How should I break in my engine? I've got 200 miles on the odometer and have been following what the manual says. Not over 4000 rpm for the first 500 miles. Is this the right thing to do? I've read that this is not how you should break in the engine. As I don't really know anything about this, any help would be appreciated.
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A lot of opinions on this subject!!
Some will tell you to go and rip on it for the first 30 miles and then go home and change the oil. This has worked for many and you can end up with a fast motor doing this but I bet it will burn oil and end up not lasting as long. This is not how I break in my motors!!
Really the best thing to do is very your speed and rpm's plus be sure and shift using all gears. Don't spend any length of time at one speed. This allows everything to seat evenly!!
I pretty much follow the break in recommendations by the manufacture. I figure they built it so they know what is best. I start out really easy at first and then slowly work the motor and get more aggressive as time goes on. By the time I have 900 miles on the clock I am having a pretty good time on it. At 1,000 miles its open game. However I am very gentle in the first 100 to 500 miles. When the motor is brand new you can feel how tight it is but it loosens up in the first 1,000 miles. Especially at higher rpm's.
The 4,000 rpm's under 500 miles and 6,000 rpm's under 1000 miles rule is a pretty good guide to follow. Only problem with the Ninja 500 is the engine really does not like to hang out much below 4,000 rpm's unless you are going down a hill. So for the Ninja 500 I have added about a 1,000 rpm's to each figure.
I also think its a really good idea to change the oil in the first 50 to 100 miles then again at the 600 mile service. You don't have to do it but you would be shocked what comes out of the first change. The sooner you get that gray looking oil the better. Of coarse some say keep it in as the metal flakes in the oil help everything break in better but I don't buy that.
Some will tell you to go and rip on it for the first 30 miles and then go home and change the oil. This has worked for many and you can end up with a fast motor doing this but I bet it will burn oil and end up not lasting as long. This is not how I break in my motors!!
Really the best thing to do is very your speed and rpm's plus be sure and shift using all gears. Don't spend any length of time at one speed. This allows everything to seat evenly!!
I pretty much follow the break in recommendations by the manufacture. I figure they built it so they know what is best. I start out really easy at first and then slowly work the motor and get more aggressive as time goes on. By the time I have 900 miles on the clock I am having a pretty good time on it. At 1,000 miles its open game. However I am very gentle in the first 100 to 500 miles. When the motor is brand new you can feel how tight it is but it loosens up in the first 1,000 miles. Especially at higher rpm's.
The 4,000 rpm's under 500 miles and 6,000 rpm's under 1000 miles rule is a pretty good guide to follow. Only problem with the Ninja 500 is the engine really does not like to hang out much below 4,000 rpm's unless you are going down a hill. So for the Ninja 500 I have added about a 1,000 rpm's to each figure.
I also think its a really good idea to change the oil in the first 50 to 100 miles then again at the 600 mile service. You don't have to do it but you would be shocked what comes out of the first change. The sooner you get that gray looking oil the better. Of coarse some say keep it in as the metal flakes in the oil help everything break in better but I don't buy that.
I've been going up and down on the rpms and trying not to stay at a constant speed for too long. A friend of mine told me I need to open it up to about 80 or 90 mph, then come back down to about 3000 rpm and then back up again a few times. That seems a little extreme. Your thoughts seem more reasonable to me. Thanks for the help!
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here's one 2
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm
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709 Posts
Variation is the key, if you ask me... like a good polish. You don't have a dozen engines to go through, so play it by the book, more or less, but what ever you do.... keep the rpm's up and down. Try to stay within manufacturer limits, but a blast now and then won't hurt you.maverick9611 said:
Just because your baby is the next great QB... doesn't mean you sack him out of the crib.
Gentle, but rough, but gentle?
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709 Posts
Addendum... yes, oil changes are good, the more, the sooner the better. I've always played it more or less by the book, but after seeing what comes out of my engine after changes early on, I'm going to err on the side of more - at least one after about 50 miles or so, by the book thereafter.
Thanks for the tips! I've been taking it easy but not too easy. I don't want to run at a high rpm but i also don't want to lug the engine. Seems like I'm running through the gears alot. I guess that's good cause the engine speed isn't staying constant.
BTW-If FOG is reading this, McAllen isn't as bad as you seem to remember!!
BTW-If FOG is reading this, McAllen isn't as bad as you seem to remember!!
Can anyone guesstimate how much of the crud in the oil is from the clutch, how much from the tranny, and how much from the engine?Administrator said:Addendum... yes, oil changes are good, the more, the sooner the better. I've always played it more or less by the book, but after seeing what comes out of my engine after changes early on, I'm going to err on the side of more - at least one after about 50 miles or so, by the book thereafter.
It seems that there could be a difference in the type of crud since all 3 places are so different mechanically & materially. Any info or stories appreciated.
Well bad is a relative thing, I just meant it was not a place I liked very much.bookman said:Thanks for the tips! I've been taking it easy but not too easy. I don't want to run at a high rpm but i also don't want to lug the engine. Seems like I'm running through the gears alot. I guess that's good cause the engine speed isn't staying constant.
BTW-If FOG is reading this, McAllen isn't as bad as you seem to remember!!
FOG
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