any certain RPM for longer than us necessary for the first 250-300 miles.

I change break-in oil at 1,000 miles, change the oil at 2,000 miles, & then at each 3,000 thereafter. Admittedly I do not have a little gizmo to tell me when to change the oil ,and my habits were formed when dino oil was the only option, but I have had good luck with that process.

Some engines call for synthetic from the factory. I am not sold on that in a new engine though. I drag race & ride Harleys. The race motor & Harley engine builders I know like to use dino oil for break in, then switch to synthetic. The Harley folks I deal with, including my dealer, want you to use dino oil until the first oil change ( 1,000 miles ).

Dje Ryu · **Posted:** Wed Dec 05, 2007 3:24 am

I don't see where it would really make very much difference myself as to which type of oil you use. The metal parts will wear in about the same points no matter which oil is in there. Just don't push it too hard before everything has had a chance to "seat."

Break-in

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