Kia Stinger Break In Discussion

[mldavis2]

I think you need to distinguish between a true racing engine, and a street driver. The idea of variable speeds it to assure that mated surfaces polish together at ALL the various operating speeds at which the engine is likely to be used over the life of the vehicle. A racing engine (the hemi for example) is intended by racers as a WOT engine, so breaking it in at the RPM at which it will be used is desirable. It also doesn't have to last 100,000 miles, either. Your Stinger will likely be run from idle to 6,500RPM. It needs to be "seated" in at all operating RPM's which is why the factory advises variable break-in speeds.

 

[JeffAsfbay]

View attachment 2645

Yeah, I know, one hand gives, the other takes it back. I got a laugh out of that too.

 

[JeffAsfbay]

I think you need to distinguish between a true racing engine, and a street driver. The idea of variable speeds it to assure that mated surfaces polish together at ALL the various operating speeds at which the engine is likely to be used over the life of the vehicle. A racing engine (the hemi for example) is intended by racers as a WOT engine, so breaking it in at the RPM at which it will be used is desirable. It also doesn't have to last 100,000 miles, either. Your Stinger will likely be run from idle to 6,500RPM. It needs to be "seated" in at all operating RPM's which is why the factory advises variable break-in speeds.

Agreed, even though these hemi's were in Roadrunners (or Road Runner if you prefer). One of the guys also had a (and I forgot the NHRA class) vehicle that ran in the high 9's. Now *that* would be a rush!

 

[terraform848]

Bumping up an old thread: I recently purchased a GT and on the next day had to drive across state (about ~400 miles). I first read my owner's manual when I arrived at my destination and by that time I had put 500 miles on the Stinger. I read the break-in suggestion and literally smacked myself in the head for not giving it a read when I first drove the car home. According to this thread it seems like there are varying opinions throughout owners but it makes sense to follow what the engineers recommend. I would consider myself a good driver and have not driven "spiritedly" yet (except one instance where I took off after a green light change, but did not floor it). I did use cruise control for a good portion of my drive and kept my drive mode in Smart. I stayed around 65-75mph on highways so would my car be pushing 2-4k rpm on smart mode? Either way I screwed up by having my car keep a constant speed for a lot of the journey.

In any case, would it be beneficial at all if I begun following the procedure at least until I hit 1000 miles?

 

[eflyguy]

Just drive it. Give it some throttle now and then. If you're on a deserted highway at a steady speed for an hour, manually shift down here and there to change RPM if you're still losing sleep over it.

I took mine to the drag strip 3 days after I drove it home (560 miles from the dealer.)

 

[Callum]

I put about 60 miles on the car during a test drive, so needless to say the engine was "well adjusted" before I bought it. lol

Here is what I did after though!
I had mine in Eco Mode for the first 250 miles. Normal for the next 500 and sport for the following 250.

Once I hit 1,000 I did a 0-100MPH run to seat everything, then drove moderately for another 500. First oil change at 1,500 miles.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Bumping up an old thread: I recently purchased a GT and on the next day had to drive across state (about ~400 miles). I first read my owner's manual when I arrived at my destination and by that time I had put 500 miles on the Stinger. I read the break-in suggestion and literally smacked myself in the head for not giving it a read when I first drove the car home. According to this thread it seems like there are varying opinions throughout owners but it makes sense to follow what the engineers recommend. I would consider myself a good driver and have not driven "spiritedly" yet (except one instance where I took off after a green light change, but did not floor it). I did use cruise control for a good portion of my drive and kept my drive mode in Smart. I stayed around 65-75mph on highways so would my car be pushing 2-4k rpm on smart mode? Either way I screwed up by having my car keep a constant speed for a lot of the journey.

In any case, would it be beneficial at all if I begun following the procedure at least until I hit 1000 miles?

Nope. In Smart/Comfort, cruising at freeway speed, 8th gear would be engaged wherever possible, i.e. around 1100 RPM. You haven't hurt anything. If any difference in longevity occurred because of this, it would be the difference of a few thousand miles less of engine life, at the far end. If any economy negative occurred because your engine wasn't "broken in properly", it would be a slightly reduced average MPG from what it otherwise might have attained. Since individual engines are slightly variable in these comparisons it seems pointless to me to question what cannot be changed. As long as your engine works well, is powerful and can get reasonable fuel economy when you push for it, then all should be good. If we keep the car long enough to need an engine overhaul/replacement, I'm sure that the break in period when it was new will be the last thing on our minds!

 

[Silvermanor]

Nope. In Smart/Comfort, cruising at freeway speed, 8th gear would be engaged wherever possible, i.e. around 1100 RPM. You haven't hurt anything. If any difference in longevity occurred because of this, it would be the difference of a few thousand miles less of engine life, at the far end. If any economy negative occurred because your engine wasn't "broken in properly", it would be a slightly reduced average MPG from what it otherwise might have attained. Since individual engines are slightly variable in these comparisons it seems pointless to me to question what cannot be changed. As long as your engine works well, is powerful and can get reasonable fuel economy when you push for it, then all should be good. If we keep the car long enough to need an engine overhaul/replacement, I'm sure that the break in period when it was new will be the last thing on our minds!

Dont listen to any of this. Wrong, wrong WRONG!

