Hey all...

I forgot to ask the dealer and haven't fully explored the owner's manual yet. What is the break-in period for the Pat? I don't want to push the engine before it is ready.

My father's Toyota Tundra's requisite was to keep it under 55mph for the first 2,000 miles or something like that. I'm going on a trip in a few weeks and hope I don't need to keep it at 55 the whole way! :D

this might be bad advice, but personally I probably wouldn't follow the factory break in.

I wouldn't go too hard on the engine, but personally I would take 3 and 4th gear into upper rpm's to create best possible seal, thats would be within first few hundred km's though...

but yeah there's usualy a pretty big debate on proper break in, the factories usually suggest going easy on it, but that doesn't necessarily mean it will offer the best performance of your engine, just help guarantee that if they messed up on something u don't break it right away :P


someone else probably has better insight into this :)

my suggestions though, take it easy accelerating through 1st and 2nd, 3rd up take er normal, and wouldn't worry about pushing 5th gear or top speed or anything. If something breaks going 65 or 70mph something is messed up :)



(uhg spelling, night shifts... lol. Excuse the grammar as well, I have to worry about it on the work stuff so this is my break heh)

I drove a Limited CVT on Monday and I asked my salesperson about the break-in period. He said that the service people told him that the computer limits the performance of the engine for the first 500 miles and basically takes care of itself. What have those of you that have already purchased a Pat found to be the case?

Talk about a can of worms!

My method for break in:

Varying the RPM's for the first 500 miles (10 minute intervals at 1 particular engine speed)
No cruise at all
No hard acceleration

Change the oil & filter
Then you can use cruise and 'push' the motor

My philosophy is that by going easy on the engine all of the wear patterns are established with the least amount of stress possible on the internal components. Any micro-meter burrs or scuffs are smoothed away with "gental passes" of the rotating assembly. To me - going hard and fast straight away allows for scuffs and niks to be transfered to the rotating assembly as the wear patterns are not established and this could translate into reduced engine life once you reach 100K miles (or 166K KM's)

Talk about a can of worms!

My method for break in:

Varying the RPM's for the first 500 miles (10 minute intervals at 1 particular engine speed)
No cruise at all
No hard acceleration

Change the oil & filter
Then you can use cruise and 'push' the motor

My philosophy is that by going easy on the engine all of the wear patterns are established with the least amount of stress possible on the internal components. Any micro-meter burrs or scuffs are smoothed away with "gental passes" of the rotating assembly. To me - going hard and fast straight away allows for scuffs and niks to be transfered to the rotating assembly as the wear patterns are not established and this could translate into reduced engine life once you reach 100K miles (or 166K KM's)
i agree totally...i take her easy the first 500 mls but i dont change the oil until 1k...then 2k, then 3k and every 3k after that...overkill?...maybe...but ive done this to all my new auto's (6 and counting) and none of them have ever burned any oil!

Alright... thanks for the good advice, everyone. :D

For the record, I think if you read the owners manual, the break in period is pretty short. 500 miles or so.

what are you thoughts on synthetic oil for this motor? I never switched to synthetic in my 4.0L but i heard good things about it...input is welcome

Use convential oil for the first 3,000 miles (4828km's) then feel free to switch to your prefered brand of synthetic motor oil.

Most like Mobil 1, Royal Purple, RedLine, etc..

For the record, I think if you read the owners manual, the break in period is pretty short. 500 miles or so.

Thanks... like I mentioned... I hadn't finished perusing the manual yet so I thought I'd ask here.

As Srothfuss says, don't stay at one speed for extended periods of time, don't rev too fast, accellerate and decellerate quite frequently. You want to vary engine loads in order to change the loading forces on various parts, especially pistons and rings. Drive moderately to avoid getting friction surfaces of parts too hot. I think that driving 65 for short periods after the first 500 miles is fine, but not at a steady pace for, say over 15 minutes. Just back off to 55 for a few minutes and accelerate back up to 65 for 15 more. For the first 500 miles I would drive like a commuter frequently going from stop to 55 and back down slower and accellerate back up.

No lead foot and worse yet, no long idling periods. Change the oil and filter at 2K to 3K. You can rest assured that you have given your new Patriot every opportunity to have a long trouble free life.

My opinion is based on 38 years of automotive repair, education and ownership.

I took beepbeep's advice to heart and instead of heading to the highway, took the back roads through small towns. Speed up, slow down, speed up, slow down...

Yup. The formula I've used is similar.

Vary RPMs and keep them below a rising limit. Say 4000 for first 500, and then gradually increase to about 5500 during the first 1000 miles. Change the oil before 1000. Change again at 3000 and then every 3-4000 after unless going to synthetic after 8000 miles. Then with luck you should make it to 200k.

