Break in on Exige S

[GregH]

Bought my Exige S yesterday (AR, TP, SS). Any rec's on break-in.

[kestrel74]

While it's raining out, read the manual cover to cover.

[RacyTracy]

Just pretty much follow the break-in procedure. Remember at 1,000 miles they will print out a history of your use. High rpm's and standing starts will be recorded.

[tonykomo]

news for you, the breakin as quote by lotus is a load of rubbish. still the same piece of text they used for the old rover engines. in japan they rewrite the manual and tell you not only do you NOT need to take is easy and breaking the engine, the first service is not needed until 3000kms!! i double checked this with quite a few people in lotus and in japan. seems lotus is just being overly conservative.

[qball]

Originally Posted by tonyyoshi

news for you, the breakin as quote by lotus is a load of rubbish. still the same piece of text they used for the old rover engines. in japan they rewrite the manual and tell you not only do you NOT need to take is easy and breaking the engine, the first service is not needed until 3000kms!! i double checked this with quite a few people in lotus and in japan. seems lotus is just being overly conservative.

So why then, do they print the ECU data at the first service?

I recall at least one poster here having warranty denied due to over-reving and standing starts during break-in.

I will believe it when I see it from Lotus. Sorry.

[Seb]

Read this carefully.. http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

I have told many many people to do this... not one person has come away unhappy. Mostly race 4G63T stroker motors.

[chrisp993]

Where does the 1,000 mile service idea come from anyway - my manual just talks about breaking sorta gently before 600 miles then less gently after 600 miles. And in both cases its confusing "don't exceed 4500 rpm, but exceeding it is OK in short bursts" type of language. Very vague and unhelpful.



I'm at 550 miles, my plan since 500 miles has been to explore 5500rpm to 6500rpm more vigorously, get it serviced at 700 to 800 miles ..... after that, all bets are off

[tonykomo]

Originally Posted by qball

So why then, do they print the ECU data at the first service?

I recall at least one poster here having warranty denied due to over-reving and standing starts during break-in.

I will believe it when I see it from Lotus. Sorry.

Hey, it's not for everyone. Also, Lotus can do whatever they want IF you want the supposed luxury of a warranty. In Asia we don't bother with the warranty. Not worth the paper it's printed on.

But here's the interesting thing, all you're pointing out is that the dealer will deny you your warranty UNLESS you do as Lotus says.

I spent time researching this on and off the track with different types of Lotus. I did not breakin my 111s and yet I raced it for 2 seasons, used it on the road for another 1 1/2 years. The engine was in perfect condition even after all that bouncing off the rev limiter etc. A few weeks back the new owner had it stripped and one cylinder replaced cos of wear and tear on the ring. you telling me a "Lotus Manual Break in" would have stopped that from happening? No. It's commercial.

Anyway, everyone should do it the way they feel comfortable. But I guarantee you that the comment in the manual about "taking it too easy is NOT good for the engine" is a clue to how the engine should REALLY be broken in.

On the matter of warranty, I'm curious how many people have had stuff done regarding the engine on warranty?

[tonykomo]

btw, I think the Japanese have a LOT better idea of what the yota/yamaha engine can do, and how it should be treated....

[qball]

I'm not arguing what's better for the engine's break-in...

I'm just not going to show up at the dealer for my 1,000 mile service and give them a link to the website showing how it was probably better for my engine if I "drove it like I stole it" versus what Lotus requires you to do for warranty purposes.

In the end, given Lotus USA's track record, I think the dealer is going to point to the owner's manual versus what they do in Japan or what the recommend on a non-affiliated website recommends.

And I think it's irresponsible to recommend doing so to people looking for advice without making a disclaimer about "potential" warranty issues in following posted advice.

[bgsterling]

Originally Posted by chrisp993

Where does the 1,000 mile service idea come from anyway - my manual just talks about breaking sorta gently before 600 miles then less gently after 600 miles. And in both cases its confusing "don't exceed 4500 rpm, but exceeding it is OK in short bursts" type of language. Very vague and unhelpful.

The 1,000 mile service idea comes from the dealership. It's in answer to the manual's comment

Originally Posted by Lotus Manual

After 600 miles (1,000km) have been covered, full throttle and/or maximum rpm may be sued for short periods, but not until the first 'After Sales' service has been carried out should full car performance be exploited.

It's that 'After Sales' service that Lotus dealers have tagged as a 1,000 mile service.

For me, I just crossed 600 miles last night. I've been mostly riding it around 4,000 rpm. I didn't just drone along at that engine speed, but varied it by modulating the thottle. Moderately riding through some good twisties seems to keep the engine speed moving up and down. With some regularity, but not constantly, I'd run it up with half throttle to ~6,000 rpm. It took some self control, but it wasn't overly painful. BTW, at 601 miles, I floored it and ran to 7500 rpm.

[GregH]

My manual for the Exige S is really an Elise manual. It calls for break in at continuous RPM at or below 4500 with short bursts above allowed. Did all of you Exige owners receive an "Elise" manual?

