Here's how the fastest Stingers broke in their engines

[Kinvara8017]

1. i spiritedly drove it but usually babied it for the first 1k miles.. nevwer did it properly and i regret it, even though nothing bad has happened. BUT it is always better to err on the safe side if your aiming for down the road performance and possible warranty void.
2. 1,000 miles till i got comfortable with pushing it
3. Changed my oil after first 1500 then every 2500.. its expensive (like 100 a change) but an engine is 6300k used so you pick which you want to spend more on... (also owned an rx8 before this and currently a 550p FD RX7 so me and oil get along really well)
4. I bought this car in december and chipped it in january.. id suggest just a jb4 and intakes for the first few months as they can be taken out easy if you dont like the car down the road. Give yourself some time to like the car and then look into modding it.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Kia claims to do an extended stress test on every engine so they are already broken in when we buy them.

I don't think this is true. The stress test is on the engine during development. They don't put each individual engine through that red line hell for twenty hours before putting them in cars for sale!?

at c. 0:20 they say "In Kia's case, all engines undergo this endurance test." But I take "all" to mean all engine types that Kia uses; not all engines that get put into vehicles.

 

[Tonkabob]

So did you just start modding and pushing the car hard from day 1 then? Also, good to know that you didn't notice any real difference when stock compared to other stock Stingers.

The first month I had it, I put on a RaceChip, plugs and K&N drop in and a Catback. Few months later switched to an ECU Tune. I had it to the strip with the RC so I was getting on it early on.

 

[Eric Arroyo]

The first month I had it, I put on a RaceChip, plugs and K&N drop in and a Catback. Few months later switched to an ECU Tune. I had it to the strip with the RC so I was getting on it early on.

Wow, this is definitely a great data-point to have. So it looks like both getting on it hard from the start and going somewhere in the middle, like Angel, both yielded good results. I'm definitely curious to see what other fast Stingers have done, but I'm starting to think the results are going to show that the break-in procedure has little affect on your overall potential.

 

[5tinger]

Let me put it this way: I spun a bearing on my STI engine from driving at high load/low RPM/high gear. I only drive this car in sport mode now after trying smart for a couple weeks and observing the behavior. Less than 2000 RPM cruising in 7th on the highway and giving it a little gas to accelerate a bit from time to time resulting in no downshift made me very nervous. I know there's a long warranty on these vehicles and it's one of the main reasons I bought it but if I can avoid having the engine replaced just by changing the driving mode I would rather do that than have extended downtime.

You do know that the Stinger makes its monster peak torque of 510Nm (conservative figure) at basically idle RPMs of 1300rpm

Therefore you shouldn't worry about high load and low rpm with this car. Besides, since its auto, the engineers have optimised shift points to avoid lugging conditions.

The Stinger climbs hills at idle rpms

 

[Eric Arroyo]

1. i spiritedly drove it but usually babied it for the first 1k miles.. nevwer did it properly and i regret it, even though nothing bad has happened. BUT it is always better to err on the safe side if your aiming for down the road performance and possible warranty void.
2. 1,000 miles till i got comfortable with pushing it
3. Changed my oil after first 1500 then every 2500.. its expensive (like 100 a change) but an engine is 6300k used so you pick which you want to spend more on... (also owned an rx8 before this and currently a 550p FD RX7 so me and oil get along really well)
4. I bought this car in december and chipped it in january.. id suggest just a jb4 and intakes for the first few months as they can be taken out easy if you dont like the car down the road. Give yourself some time to like the car and then look into modding it.

Thanks for sharing! What do you mean by "never did it properly"? You still have one of the fastest Stingers so clearly you're doing something right

Oh, and I'm assuming the chip was done after the 1000 miles?

 

[19GT-AWD]

Performance difference after break in: Essentially nothing (see below)

Regarding a "break in" process: Seeing 99% of car owners never open up their owners manual, every manufacturer in the world would lose billions and billions of dollars if there was a specified process that, if not met, would otherwise cause damage.

So please, let's put that to rest already ...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C&D - KIA Stinger GT (update)

PERFORMANCE NEW | PERFORMANCE AT 12,500 miles (with summer tires)
0-60 mph: 4.7 sec | 4.6 sec
0-100 mph: 11.5 sec | 11.2
0-130 mph: 20.2 sec | 19.8
5–60 mph: 5.2 sec | 5.3
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 2.6 sec | 2.6
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 3.3 sec | 3.4
Standing ¼-mile: 13.2 sec @ 107 mph | 13.2 sec @ 108 mph
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[MerlintheMad]

I know this isn't the topic of this thread, but "by the manual" break in isn't about obtaining max subsequent performance: it's about engine longevity. So anyone like me saying "follow the manual" isn't talking about getting the most out of your engine racing. Probably we shouldn't even be "here".

