New Saturn Engines Requires No Break-in?...

[93BLKTWINCAM]

The Saturn Salesman told my future son-in-law that his new twin-cam required no break-in period...just drive it as you would any car that is already broken-in! I've never heard of this. He took his car with less that 30 miles on it from Louisiana to Destin, FL at interstate speeds (70+). I told him to vary the throttle opening, but he told me that the salesman said Saturns come "broken-in" from the factory! Is this true? Never heard of an engine that never had to be "babied" just a little when brand new.:confused:

[Alan eh?]

Page 91 of the manual for my Vue says that the engine does not require a break in period.

It says not to drive at any one speed for the first 500 miles and don't make full throtle starts.

Avoid making hard stops for the first 200 miles as the brake linings are not broken in.

Don't do any towing buring the break in period that does not exist either! thats an interesting one!

=Alan=

[SCDYNE]

This will sound like a line of B.S. and a bunch of marketing hoop-la, but the fact of the matter is:
These engines are built with such attention to detail and strict tolerances that a break in period is not needed. Also upon delivery of the vehicle to the retailer a series of tests are performed that make sure the engine and power train are working as expected.
Once you purchase it, flog it because that's what warrantees are for. Trust me if you have ever been a Sales consultant for any time you'd know that the techs and customers drive the **** out of the cars from the day they come off the truck to the day they roll out the delivery module.

With today's PCM's if there was any need for a break in period it would be the responsibility of the manufacture to program it in not let the owner try and control driving habits.

I have never understood this break in period idea, how could you properly test a vehicle if you couldn't put it through the paces during a road test?

[Qlara]

Require break-in period or not, it's never hurt to baby your car before the first oil change.

I don't think the saleman is in total BS, just that today's motors are all built with higher tolerance, and better engine lubes......

[WHITE98SL2]

Originally posted by 93BLKTWINCAM
The Saturn Salesman told my future son-in-law that his new twin-cam required no break-in period...just drive it as you would any car that is already broken-in! I've never heard of this. He took his car with less that 30 miles on it from Louisiana to Destin, FL at interstate speeds (70+). I told him to vary the throttle opening, but he told me that the salesman said Saturns come "broken-in" from the factory! Is this true? Never heard of an engine that never had to be "babied" just a little when brand new.:confused:

When I bought my 95 SL2 in December of 94, the wife and I took the car home that afternoon and the next morning we went on a trip to visit family for Christmas. The car had about 30 miles on it and I got on the freeway, put the car at 70 mph and did that all the way there. Now the car has 100,000 hard miles (hehe) on it and I have had zero failures. Oil consumption is about the same as when new and have not seen any blue smoke from the exhuast when started or running. I'm serious, about no failures, even the front disc brakes are original. Just spark plugs, spark plug wires, coolant changes, oil changes, tranny fluid changed once, and pcv changed once. The car is a tank!

[eRic 02sc2]

Originally posted by 93BLKTWINCAM
The Saturn Salesman told my future son-in-law that his new twin-cam required no break-in period...just drive it as you would any car that is already broken-in! I've never heard of this. He took his car with less that 30 miles on it from Louisiana to Destin, FL at interstate speeds (70+). I told him to vary the throttle opening, but he told me that the salesman said Saturns come "broken-in" from the factory! Is this true? Never heard of an engine that never had to be "babied" just a little when brand new.:confused:

look in the Saturn owners manual. it talks about breaking in a Saturn.