[dstevens]

Ideally the engine should have petroleum/mineral oil when new, and be driven at 60-80% load at 25%-50% rpm for the first 20-30 miles, then harder (100% load / 80% rpm) for 20-30 miles, then full load / full rpm. (This is translated from engine dyno break in, which is why the load/rpm numbers seem odd). Next, dump the oil and filter, insert a non-PAG synthetic oil (which only leaves ester based synthetics), and away you go.

What happens in reality? The OEMs use a hybrid mix of mineral/synthetic oil, and try to push the first service as far back as possible. The owners often don't load the engine up enough, and get poor ring seal. The worst possible thing is a lot of cold starts / short trips and idling.

A single 1000 mile trip will work well.

[tonykomo]

Originally Posted by qball

And I think it's irresponsible to recommend doing so to people looking for advice without making a disclaimer about "potential" warranty issues in following posted advice.

irresponsible? also, i did not post the link to the website, someone else did. i'm merely stating what i've researched. i'm assuming most owners are adults and can figure out from this thread what's best to do. if you value your warranty, don't follow the "alternative". if you don't care about warranty but are interested in other methods of breakin, read up on the "alternative" "suggestion".

i don't see anyone telling people what to do or ADVISING them to do it. people are merely commenting.

jeesh, this site is turning into a lawyers wet dream... no wonder lotus have to put a stupid sticker in the trunk telling people how to get back out if they get locked in!!!

[bgsterling]

Originally Posted by GregH

My manual for the Exige S is really an Elise manual. It calls for break in at continuous RPM at or below 4500 with short bursts above allowed. Did all of you Exige owners receive an "Elise" manual?

I got a 2006 Elise/Exige manual with a one page addendum for the S.

[Scrumpot]

Originally Posted by tonykomo

news for you, the breakin as quote by lotus is a load of rubbish.

Okay, so I picked up my new '08 Exige S Club Racer from S&S in NJ (I live in MD) just yesterday. Am I a rock-star now, or what?!

Pictures will soon enough follow.

Of course, during delivery, the dealer sits me down and goes over the whole break-in, and anticipated 1st after-sale service (they're looking for me @ 1k miles for this) schtick, etc. Puts the fear of god into me about the ECU memory dump they will do - mapping my maximum revs, duration times, - on & on. One tire-grip breaking standing-start , and my warranty is "toast" for sure! So, silly-me, I literally baby my new baby all the way home. Down the Jersey Pike, over the DelMem Br, down 95 - all, keeping my max rev's to probably even 3500.

So not until today do I come on here now, and read all THIS! Including the link provided by another seemingly well learned, highly experienced "expert" saying in essence that the 1st 20 miles in fact, is CRITICAL, and instead - completely opposite, I shoulda "opened 'er up"!

Actually dump the original delivered oil too, at only 20 miles??

Am I now screwed?

My Local Mechanic (A Jag specialist who I trust) also says rubbish! And to break 'er in, as you intend to use 'er. But this Black-Box dump "threat" has now got my head realing.

I've got 225 miles now on the car, driven so far - pretty much like my grandma's buick. Please - Quick, someone come in here and tell me I'm not screwed, and what I should possibly do? I really don't care about the 1k Dealer "after sale", and from what I read so far too - everything tells me I won't even care about the Lotus Warrantee, as it might apply to the engine anyway. So - someonw, QUICK - set me straight! What is next for a poor misguided newbie like me to do?

I'm gonna take the car out tonight at 3AM as well, to get the AP 4-piston brake break-on routine done now too. Okay to do after already 225 miles?

In short: - - - - HELP!

In advance all.... THANKS!

[Scrumpot]

Oh yeah, and PS - apologies for all the insipid emoticons too! Newbies, huh?

Just shows how much of my mind I am now just totally losing over all of this!!
I know better.

Thanks in advance folks, for ANY help!

[RoadDad]

Originally Posted by Scrumpot

Am I now screwed?

No.

Originally Posted by Scrumpot

I've got 225 miles now on the car, driven so far - pretty much like my grandma's buick. Please - Quick, someone come in here and tell me I'm not screwed, and what I should possibly do?

You're not screwed. Go to bed. Wake up tomorrow and enjoy your new car and the beautiful day.

[vyuen]

The best way to run in your motor is to run it in HARD; just make sure the oil is replaced once very early on as the wear is most pronounced in the first few miles. The purpose of that is to stretch those rings and get a good seal with the cylinder liner. Cylinder liners are manufactured with surface imperfections to deliberately allow the wear-in process to take place.

[Scrumpot]

So, run it another what - 100, 150 miles winding 'er out good and hard now, as is - then do a 1st oil change? Or should I dump out and change this oil I've already put the 225 miles on 1st, and then go at it? Would any early impuraties already be bound up in the filter for me to feel safe enough doing this as-is?

I wonder how many people actually follow the handbook on this to a T (which I had actually planned to do) - as in reading all through all this only now can I see how much (agreed) total RUBBISH that really is!

I certainly just also don't want to go and actually hurt anything, all of a sudden now either. Or am I being just way too totally uptight now, over this whole entire thing?

Thanks again for the feedback and help!