 

[19GT-AWD]

Engine longevity won't be effected by varying engine break in techniques, otherwise, every mainstream auto manufacturer would be out of business.

That's pretty obvious, so this is my last post on the topic ...

 

[eflyguy]

Modern engines don't need to be "broken in." In the case of the Stinger, they state "No special break-in period is needed. By following a few simple precautions for the first 1,000 km (600 miles) you may add to the performance, economy and life of your vehicle."

I drove mine >500 miles home from the dealer. Went to the drag strip the following weekend. Seems to be holding up fine.

 

[Eric Arroyo]

Well, looks like I can't edit my original post anymore, but I think we have enough data points to close this out. Of the four (current) fastest Stinger owners, three of them responded and each one had a completely different break-in procedure. One worked it hard from the start, another followed the owner's manual recommendation of intentionally keeping the RPM between 2k and 4k for the first 600 miles, and the third drove spirited, but mostly babied the car for the first 1000 miles. Yet, they all have extremely fast Stingers.

Bottom line, if you're just going for raw performance, it doesn't seem to matter how you break the engine in. That said, I personally stuck with what the manual said, and that would be my suggestion to anyone wondering what the best break-in procedure is. Especially if you're looking to keep your Stinger for the long haul. Below is a snapshot of Kia's official break-in procedure for the Stinger. This is on Page 1-6 of the manual. As you can see, Kia says their procedure "may" add to the performance, economy and life of your vehicle.

 

[Stormlasher]

I’m sad I was not tagged =[ lol anyway if you want my opinion if you’re going to be modding your stinger and plan to go very quickly I would drive it like you stole it therefore the engine is already worn in and prepped for the mods to come. The manual states to drive it very slowly but in traditional breakin and you have a break in oil inside the engine, you want to break the engine in if you break the engine in gently , After the first oil change the brake and oil is replaced with a regular oil and you will get higher friction temperatures because the engine was not run very hard. Breaking oil is designed to literally break the engine in therefore if you’re going to use it as a daily driver with no mods then yes you can baby but if you’re going to be using it on the track you should punch it really really hard and a lot for the first 500 miles or so and then I don’t recommend going over 1000 miles with the break in oil.

 

[MerlintheMad]

The manual states to drive it very slowly

No. It's right above here in @Eric Arroyo's post of the manual excerpt: 2K to 4K RPM is not "slowly". It is moderate, with RPM varied up and down within that range. The manual specifically says to not hold a single speed for extended time either fast or slow. That's it.

Obviously if you are going to push your car in competition mode, the ethic of "adding to the life of your vehicle" is secondary. To drivers like me it is top priority. I get peace of mind and satisfaction treating my material possessions with care so that they will last longer.

 

[Eric Arroyo]

I’m sad I was not tagged =[ lol

Haha, sorry, I was going by the 1/4 mile thread. Thanks for the feedback though!

 

[5tinger]

4000rpm is fast in Stinger

 

[Stormlasher]

Haha, sorry, I was going by the 1/4 mile thread. Thanks for the feedback though!

Watch the last video in the low speed preignition video and the oil manufacturers will tell you what your suppose to do for breakins. He explains it well.

 

[Stormlasher]

Watch the last video in the low speed preignition video and the oil manufacturers will tell you what your suppose to do for breakins. He explains it well.

 

[19GT-AWD]

How in EXCESS of 99.99% of every driver on earth "breaks in" an engine:
They drive it how they normally do.

Slow. Fast Easy. Hard. Whatever.

Because the reality is that if a new engine (which has a lengthy warranty by the manufacturer) requires that much special attention, then they wouldn't sell you the car until it already had 1,000 miles of their meticulously driven miles on it.

 

[turboAWD]

4000rpm is fast in Stinger

WAAAT? I'm at 400 miles and hitting 6000+ all the time.. Bounced off the rev limiter a few times just to see if it could be done..

 

[DaBears4Lyfe]

There was no break in required... so i put it to the test. I think I hit 120 WOT the day i purchased it or the next day. Ive been driving it like I stole since I took her off the lot. She has been fun