I see that this recommendation (apparently in the manual) -- against getting the engine above 6000 rpm before 600 miles have been accumulated -- seems to be religiously followed by most S2Ki members. I guess it's just considered a good, gradual way to break the engine in. Revving the hell out of it from the get-go is thought to pose some harm to a virginal engine.

As my car is on order and I haven't been able to read the exact explanation in the Honda manual, I've tried to find some formal rationale for this on the S2Ki site. I can't find anything that really provides any detail -- either under the FAQs section or the New Buyer's Guide (aside from a repetition of the injunction). If anyone can direct me to the proper area or archive, I'd appreciate it.

I'm curious because I assume that Honda wouldn't let the car out of the factory without ensuring that the mechanicals are in perfect working order. And I don't see how they could do that without taking every unit up near redline at least once or twice.

If the factory does exceed 6K, are we being too cautious? Is it realistic to think that exceeding 6K occasionally could do serious harm?

Is it possible that, given the high performance nature of this car's engine and handling characteristics, and the fact that most buyers will never have driven anything as demanding, Honda is just hedging its bets and recommending a conservative driving style to give us would-be Ricky Racers some time to gradually get accustomed to the car under prudent conditions? Their legal advisers may have warned against the possibility of not only legal suits ("They didn't warn me this car was a tail-happy rocket!") but also bad publicity if the car were to become associated with stories of new buyers spinning crazily off into the weeds or flocks of school kids.

Or...maybe it really is a very tender engine when new and it needs to be babied for a while...?

 

All engines need some amount of run in before being put under a load. The tighter the build tolerances the more important it is

 

I always thought the 600 miles was for breaking the DRIVER in!

Not a bad idea with any performance car, i know i'm glad i learned the handling part before i saw 9k...

 

Some of you are hiding or lieing, so I'll come out and admit it first..

Hi, My name is Brian, and I redlined at 200 miles.. again at 201 miles, also at 208 miles...

No loss in performance (unless it made like 260hp before hehe) etc. and I never found any metallic specks in the oil or filter... Not saying go out and do it, but if you have already, I wouldn't get paranoid either.

<whispering> the dealer coaxed me into vtec on the highway test drive with 17 miles on the car.. shhhh.....

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by PDX S2000:
[B]

 

First, I'm slightly disagreeing with Chris (cdelena) and I've got to tell you, Chris knows far more about engines and this engine than I do. I trust him.

Second, I think it is very unlikely that exceeding 6,000 rpms occasionally will do serious harm.

If it were that awful, they'd hang a tag on the odometer or the stick like they do with the tag for the spring spacers. Or they would break every engine in before shipping it (and charge more for the car). I venture to guess that half the S2K's have seen 9,000 rpm before they've seen 600 miles (mine included).

Still, why risk it? The car is a wonderful driving machine even without the extra revs and 600 miles comes soon enough.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Barry WY Silver/Black '01:
[B]

 

It may manifest itself by making the car slower as Sev says, or it may manifest itself by causing premature engine failure due to improper tolerances because you didn't let everything seat the way it would have had you taken it easy. It also may not be a problem at all. The bottom line is noone really knows exactly what damage you may cause to your engine by overreving during the break-in period. What is known is that there is a significant risk of you causing damage by not properly breaking the engine in. Add to that the fact that you'll have the most technologically advanced engine in existence, and that it revs to 9000 RPM's, and you might want to consider having some patience for 600 miles.

 

The information on this board is second to none, but occasionally I do find a spot to shine and add to it. Each S2K is run on a private track at the factory in Japan, along with every NSX. Each S2K engine is made by a single technition, just like the NSX. Each engine rotates on a carosell for approx 10 minutes while running at varried RPMs, only then is it installed in a stook. Fact: it still takes about 1,500 miles to break in! Better safe than sorry fellas.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by S2Kguy:
[B] Each S2K is run on a private track at the factory in Japan, along with every NSX.