In the past, it was important to break the engine in the first 500 miles, but today they are made a lot better, i mean the exactness of every part is a lot better, made by computers and so on, so you dont realy nead to take much care about that. Still, the first oil change is important.;)

In the past, it was important to break the engine in the first 500 miles, but today they are made a lot better, i mean the exactness of every part is a lot better, made by computers and so on, so you dont realy nead to take much care about that. Still, the first oil change is important.;)

I agree but it is really cheap insurance.

I agree but it is really cheap insurance.

Years ago, when engines used iron rings, it took about 500 to 800 miles for the rings to seat. Nowadays, you can pretty much just get in and go. You probably don't want run any races right away, but normal driving won't hurt a thing.

Years ago, when engines used iron rings, it took about 500 to 800 miles for the rings to seat. Nowadays, you can pretty much just get in and go. You probably don't want run any races right away, but normal driving won't hurt a thing.

Agreed. BTW love the sound of the engine. Very free revving. So unlike a Wrangler straight six. Also noticed that the exhaust is tuned for a deeper sound than most fours.

Agreed. BTW love the sound of the engine. Very free revving. So unlike a Wrangler straight six. Also noticed that the exhaust is tuned for a deeper sound than most fours.

Yes, I noticed it sounds VERY good, but you have to listen caefully because the Pat is SO quiet!

Yes, I noticed it sounds VERY good, but you have to listen caefully because the Pat is SO quiet!

With windows open :D

The manual indicates that 300 miles is all that is needed for break in. They recommend that while driving at cruising speed, you should increased the RPM's rapidly at least once to twice during the break in.

I have 700 miles on mine (FDII). No problem whatsoever. Although, I am still getting 21 miles with mixed highway/city driving. I hope this improves.

I took beepbeep's advice to heart and instead of heading to the highway, took the back roads through small towns. Speed up, slow down, speed up, slow down...

I can stick to the highway because here in Ottawa, traffic turns it into a slow down, speed up back road every day :icon_rolleyes:

I had to pass a transport last night, and I accidently punched it hard enough that I reved up to 5500 rpm. I immediately let up though. Was this bad? I doubt it.

The Owners Manual instructions are:

Drive moderately during the first 300 miles (500 km).
After the initial 60 miles (100 km), speeds up to 50 or 55
mph (80 or 90 km/h) are desirable.
While cruising, brief full-throttle acceleration, within the
limits of local traffic laws, contributes to a good break-in.
Wide open throttle acceleration in low gear can be
detrimental and should be avoided.

I can stick to the highway because here in Ottawa, traffic turns it into a slow down, speed up back road every day :icon_rolleyes:

I had to pass a transport last night, and I accidently punched it hard enough that I reved up to 5500 rpm. I immediately let up though. Was this bad? I doubt it.


Accidents do happen :D I would check again the next time someone goes really slow in front of you. It wasn't over red-line and you have a bit of miles on it Phil. I think that is what the engine is supposed to do :smiley_thumbs_up:

srothfuss really has good advice. As the new engine starts working in, small metal pieces work off and end in the pan. I usually figured break-in was at least 1000 miles, but I would follow the instructions to do a complete oil change and filter at 500 miles, but still treat the engine with a little extra care for the first 1,000 miles. I might do an additional oil change at 1,000 miles, and from then on, at 3,000 mile intervals. You should vary your rpms during the break-in period, no jack rabbit starts or pedal to the metal stuff. If you're cruising on the highway, stay within the suggested limit, but don't just cruise at that speed, vary the speed. A little loving treatment here, can give you a much longer lasting trouble free ride. Enjoy!

My Dealer said to do mixed driving (city/highway) but keep it at 55mph or lower for the 1st 500 miles, also, no heavy braking or stomping your foot on the accellerator. After 500 miles go fer it! They also recommended the very first oil change at 1500 miles (oil and filter), even though the manual suggest 3000 miles.

Don
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2007 Inferno Red,4x4 Sport CVT2, EVIC, tow prep, Boston Acoustics Sound, 17" Wheels with All Terrain Tires

Yup, that is some sound advice you got... Now get to DRIVING!

Continuing with the "First Oil Change" theme.

I have picked up my 2008 Patriot and the service book lists the first oil change at ... 10,000.
My dealer said that the 2007 service book had the first service at 5000.

I can't think of any advantage Chrysler gains from reducing the oil change intervals, so maybe the new world engine really does look after itself.

In any case I plan to do at least one earlier oil change, maybe at 3000.