 

[MerlintheMad]

Dont listen to any of this. Wrong, wrong WRONG!

How is that? You've got differing opinions: one extreme says "go, Go, GO! That's the way to break in the engine." Another opinion follows the manual. And then someone asks if treating the car with extreme caution is good or bad? And you say "wrong" without enlightenment (if that is even possible; look at the conflicting opinions).

 

[Silvermanor]

How is that? You've got differing opinions: one extreme says "go, Go, GO! That's the way to break in the engine." Another opinion follows the manual. And then someone asks if treating the car with extreme caution is good or bad? And you say "wrong" without enlightenment (if that is even possible; look at the conflicting opinions).

By your response you clearly dont know what the purpose of breaking an engine is or what the mechanics of doing so are.

"Nope. In Smart/Comfort, cruising at freeway speed, 8th gear would be engaged wherever possible, i.e. around 1100 RPM. You haven't hurt anything."

That's literally what you do not want to do when breaking in a modern car engine. Like the exact opposite. Stop giving advice on things that you have no idea about.

 

[MerlintheMad]

By your response you clearly dont know what the purpose of breaking an engine is or what the mechanics of doing so are.

First of all, I nor anyone else wants to "break an engine": there's no purpose in that.

Second, you obviously do not want a discussion originating from your knowledge base; or you would have refuted my opinions, assertions and guesses with solid facts. I doubt that you have any. You will have opinions on what the best method is to break in a new engine and why. What are you talking about: "the mechanics" of breaking in an engine? Opinions vary on what is going on with differing "break in" approaches. So, what "mechanics" are you talking about?

 

[Silvermanor]

First of all, I nor anyone else wants to "break an engine": there's no purpose in that.

Second, you obviously do not want a discussion originating from your knowledge base; or you would have refuted my opinions, assertions and guesses with solid facts. I doubt that you have any. You will have opinions on what the best method is to break in a new engine and why. What are you talking about: "the mechanics" of breaking in an engine? Opinions vary on what is going on with differing "break in" approaches. So, what "mechanics" are you talking about?

Stop being Pedantic. Just read the god damn manual.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Stop being Pedantic. Just read the god damn manual.

Huffy! So, I didn't do exactly what the manual said? You knew this? "Mechanics" of breaking in the engine is following the manual? Okay, clearly you don't know what I read and did, even though I've described it numerous times on here. And that was to follow exactly what the manual said for the first 600 miles. The first mile past 600, I opened it up and within less than half an hour did my first fast pass and hit 135 MPH; but not before that. I used Sport mode and the paddle shifters to keep my RPMs between 2K and 4K for those first 600 miles; but after that I was "free".

 

[clemson85]

I am at 180 miles in 9 days of ownership. So at my rate looks like around mid to late March for the breaking in to be over. It hasn't really been that hard to drive in Sport mode between 2k and 4k rpms. I have been driving to the Y for rehab everyday in the Stinger and it has been more of an exercise of how to use all of the technology. I am old. My daughter and son 24 and 26 years old just taught me how to use Spotify on my phone and then use Apple Carplay in the Stinger. Life is good!

 

[terraform848]

Thanks for the replies, albeit they were a bit spirited lol. Anyways, if i recall the manual states that there is no special break in period required so I hope there wont be a huge difference in engine longevity, mpg, etc. I agree with Merlin that there are so many variables. With that being said, while I did not follow the suggestions to the T, I basically hit most of their requirements, (did not race engine, avoided hard stops, did not tow trailor). I will also add that most of my ~300 mile journey was on a busy interstate that went through several towns so while I used cruise control, I changed speeds frequently.

I will work on staying between 2k-4k rpm on sports mode until I hit 1000 and will avoid using cruise control. While this is past the recommended 600 miles period I am sure it will only benefit my engine.

 

[stung cb]

I'll try to adhere to what the manual says for break-in. If I forget ...oh well.
The way I look at is Kia warrants the powertrain for 10 years 100,000 miles. If a break-in was truly necessary they would some how absolutely mandate it to keep the warranty valid. The manual says nothing about a break-in being mandatory. It only states
"No special break-in period is needed. By following a few simple precautions for the first 600 miles you may add to the performance, economy and life of your vehicle". It only states "May" not that it will. "May" is pretty flimsy.

 

[GenesisG70]

Just followed the manual, kept the car driving at sport all times to keep RPMs required, never went above 75 MPH. Now I drive the shit out of this amazing car.

 

[G-192048]

Just drive it. Give it some throttle now and then. If you're on a deserted highway at a steady speed for an hour, manually shift down here and there to change RPM if you're still losing sleep over it.

I took mine to the drag strip 3 days after I drove it home (560 miles from the dealer.)

I'm with you. In a few years (at max) you'll not have the car or are ready for something better or different.

 

[stung cb]

All these break-in opinions and theories are interesting. It would be nice to see some written confirmed facts from KIA on just what their recommended engine break-in factually accomplishes. When KIA says (per their manual) "you may add to the performance, economy and the life of your vehicle" I question that statement. The word may is defined as "to express possibility" not a fact.
To each his own I suppose on the break-in thing.

 

[SomeBlondeGuy]

For a second I thought this was a thread about how to break into a Kia Stinger!