pa550

Last night my wife and I were coming home from dinner and she commented that my 550 seemed a lot like her old Civic as to its speed and acceleration (that I made her sell the Civic five years ago when we got married). In an effort to disabuse her of that notion as well as to preserve my pride, at the next stop sign I took the thing to redline in first and somewhere close to 5500 rpm in second. She is now converted. The question is did I do any damage? I have 500 miles on the car and for some reason was under the impression that that was the break in period. I looked at the owner's manual when we got home and it says not to exceed 4500 rpm for 1200 miles. I plan on keeping the car a long time and had a sleepless night worrrying that I did damage.

colejl

I wouldn't do it again for a few more miles but you're unlikely to have done any permanent damage... You know what to look forward to now!

tachyon

Congrats on the new 550. It is such an amazing machine.

I wouldn't worry about your spirited driving. Breaking in a new engine is more about varying the RPMs (which you did), and less about being gentle.

The only other suggestion I have is to not let your wife drive the 550 - you'll never get it back.

pa550

Agreed that I won't let her drive it, at least until she learns manual. She doesn't have a lot of interest in any case. She's a basic transportation person (Volvo wagon). In any case, I washed it up today in an attempt to heal any wounds inflicted last night. Amazing car...

EBMCS03

Hahha NICE! that'll show her. Dont worry you didnt do any damage as long as the engine was already warmed up. IT WAS RIGHT????

Doing it once or twice or even three times before break in wont do anything... Just dont do it at every stop light. Its good to stretch its legs a little before break in. like doing that once gradually to redline, let the engine know whats in store for it. NOw that you did that I would suggest you be good for another 3-400 miles befores doing that again to be safe. and then after that... another 3-400 miles you'll be past break in so THEN you can do that at every stop light.

pedrollo

It actually does it good to do it occassionally, make sure it is up to temperature though.

rollee

no fear, no damage was done. you didnt even pass redline. the engine has an ultra wide margin of tolerance, it is over engineered to be used conservatively.

you should also mention that in the e60, it is easy to underestimate speed compared to a civic. what she felt is very different to the actual velocity. it is a good thing.
i cannot stand my passengers screaming 'slow it down'.

pa550

Yes, the engine was warmed up. I suspect there is a rev limiter, because as I wound it out in first it cut back automatically around 6500 or so. Agreed, everything about the car is a "good thing."

pedrollo

It's when they are shouting 'let me out' that you know you have it about right