I'm planning to buy my S2000 tomorrow and with regards to breaking it in, a friend of mine said that I should avoid keeping a constant RPM for the first 500 miles ( i.e. fluctuating the RPM is advised). Anyone heard this before?

Dave

 

...The reason I ask is I may go to Vegas this weekend which is a long, straight drive. The car will probably not yet have 500 miles by Friday, assuming I drive it off the lot tomorrow.

Any other tips are appreciated.

Dave

 

If your at 500 miles I don't think driving at a constant speed is going to hurt anything, as long as your not keeping it 80 mph in 4th!!!! Pull into any rest areas for change of speed till you get to 600. What color combo did you get?

 

Actually, this has been common advice over the years to avoid prolonged constsant speeds during break-in. Because you're trying to seat your rings, the argument is that you would be breaking in the cylinders to the conditions of a particular rpm.
Let's assume that at higher revs (versus lower revs) that the piston travels just a fraction further in the stroke due to increased momentum and the resulting stresses (remember that all metals exhibit elastic strain when a force is applied to them). If you drive at a constant rpm, then the piston travels to exactly the same point, and therefore the rings will stop at exactly the same place on the cylinder walls. Over time, this will produce a ridge on the inside of the cylinder wall. If you have ever torn apart a worn engine, this ridge is evident.
Lets say you're traveling at 3500 rpm constantly. That ridge could be pronounced enough over time that when you rev the engine to 4500 rpm, the rings slap against this ridge, and something has to give (and rings are brittle). But if you vary the rpms, then the walls will form a ramp, and not a ridge. Your rings can easily accomodate the wall diameter change.
It's not a really big deal. On long trips, don't put the car on cruise control, and mix up the speeds a little. And remember it isn't the constant speed that is the problem, it's the constant rpm of the engine.

 

Vary your rpms during the drive. Keep the rpms below 5,500 until you hit 600 miles. Don't hit the brakes really hard.

I suspect most of this is superstition, but it makes sense to do it if it is in the manual.

My '93 Prelude VTEC (also a reinforced carbon fiber matrix engine) had the same break in suggestions in the owners manual but I never knew it until I bought my S2000 in '00. My Prelude runs great at 60,000 miles and 128 months of age with no special break in.

 

Wow, great tips, thanks. The color scheme I chose in the end was Silverstone Metallic and black interior. I had them throw in the Silver on Black emblems for a personal touch.

Thanks,

Dave

 

 

Take back roads there. That way you will be forced to go through the RPM range. It will take you a little longer to get there, but trust me. You won't mind.

Good choice on the color.