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Just got a 04 Civic Coupe EX. Love it....but I couldn't help but push it to the redline a few times. how bad is this? I didn't use cruise control yet. I've put about 110 miles on it so far. I've heard many things about engine break in.. what's the TRUTH and what can/should I do now? thanks.

 
Rep Power: 286

i just bough my civic a little over a month ago. it didnt go above 4k for the first 600mi, and hasnt gone above 4500rpm after that, im at about 1050mi right now. be easy on the clutch, no harsh engagement, dont do highway driving, if possible. due to the fact that usually when you do you drive at a steady speed and rpms, the engine needs the rpms varied to break in the piston rings....those are one of the main components that need to be broken in...second is the clutch needs to be heat cycled...pads and rotors needs to be broken in too...just try not to drive it like a maniac...at the very least for the first 600miles..the engine wont be fully broken in till prolly 7500...but after your first oil change, at 3750..you should be good to go and drive it however u want to.

 
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using cruise control before the engine broke in is not good?
or is it becuz of what ctx66 said about steady speed?
i now have 1200 miles and about 200 of them are highway miles
or less..i used cruise control everytime i go to highway but i never gone above 3500 even on the highway..since i didnt want it to run over 70mph before 1500miles..
i usually shifted it at 2500~2900 until 1000miles
and now i shift it at 3000 now..
i havent changed my oil yet..dont kno when to do..
anyway..let me get some more info about this issue..hehe
im so lazy to search about it..
actually i searched several times about it
but ppl said all different things..some ppl said this and others that..
made me more confused..

 
Rep Power: 286

its not recommended, but think of all the girls (no offense to them) and old people who buy cars, they prolly did it too...and im sure theyre cars arent consuming any oil or anything. so, i wouldnt be worried.

 
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Uhh, that's in your user manuel. Just open the book and read. Don't even gotta waste your time to search on here.

As to driving with cruise, you people actually do that on a daily basis? I've only used mines ONCE the entire time I've had the car and that was during a long trip outta the city. *shrugs*

 
Rep Power: 338

It's a good idea for variable engine speeds.

 
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Pretty much what CTX said. I drove my civic easy for the first 600 miles then I started doing hard pulls in 3rd and 4th to 5000RPM then I let the engine cool down. my civic has about 1200 miles now and I have redlined it twice with over 1000 miles on it. New engines today don't really need to be broken in like they used to. I'm pretty sure engines today come with the piston rings well seated. I did notice that my engine picked up a little better as I put more miles on it. Mostly after 600 miles.

BTW Does it hurt to change your oil with 1500 Miles on the car??? I don't see a reason it should.

 
Rep Power: 375

I was told to run the car hard for the first 20 miles+ something about sealing the o-rings...they say if your going to be driving your car hard then drive it hard in the breakin period

 
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of course i kno it states 5000miles..
im not that stupid and lazy man..
i was just curious if the earlier is better..
cuz some ppl say it is better to change oil at first 500 miles then 1200 miles then 3000 miles and every 3000 miles..a college professor about cars told me this too
but some ppl say follow the manual..
all groups of ppl say different thing so i was just wonder which one is right

 
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Read the damn manual! It states what to do in plain English. Everthing from the break in to the first oil change. My 01 is now close to 76,000 miles and it runs as good as it ever did and I get on it daily.

 
Rep Power: 412

For the first 600 miles, don't push the car over 4500 rpms, but vary your speed. do some city driving, do some highway driving (70mph and below). The o rings need to seat and the variable speeds will get the engine used to all types of driving. after 600 don't kill your car but start to drive normally. after your first oil change then you are good to go. change your oil for the first time at 3500 miles then every 5 k after that. Follow the manual for other instructions.

It isn't like your car is going to die if you go over 70 or you push your car to 6000rpm, it just isn't suggested.

 
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600 miles no hard braking or accelerating

 
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Leave the intial oil in until at least 3,750 miles if not 5,000. This is because it has higher amounts of chemicals (moly among other things) that help the engine develop it's natural wear patterns. Then change it to something else.

I agree with those who say no hard accelerating or hard brake use until at least 600 miles.

BTW, for future reference it is a good idea for engine longevity not to exceed half of the RPMs e.g., don't go beyond 3,500, until the engine warms up and once it does, have fun!

 
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so once the temp guage is up to it's normal half way position it's ok to just have at it?

Is there anything wrong with takin it up to 5 or 6000 rpm once or twice a day just for kicks? there's this one little curvey onramp I have to take every day to merge onto the freeway and it's so much fun to have the engine screamin while going through there

 
Rep Power: 306

HA some of us girls are a LITTLE smarter then you think buddy

 
Rep Power: 286

yup i understand some are good to their cars and treat them very well...then you have people like my sister who treat their cars like trash and dont know what a break in period is and prolly wouldnt care about it anyways