I just bought a 2002 Camaro Z28 (6spd w/ t-top) and have about 300 miles on it. I haven't gotten the chance to really open it up on the road. The most i have done is race my friend's 99 Accord EX (auto). I got up to about 60mph and decided to let him catch up. But what I am wondering is do I need to break the engine in? If so when can I really unleash its full power?

 

It's always a good idea to break in any engine. I personally won't rip into the engine until I get at least 1000 miles on it. Especially the LS1, It gets faster as it loosens up, usually around 3-4K Miles.

 

I cant explain it, but that is -so- correct.


This is my first -real- car - every other one was a riced 4 banger.

I got a 2002 SS.

Drove conservatively 500 miles, never going at a constant speed for long, as recommended.

Slowly started to start using it as I got to 1000.

No limits from 1000 on.

Now that I have 3,300 miles on the thing, it is SO much faster than when I sped around with it when it had 1000 miles on it.

It's insane! I love this machine!

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-2002 Red Camaro SS
Chesapeake, Virginia
http://www.HeadRushPerformance.Com

 

yeah most people say that about LS1's.. But what I wonder who all has just tried to open it up since day one?

I read on a site (it was about motorcycles) but it made sense. They said that you shouldnt baby it. You should follow a process that involved a few WOT runs. The reasons he gave were that the inside of the cylinders work as an abrasive to get the rings to seal and the seals wear down the abrasives to make the cylinderwalls smooth. If his theory works it does make sense because you dont want to waste the abrasive properties.

In any case, my car had 600 miles when we got to it and its perfect so far. Yesterday on the dyno, mine didnt spew anything out of the tailpipes. All of the other cars were blowing smoke and other items out of theirs and mine looked super clean. I was so very stoked!
YAY!

Just take care of it and it will treat ya right! Research all of your mods before buying and you shouldnt go wrong. I would suggest a dyno soon and then one in a few thousand miles to see where you are at baseline. Then add and dyno. SOTP dynos dont work IMO. I personally need hard data. "Feels like" doesnt work for me.

 

That would be me!!!

Honestly, I was nice to the car for about 100 miles, then I began "cautiously" applying more and more throttle when I'd step on it. On the second day I had the car, I was going to work, and without even flooring it, I hit 160km/h (100mph) pulling onto the highway --- I couldn't believe how fast it got there, and with such little effort. I slowed it down to 120 (~80 mph) which is higher than the "recommended" speeds for the first 800km (500miles), but IMO, that's BS.

My car just rolled 9000km tonight (5500miles??), and it still runs mint. I have not "babied" it by any means since I bought it, although I did not do a lot of WOT runs either until it had over the recommended 800km on it. After that?? Woo-hoo!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Well I started really hammering on it at 950 miles. It has been run HARD ever since. Sure I took it easy before then, but I always gave it some juice every now and then. Just do what makes you comfortable. This is an often debated topic that will just confuse you the more you listen to opinions.