"Breaking-in" the engine? 06-08 civic si.

8th_civic_si · 03-21-2008, 03:10 PM

OK. Here it goes.

I just recently bought a new 08 civic si coupe and have 540 miles I put on it. I have read a many of threads reading different opinions on how to "break-in" your engine.

I called a Honda Dealership near me and they told me that when my oil gets to 15 percent (I am currently at 90 percent) then that's when I need to have my oil changed. I asked him if this applied to a new engine and he told me yes.

What the dealership told me contradicts most of the threads that I have read.

Should I change my oil now? Or wait until 1000 miles? When should I hit VTEC? I haven't hit it yet. Only revved it to like 5200 rpms at most. What oil should I use when I have my first oil change? What's the big difference in synthetic oil and regular oil (obviously a newb question....LOL

)?

Please HELP! I need everyone's opinion. THANKS!!!!!

TheBlackBullet · 03-21-2008, 03:23 PM

i hit Vtec the day i bought it..i dont really know if its a good thing or a bad thing..but i haven't had a single problem with the car and i have like 16000 miles...i use mobil-1 synthetic extended performance when the oil hits 20%..

Solo Intent · 03-21-2008, 03:29 PM

use the search tool, i know you said that you have read many threads, but apparently not enough. there are numurous oil threads and break in threads. welcome to the 8th {=OP

AllShowNoGo · 03-21-2008, 07:32 PM

change ur title. it's mis-leading.

read the manual. it's there for a reason. it even covers regarding synthetic oil.

rotor_powerd · 03-21-2008, 11:11 PM

Drive it like you will everyday.

***dobiejoe*** · 03-21-2008, 11:13 PM

just read the manual...

galaxygrey13 · 03-21-2008, 11:29 PM

yeah i hit vtec on the way home from the dealer and i have over 60k miles with no problems on my car. you have deprived yourself of VTEC

soxfan143 · 03-21-2008, 11:34 PM

Dude drive it like you're going to drive it. You don't want to baby it too much. You need to hit Vtec a few times. I changed my oil at 2500 miles to Royal Purple. Then I switched to Mobil 1 EP. I broke my car in hard and it is awesome. Not one problem. Plus most of the guys with factory freaks did hard break ins. Unless they are full of crap. But it's your car. Do what you want. I personally wouldn't want all those metal shavings flying around in my motor oil for 5000 miles. Trust me after a couple thousand miles there isn't much more breaking in being done. Other than maybe the seals and stuff. Those will be fine with new oil in there. I just changed my oil because of the pieces of metal that in the oil. Trust me, I've been around cars since I was 10, now 33, I was an ASE master tech for Cadillac for 12 years, now I'm independant, and I used to do all the rebuilds on the Northstar motor and there was so much metal in the oil after the first 1000 miles you wouldn't believe it. So use my advice any way you feel. But I would change it around 2000-2500. Good luck bro and have fun.

02civicsi · 03-21-2008, 11:46 PM

First change @ 15%!!!

You're almost there for your first trip to

nirvana. I hit that sh#t for the first time @ 604 miles & haven't looked back since. I was on my way to Daytona Beach & I peered @ the odometer & saw that I was past 600 miles & then promptly downshited to 4th & went WOT. The best thing I noticed for my motor I did was go to Ft Myers & back in one day to pick up my wheels. The exhaust note was more deep & the engine revved easier after that trip. I've been running RP ever since the first change. Synthetic is where it's @. Think about it, do you want oil that is dug out of the Earth or oil that is made in a lab(factory).

Wakko · 03-22-2008, 12:01 AM

I got mine ina thursday....and friday I was hitting VTEC at Interlagos Raceway at a trackday. The car got to the raceway with 350km, and got out with 470km....

If we were at the 80´s and early 90´s, or talking about a car that got the engine remade, than you need a break in. Otherwise, it´s not that necessary, since all engines run about 5k km inside the factory before being mounted at the car.

[]´s

02civicsi · 03-22-2008, 12:04 AM

Wow you got run your car @ Interlagos.

**Gonzo** · 03-22-2008, 12:07 AM

I edited your title because it was teh fail. You implied you've read lots of other threads about this topic, take what they say with a grain of salt or just RTFM.

*shrugs*

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wakko

Otherwise, it´s not that necessary, since all engines run about 5k km inside the factory before being mounted at the car.

Five thousand kilometers? Ah, ha ha ha. Have you noticed gas prices these days? Not to mention the amount of time that would take.

I kinda doubt they run them more than a few minutes if that.

