O.K, so Thursday 2/21/02 I pick up my 02 True Blue, I got X-Plan but it's in Ohio & I have to drive it to Texas where I live. Currently it has 4 miles on the odometer & door to door is 1340 miles, my question is: this is all gonna be break-in, so how do I do this? Yep, the manual says vary speeds for the 1st 1000 & avoid full throttle, & I intend to do just that. My plan is 20/30 miles at 55, 20/30 miles at 60, 20/30 miles at 70, back to 50 ish, etc. etc. you get the picture. (Spare me the "just WOT it, you'll be home in no time B.S.) Should I change the oil mid-way thru the trip? What are Y'all's thoughts???

 

Well it has been proven that babied L's are weaker than the ones used as they were intened for. I would say vary the speeds as per the manual, but when you have a chance of long open highway with no traffic, WOT it to about 120 and let off. Then change the oil when you get home.

Also check out http://www.haloclub.com

 

I was always told if you break them in hard the run faster & longer. I have drove the **** out of EVERYTHING I own since day one. I would do like LB said floor board it some on straight shots. If something is going to break when you get down on it new, something was wrong with it!!

 

I agree with Lightning Boy. I am sure you wont get much sleep tonight. Enjoy the ride home back to Texas.

 

I did a 100 foot burnout right in the dealers parking lot when I picked mine up, that was fun. But seriously vary your speed like you said. Maybee once in a while or so pull off the highway and do some in town type driving, then get back on the highway and keep varring the speed. Do a few 40-90 blasts pull off a exit hear and there and blast back onto the highway.

Just have fun with it, thats what they were designed to do.

 

I was in the same situation you were in. I picked mine up with 3 miles on the clock and it was a 300 mile drive home. I cruised at around 75 and then slowed down to 55 and went WOT til about 120. I did this about every 20/30 minutes or when traffic would allow.

 

I defer to you seasoned owners, I'm sure somewhere on the Western Kentucky Parkway (which by the way is long, straight-ish & without much traffic), I'll have to see what she's capable of, my concern is that being a new motor it'll need time to 'bed in'. There's bound to be metal fragments in the sump from the machine & build, I don't want to have that thrown up into the cylinders which might prevent the piston rings from properly seating. Most engine break-ins occur over a longer period of time with more heat/cold cycles, this motor is going to be 'at temperature' from 'new' for 9 to 10 hours straight for 2 days with one cold soak in the middle. Since my last post I've already decided the oil's going to get changed at 1/2 way (700) miles.

 

Hey Drew, where in Ohio are you going to pick it up? I live in Cincinnati, Ohio is the only reason I ask. There are three dealers here in Cincinnati, that have blue lightning's. Good luck with your new toy.

 

Cleveland, it came into the dealership last Friday.

 

Cleveland is about 5 hours from me. Well have a good trip and hopefully the weather will be nice. Ohio weather SUCKS!! Good luck with the new bolt.

 

5 Hours?? Hey, if I listen to these guys, make that about 2!!

 

When we had our first blown motor replaced, it had the nitrous put on it the day after we got it back, and raceing that weekend.

Since you are going to change the oil half way through the trip, and are really concerned about metal fragments: Vary speeds the first 1/2 half. Then after you have changed the oil, continue varying speeds, but take it up to 120 a number of times when the oportunity arrises to do so safely.

 

I've been trying to make time (and have a legitimate reason) to take a long road trip in the L. I've almost got wifey talked into the Hot Rod Power Tour at the end of May. I feel better just thinking about it.

 

"Well it has been proven that babied L's are weaker than the ones used as they were intened for. I would say vary the speeds as per the manual, but when you have a chance of long open highway with no traffic, WOT it to about 120 and let off. Then change the oil when you get home."

"When we had our first blown motor replaced, it had the nitrous put on it the day after we got it back, and raceing that weekend."


Hmm, I'm not certain this is the example I want to follow in breaking in my L. It's the "first blown motor" that make me nervous.

 

Well when you run nitrous among other mods, pushing a 5000Lbs+ truck down the 1/4 in low 12 second runs. Then do it two or three times a month... You would break as well.