So I am a TOTAL and COMPLETE idiot.

I have posted a similar message before so sorry for belaboring the point - I guess I am just hoping someone will reassure me that I have not ROYALLY screwed up.

So on the 19th of April, I took delivery of my brand new stook - 5 miles on the odometer - b e a u t i f u l !!!

And then the idiot I am, I thought "break in, schmake in, that stuff doesnt matter" and I proceeded to enjoy the car royally - Not abusing as in trying to bust it, but trips into Vtec were frequent and journeys to 100mph were several.

Then with 350 miles on the odometer I discovered this site and I saw that EVERYONE was respecting the break in period. I felt like a RAPIST.

Since 350 miles, I have gone into VTEC only twice and have not exceeded 70 mph. Now I have 850 on the odometer.

Today I talked with this tech at the dealer and he said - oh it is SO VERY IMPORTANT that you follow the break in or you may have serious problems. And here I am CURSING myself and HITTING myself on the head. This was my DREAM car. I saved up a year for the downpayment. I waited for the YELLOW. And now I have SCREWED myself. Sob sob sob sob. What HAVE I DONE???

So could someone with a kind heart please give me the facts straight up:

1. How much trouble am I in??
2. Is there possibly ANY corrective action I can take at this point?
3. I have been taking it easy since 350 miles - can I relax and assume that no serious damage has been done?

Someone please come to my rescue.........

 

My car went to Vtec once or twice during the breakin period, but then overall I treated my baby with lots o respect. In return, it has not been a problem (just cleared 16k). I did not take it to 100, but then again, if you were in higher gears, your rpms were not THAT bad. What's done is done. Live and learn. Your car will likely forgive you and do well into the future. You may have taken some mileage life out of the car but what can you do. Probably nothing you can do at this point (short of getting your engine rebuilt) except treat the car with respect and drive it like you just stole it! Good luck.

 

Dealer didn't say anything, and I didn't know about this site, and I read the manual only for the fun stuff!

Anyway, 9K was just too much fun and I did wait for 100 miles or so... When I read about the break in period I had something like 700 miles on the car and a bunch of Vtec runs.

Anyway all is still fine with 6,500 miles, so far.

Dave

 

Don't sweat it. My dealer told me to ignore break-in tips and "drive the car the way you like to drive..." Needless to say, I think I VTEC'd once before 600 but tried to be easy on her for the most part.

I would say, Be nice to your baby, give her a nice wash and Zaino treatment, a little Lexol on the leather, maybe some yummy high-test gas and forget the whole thing ever happened. After all, what can you do?

As Al Pacino said in "The Devil's Advocate": "Guilt is like a bag of bricks... all you gotta down is put it down."

Fear not, my friend.

 

heh, I punched mine under 10 miles... couldnt resist... 15,500 miles later still running sweet.. I really didnt get all over it again until around 500.. the rest is history.....

 

It's a probability question. You've slightly increased the risk of premature failure or excessive oil consumption. Being a Honda unit, that means it probably will have an implausibly long and reliable life.

Generally speaking, more damage is done by labouring an engine, or thrashing it berfore it's fully warmed.

Also, what's wrong with doing 100 while running in? In sixth, it's only just over the recommended rev limit and below the V spot.

Generally, drive the car as you intend to, once it's warm. Mind you, I haven't V'd yet. Until I've learned the car's limits of patience, 5.5K is fine for now.

 

Well what's done is done. I vtec'd once before break-in...hard to resist. Just make sure you check your oil.

 

I'm in the market S2000 now.
Going to write down all your build #s and make sure I don't buy one of these bad break-ins in case I'm looking for a 2nd hand car. (j/k)

I personally would take proper break-in seriously... I'm even gonna take it as far as ordering the car from factory and take the car as soon as the car lands in US. I've seen dealer service/salesmen moving or test driving the car... they redline the damn thing as soon as they turned the key. (So much for proper break-in)

 

I don't think the VTEC police will come to your house anytime soon. I confess to redlining once or twice before the magic 600 miles. I certainly don't recommend it, but after 16K miles I don't use any oil between changes, so I guess I'm golden.