***bizzybearfigiblue*** · 03-22-2008, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gonzo

Five thousand kilometers? Ah, ha ha ha. Have you noticed gas prices these days? Not to mention the amount of time that would take.

I kinda doubt they run them more than a few minutes if that.

idk how many miles/kil they run them at but i did hear they run them near redline for quite a bit...

must be nice to have that job...

all day... although i doubt it's true...

i changed my oil @ 3000 miles didn't pay attention to the %... and

'd from about 80miles on my car... now over 29k miles and not one problem ever...

SiCivic83 · 03-22-2008, 04:52 AM

Just follow what the manual tells you to do...everybody here has their own way of breaking-in their own car.

Jardiniboy · 03-22-2008, 05:30 AM

Not another break in thread.

pprancer · 08-16-2008, 04:57 PM

lol i dont get it >.< i bought my si like 3 weeks ago.. and i barely know about cars...
my friends told me dont rev high until i reach like 3k miles, but some forums stated that it will be fine after 500 miles... right now im at 850 miles and now this threads telling me i can start reving high after 15% oil thingy?? what does that mean..
whenever i check my oil i see 2 dash and right now im like right below half soo?? i dont get it lol sorry

Itchytoe · 08-16-2008, 05:54 PM

Engine break in period is the first 10 hours of run time. It's not based on mileage, but as a general rule, you'll get 500 miles in 10 hours so go by 500 miles if that makes you feel better. You won't have any problems leaving the oil in for the full duration, but I'd suggest doing a change around 1500 miles or so. (I'm an old guy used to changing oil after that kind of break in period, but it's not necessary anymore) Go with a full synthetic, they're far better than conventional oils in alot of ways.

AllShowNoGo · 08-16-2008, 11:04 PM

Go with what the manual states, which is the first 600 miles. Honda didn't say anything about changing ur oil early, so I would leave it in.

I don't understand why people just don't go by what the manual states.

Ratler123 · 08-16-2008, 11:52 PM

Well I changed at 2500 to RP and eventhough i revved hard on the way home from dealer i drove it moderately nicely till 500. At 500 a CAI and Skunk2 put on and from there it is like Vtec multiple times a day.

03-21-2008, 03:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
8th_civic_si Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Age: 20 Posts: 7 iTrader: 0 / 0%	"Breaking-in" the engine? 06-08 civic si. OK. Here it goes. I just recently bought a new 08 civic si coupe and have 540 miles I put on it. I have read a many of threads reading different opinions on how to "break-in" your engine. I called a Honda Dealership near me and they told me that when my oil gets to 15 percent (I am currently at 90 percent) then that's when I need to have my oil changed. I asked him if this applied to a new engine and he told me yes. What the dealership told me contradicts most of the threads that I have read. Should I change my oil now? Or wait until 1000 miles? When should I hit VTEC? I haven't hit it yet. Only revved it to like 5200 rpms at most. What oil should I use when I have my first oil change? What's the big difference in synthetic oil and regular oil (obviously a newb question....LOL)? Please HELP! I need everyone's opinion. THANKS!!!!!

03-21-2008, 11:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
*dobiejoe* VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NJ Age: 38 Posts: 4,563 Joe iTrader: 1 / 100%	just read the manual... __________________

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03-21-2008, 03:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
TheBlackBullet Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Age: 21 Posts: 247 Zuber iTrader: 0 / 0%	i hit Vtec the day i bought it..i dont really know if its a good thing or a bad thing..but i haven't had a single problem with the car and i have like 16000 miles...i use mobil-1 synthetic extended performance when the oil hits 20%..

03-21-2008, 03:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
Solo Intent Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Kent Age: 24 Posts: 252 Brian iTrader: 0 / 0%	use the search tool, i know you said that you have read many threads, but apparently not enough. there are numurous oil threads and break in threads. welcome to the 8th {=OP

03-21-2008, 07:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
AllShowNoGo Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Tampa/Gainesville Age: 23 Posts: 1,727 Jason iTrader: 0 / 0%	change ur title. it's mis-leading. read the manual. it's there for a reason. it even covers regarding synthetic oil.

03-21-2008, 11:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
rotor_powerd Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 231 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Drive it like you will everyday.