What have other 2008 owners done?

I'm picking up my Riot next week *keeps fingers crossed*. I'm planningon changing the oil at 500 miles. After that...normal driving and intervals of 3000, regardless what the manual says. I have had good luck with this in the past on other vehicles. So why change...

Life time powertrain guarantee. Will this breed complaincy in following the suggested maintaince schedules? I am a bit old school when it comes to oil changes, 3000 miles with patroleum based oils. I don't know enough about synthetics to have an opinion on them.

I've alway's taken it easy for the first 1,500 miles then just drive it like any other car. Per/my step father the x-mechanic and x-caresalesmen... LOL funny considering I dislike car salesmen a lot!

Continuing with the "First Oil Change" theme.

I have picked up my 2008 Patriot and the service book lists the first oil change at ... 10,000.
My dealer said that the 2007 service book had the first service at 5000.

I can't think of any advantage Chrysler gains from reducing the oil change intervals, so maybe the new world engine really does look after itself.

In any case I plan to do at least one earlier oil change, maybe at 3000.

What have other 2008 owners done?


Huh? Mine says 6,000 miles normal, 3,000 severe. And I have an '08.

The owner's manual for the '08 from here says 6,000:

http://www.jeep.com/en/owners/manuals/index.html

I ran the first 3,500 on conventional, and changed over to full synthetic 5w/20. Planning on keeping with the 6,000mi interval.

Maybe he means 10000KM...but dunno

I am a bit old school when it comes to oil changes, 3000 miles with patroleum based oils. I don't know enough about synthetics to have an opinion on them.

I'm with you on that, but I have to admit, our Mini Cooper used 100% synthetic oil from Day 1 and we never had a lick of trouble. Also, the oil changes (per Mini themselves!) were once a year or 10,000 miles. We did it a little sooner than that just because it seemed outrageous NOT to, but the guys in the service area assured me they do it day in and day out. 10K...go figure, huh? Maybe that synthetic stuff would work in the Pat after all...:smiley_thumbs_up:

I changed at 1500, switched to Amsoil synthetic, and now am going to change again at 5k with a rotation, then every 5k with rotation after that.

My life is sooooo radical.... :)

My theory is, it's on lease and under warranty so drive it hard baby !!

My theory is, it's on lease and under warranty so drive it hard baby !!

thats what i'm thinking!

but yeah, i drove it at around 55-65 for the 1st 300 miles. today was the 1st time I floored it (besides the test drive) I'm still taking it easy on her. i'm playing the game 'get 30 on the MPG indicator' :D

I don't need to get the oil changed at the dealer to keep the warranty intact right? (just keep receipts of oil changes I guess?)

I usually change my own oil, but I'll just let someone else do it this time lol.

after 1000 miles, I'll go ahead and change the oil, and from there I'll start using synth oil.

It's an interesting question, which I was also wondering about. In the manual it sasys not to go above 55 mph for the first 500 miles. Well here in the UK that would be impossible since our motorways (highways) have a speed limit of 70...going 55 mph would probably get me arrested for careless driving :)

So I figured since I have the 2.0 CRD I would drive it below 3000 rpm in all of the gears for the first 500 miles.

In my first 1067 miles, I averaged 29.4 miles per gallon, based on the odometer and fuel pump gallon readings. I checked the odometer against the mile markers on I-10 and, if anything, it reads slightly (very slightly) low on the miles driven. The driving mix was probably 20-25% city.

I drove it moderately per the breakin instructions in the US Owner's Manual the first 300 miles and moderately since then. I accelerate to 3,000 RPM in first gear and then to 2,500 in second through fourth gear. I try to keep the RPM's between 2,000 and 2,500 RPM.

FWIW and YMMV. :)

Continuing with the "First Oil Change" theme.

I have picked up my 2008 Patriot and the service book lists the first oil change at ... 10,000.
My dealer said that the 2007 service book had the first service at 5000.

I can't think of any advantage Chrysler gains from reducing the oil change intervals, so maybe the new world engine really does look after itself.

In any case I plan to do at least one earlier oil change, maybe at 3000.

What have other 2008 owners done?

You don't say whether that is 10,000 miles or 10,000 kilometers (which is about 6,000 miles). My 2008 US Owner's Manual says every 6,000 Miles, 10,000 Kilometers or six months, whichever comes first.

About every 2 weeks a make a 360 mile trip from MN to WI or vice versa. I just drive on a highway through small towns and such, not a freeway or interstate, for the first trip, I take it easy for the next couple hundred miles and call it good. I like to change the oil after the first 1000 miles.