Should you wait until 600 miles to VTEC?
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From: Chicago (ex London UK)
Should you wait until 600 miles to VTEC?
Okay...I know I am probably opening up a can of worms here....and I am sure that people will have their own very strong opinions on this subject.
The reason I am posting this topic is in response to this thread
It occurs to me that some very new owners to the car are worried they have killed their engine if they hit vtec before 600 miles. Whilst most people will know this is okay...those who dont...well...dont!!
Anyway...this is my view on the subject taken from the previous post.
"I am positive through my own experiences that the break in period DOES NOT have to be adhered to.
In my 02 I used the vtec and drove the car like I intended from day 1. I was vtecing at 100 miles, 200 miles etc etc. I never had any problems with the engine or mechanicals, and my oil change intervals were actually longer than friends who babied theirs to 600 miles.
I am doing exactly the same in my 04. I am on 500 miles and have lost count of the number of times ive had the car in vtec.
Ive read numerous arguements for both sides....vtec and you ruin the engine against pushing the car from the beginning builds a stronger engine. I guess real time will tell.
The one thing that I do agree on is....there is little or no point in taking it easy for the break in period and then thrashing the car once you reach 600 miles. This almost certainly has to do more harm than good. If you are gonna observe the break-in surely you should then gradually work up to full use....over time and a 1000 or so miles. The sudden change in driving style has to hurt the engine.
Maybe im wrong who knows....please let me know if i am!!! just my 2cents worth!"
So what do you think?? Some personal experiences would be good as well as just speculation and opinion!!
The reason I am posting this topic is in response to this thread
It occurs to me that some very new owners to the car are worried they have killed their engine if they hit vtec before 600 miles. Whilst most people will know this is okay...those who dont...well...dont!!
Anyway...this is my view on the subject taken from the previous post.
"I am positive through my own experiences that the break in period DOES NOT have to be adhered to.
In my 02 I used the vtec and drove the car like I intended from day 1. I was vtecing at 100 miles, 200 miles etc etc. I never had any problems with the engine or mechanicals, and my oil change intervals were actually longer than friends who babied theirs to 600 miles.
I am doing exactly the same in my 04. I am on 500 miles and have lost count of the number of times ive had the car in vtec.
Ive read numerous arguements for both sides....vtec and you ruin the engine against pushing the car from the beginning builds a stronger engine. I guess real time will tell.
The one thing that I do agree on is....there is little or no point in taking it easy for the break in period and then thrashing the car once you reach 600 miles. This almost certainly has to do more harm than good. If you are gonna observe the break-in surely you should then gradually work up to full use....over time and a 1000 or so miles. The sudden change in driving style has to hurt the engine.
Maybe im wrong who knows....please let me know if i am!!! just my 2cents worth!"
So what do you think?? Some personal experiences would be good as well as just speculation and opinion!!
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From: Cincinnati
Should you wait until 600 miles to VTEC?
Answer: It doesn't matter. Your car was vteced before it left the factory.
That being said, it's not the vtec that is the problem on the new engine. It's engine HEAT. Telling people to take it easy for the 600 miles is an easy way for manufacturers to get people to not produce overly hot engine temps early in it's life while the rings are sealing.
I think...
Answer: It doesn't matter. Your car was vteced before it left the factory.
That being said, it's not the vtec that is the problem on the new engine. It's engine HEAT. Telling people to take it easy for the 600 miles is an easy way for manufacturers to get people to not produce overly hot engine temps early in it's life while the rings are sealing.
I think...
Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,776
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From: Chicago (ex London UK)
good point suv...
and dont think for one minute i am advocating thrashing the hell outta your car from the beginning....
...more like vtecing it on a daily basis isnt going to hurt.
for all you guys that picked up your new car with say 30+ miles on the clock already.......how do you think those miles got there?? do you think salesmen were taking people on test drives showing people them the benefits of pre-vtec driving?
did you not see what the car could do when you test drove it?
suvh8r is right....your engine has been vteced before you got the car...not only at the factory!
and dont think for one minute i am advocating thrashing the hell outta your car from the beginning....
...more like vtecing it on a daily basis isnt going to hurt.
for all you guys that picked up your new car with say 30+ miles on the clock already.......how do you think those miles got there?? do you think salesmen were taking people on test drives showing people them the benefits of pre-vtec driving?
did you not see what the car could do when you test drove it?
suvh8r is right....your engine has been vteced before you got the car...not only at the factory!
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From: NYC
Yea, there's a fine line between hitting VTEC during the break-in period and redlining at every stop light during break-in. One IMO is fine the other isn't.
I agree with you S2000GT, about it being ok to hit VTEC during a break-in period.
Also, instead of babying it for 600 miles and then driving like a madman right after, IMO it's better to gradually build your revs over a 1000mile period.
Just my $.02
I agree with you S2000GT, about it being ok to hit VTEC during a break-in period.
Also, instead of babying it for 600 miles and then driving like a madman right after, IMO it's better to gradually build your revs over a 1000mile period.
Just my $.02
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 9,708
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From: Lewes, DE
Originally posted by PMantis24
Yea, there's a fine line between hitting VTEC during the break-in period and redlining at every stop light during break-in. One IMO is fine the other isn't.
I agree with you S2000GT, about it being ok to hit VTEC during a break-in period.
Also, instead of babying it for 600 miles and then driving like a madman right after, IMO it's better to gradually build your revs over a 1000mile period.
Just my $.02
Yea, there's a fine line between hitting VTEC during the break-in period and redlining at every stop light during break-in. One IMO is fine the other isn't.
I agree with you S2000GT, about it being ok to hit VTEC during a break-in period.
Also, instead of babying it for 600 miles and then driving like a madman right after, IMO it's better to gradually build your revs over a 1000mile period.
Just my $.02
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From: NJ
Like was mentioned already, it's not only the engine but brakes and heat in general. Besides, is 600 miles really that much of a burden? Honda says 600 miles and that's what I did. I don't see why such a minor requirement is beat to death and second guessed. Maybe its just me.
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From: Saratoga
There's no magic to the # 600. Some car manufacturers say 500, some 1000, some 1200. The gradual increase in revving makes a whole lot more sense to me. I would also make sure to continously vary the engine speed so that the valves, etc. are exercised.