03-21-2008, 11:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
galaxygrey13 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 4,370 Ignacio iTrader: 1 / 100%	yeah i hit vtec on the way home from the dealer and i have over 60k miles with no problems on my car. you have deprived yourself of VTEC

03-21-2008, 11:34 PM	#8 (permalink)
soxfan143 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Lynnfield, MA Age: 34 Posts: 2,819 Mike iTrader: 4 / 100%	Dude drive it like you're going to drive it. You don't want to baby it too much. You need to hit Vtec a few times. I changed my oil at 2500 miles to Royal Purple. Then I switched to Mobil 1 EP. I broke my car in hard and it is awesome. Not one problem. Plus most of the guys with factory freaks did hard break ins. Unless they are full of crap. But it's your car. Do what you want. I personally wouldn't want all those metal shavings flying around in my motor oil for 5000 miles. Trust me after a couple thousand miles there isn't much more breaking in being done. Other than maybe the seals and stuff. Those will be fine with new oil in there. I just changed my oil because of the pieces of metal that in the oil. Trust me, I've been around cars since I was 10, now 33, I was an ASE master tech for Cadillac for 12 years, now I'm independant, and I used to do all the rebuilds on the Northstar motor and there was so much metal in the oil after the first 1000 miles you wouldn't believe it. So use my advice any way you feel. But I would change it around 2000-2500. Good luck bro and have fun.

03-21-2008, 11:46 PM	#9 (permalink)
02civicsi Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Longwood, FL Posts: 6,992 I am the Juggernaut!!! iTrader: 18 / 100%	First change @ 15%!!! You're almost there for your first trip to nirvana. I hit that sh#t for the first time @ 604 miles & haven't looked back since. I was on my way to Daytona Beach & I peered @ the odometer & saw that I was past 600 miles & then promptly downshited to 4th & went WOT. The best thing I noticed for my motor I did was go to Ft Myers & back in one day to pick up my wheels. The exhaust note was more deep & the engine revved easier after that trip. I've been running RP ever since the first change. Synthetic is where it's @. Think about it, do you want oil that is dug out of the Earth or oil that is made in a lab(factory).

03-22-2008, 12:01 AM	#10 (permalink)
Wakko Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Brazil Posts: 141 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I got mine ina thursday....and friday I was hitting VTEC at Interlagos Raceway at a trackday. The car got to the raceway with 350km, and got out with 470km.... If we were at the 80´s and early 90´s, or talking about a car that got the engine remade, than you need a break in. Otherwise, it´s not that necessary, since all engines run about 5k km inside the factory before being mounted at the car. []´s

03-22-2008, 12:04 AM	#11 (permalink)
02civicsi Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Longwood, FL Posts: 6,992 I am the Juggernaut!!! iTrader: 18 / 100%	Wow you got run your car @ Interlagos.

03-22-2008, 04:52 AM	#14 (permalink)
SiCivic83 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: East Bay Area Age: 25 Posts: 621 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Just follow what the manual tells you to do...everybody here has their own way of breaking-in their own car.

03-22-2008, 05:30 AM	#15 (permalink)
Jardiniboy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Waipahu, Hawaii Posts: 3,789 Jasten iTrader: 2 / 100%	Not another break in thread.

08-16-2008, 04:57 PM	#16 (permalink)
pprancer Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 6 iTrader: 0 / 0%	lol i dont get it >.< i bought my si like 3 weeks ago.. and i barely know about cars... my friends told me dont rev high until i reach like 3k miles, but some forums stated that it will be fine after 500 miles... right now im at 850 miles and now this threads telling me i can start reving high after 15% oil thingy?? what does that mean.. whenever i check my oil i see 2 dash and right now im like right below half soo?? i dont get it lol sorry

08-16-2008, 05:54 PM	#17 (permalink)
Itchytoe Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 139 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Engine break in period is the first 10 hours of run time. It's not based on mileage, but as a general rule, you'll get 500 miles in 10 hours so go by 500 miles if that makes you feel better. You won't have any problems leaving the oil in for the full duration, but I'd suggest doing a change around 1500 miles or so. (I'm an old guy used to changing oil after that kind of break in period, but it's not necessary anymore) Go with a full synthetic, they're far better than conventional oils in alot of ways.

08-16-2008, 11:04 PM	#18 (permalink)
AllShowNoGo Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Tampa/Gainesville Age: 23 Posts: 1,727 Jason iTrader: 0 / 0%	Go with what the manual states, which is the first 600 miles. Honda didn't say anything about changing ur oil early, so I would leave it in. I don't understand why people just don't go by what the manual states.

08-16-2008, 11:52 PM	#19 (permalink)
Ratler123 Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Riverside, CA Posts: 80 Chris Dai iTrader: 1 / 100%	Well I changed at 2500 to RP and eventhough i revved hard on the way home from dealer i drove it moderately nicely till 500. At 500 a CAI and Skunk2 put on and from there it is like Vtec multiple times a day.