[ecirwin]

I have to drive about 200 miles home from my MINI dealer when I pick up the car in a couple weeks. The easiest way is to take the freeway, but that would mean extended driving time at constant engine speed. I was thinking about doing this, but changing gears every minute or do. I should be able to change between 4, 5, & 6 gear and stay below 4500 rpm but maintain 70 mph.

Does anyone have any thoughts on the appropriatness of this break-in? This should vary the engine speed and load throughout the trip.



Eric

[GMINI]

I never hit 4th at 70 but i think just messing around between with 5 and 6 kept my engine happy. I never kept a constant 70 or anything, though. Nope. Ya gotta punch it and zoom now and then. Sorry officer?

[richmds]

Yeah dont worry about what gear you are in the more important thing is to make sure your speed is varying. 50, 60,70,40, whatever your able to pull off.

But I got to tell you its hard not going over 70, especially when you just took delivery.

[Bonnie Scotland]

Unless the road ahead is absolutely clear i doubt if you could drive at the same speed for 200 miles.
I guarantee that you will have to, as a matter of course change gears, speed up and slow down as traffic dictates, thus, normal driving is achieved without the hassle of trying to perform all those in car antics.

Just drive home and be happy

I fully expect to be ridiculed for my comments

alan fae bonnie scotland

[ecirwin]

Bonnie,

I don't know how familiar you are with the roads here in the US, but from the dealer I could probably drive at least 125 miles and never drop below 60mph and then almost complete the trip above 60mph after an interchange that would require me to slow to 40mph. The freeway system will allow us in the US to drive at constant speeds for very extended periods. If traffic is light you can easily go for 45 minutes without switching off the cruise control. After traveling the world a little, I now understand why most of the rest of the world does not have cruise control in their cars. Here the roads and speed limits are set so that you just get in and go and don't have to think. Not so in the rest of the world.

Thanks to the rest of you for your input. It sounds like the consensus is that it can be done. There doesn't seem to be a consensus on whether it should be done.

I will try and stop somewhere on the ride home and have dinner and let the engine heat cycle a little. Good idea!

If there are any other ideas or experience, please post them.

Eric

[Bonnie Scotland]

Quote:

Originally posted by ecirwin
Bonnie,

I don't know how familiar you are with the roads here in the US, but from the dealer I could probably drive at least 125 miles and never drop below 60mph and then almost complete the trip above 60mph after an interchange that would require me to slow to 40mph. The freeway system will allow us in the US to drive at constant speeds for very extended periods. If traffic is light you can easily go for 45 minutes without switching off the cruise control. After traveling the world a little, I now understand why most of the rest of the world does not have cruise control in their cars. Here the roads and speed limits are set so that you just get in and go and don't have to think. Not so in the rest of the world.

Thanks to the rest of you for your input. It sounds like the consensus is that it can be done. There doesn't seem to be a consensus on whether it should be done.

I will try and stop somewhere on the ride home and have dinner and let the engine heat cycle a little. Good idea!

If there are any other ideas or experience, please post them.

Eric

I am familiar with roads in the US, though maybe not yours directly, however, to suggest that you let the engine cool down for 30 mins, is, to me, absurd. Not having checked i wouldn't expect the engine to cool down much over such a short period of time anyway, what with the engine bay being quite warm as well. It may actually have an adverse effect on the engine.

You also mention that you will actually change speed in any case, also, do i take it there are no changes in incline which in itself would increase or decrease the rpm.

I'm not picking faults or anything but i am merely trying to suggest that simple normal driving is more than adequate.

alan fae bonnie scotland

[ecirwin]

Bonnie,

Well I am talking about roads in Northern Indiana, so elevation changes are minimal. Not quite as flat as Ohio or Illinois for some reason, but still very flat. The point about changing speed during the trip is that I will only need to do so once because of the road and in general will only change speed slightly due to traffic. So, the terrain and the road will not contribute to changes in engine rpm and traffic will only cause small changes in rpm. However, changing gears between 4, 5, & 6 will cause significant changes in engine speed even if vehicle speed stays constant (or nearly constant).

I hope that Bonnie and Obehave can shake hands and forget their differences. I like to see heatead discussions, but don't want to see personal attacks.

Thanks Again,
Eric

[Bonnie Scotland]

Quote:

Originally posted by obehave
Honestly I don't think it was a personal attack. At least I didn't take it that way. Not Bonnie's way of conducting himself.
I don't mind being proven wrong that's the way you learn.
But being told I'm absurd well......... yea that might twist my nipple a bit

Not a personal attack at all, in fact i actively seek your posts as i feel you have a lot to offer the forums.
I, by trade, am a motor mechanic and can recount many issues of people who have and who have not "run" in their engines by the manual and both have suffered engine failure. Equally people who have not.

I agree that by following the manual you are protecting yourself from the potential engine failure that may be caused by improper procedures as laid down in the book. There are a couple of Mini2 peeps who's engines have failed.

The cycling part you mentioned is interesting, as it was exactly the point i was trying to put accross, i'm not convinced that it would degenerate the engine at all, i merely mentioned it may. I just don't know the answer to that one.

What i do know though is that an engine runs far better when at it's optimum operating temperature.

My use of the word absurd was over the top and not in my nature as you said and for that i apologise if any offence was noted

Hope this goes some way to clearing up the issue i brought up.

alan fae bonnie scotland

[ecirwin]

Awwwww, that's so nice. Now here's a cookie for each of you. Go play nice together and have fun.

LOL
Eric

[99mini]

when i break in a new car, i usually drive between 2000 - 4000 rpm. when on the highway for extended period, don't drive at a constant rpm. as well, every 10 minutes or so drive up to 4000 rpm and take foot off gas and let the car coast for a few seconds, say coasting from 65 mph to 50 mph. it sucks oil up past the rings, helping them to seat properly. watch for cars behind.

[edlfrey]

If your going to be changing gears to vary the RPMs and load why not drive back on some "Blue Highways". Do some motoring to get home, take a twisty of two.

Is the objective to get the 200 mile over and done with in less than 3 hours? Why do you want to maintain 70mph? You could have bought almost anything to drive 70mph on the freeway.

Your plan will work but it won't be a lot of fun.

[GMINI]

ooo good point edlfrey

[MINImeat]

I agree with edlfrey. I found many new ways to and from work during my break-in and when I did get on the freeway I drove everyone crazy putting my foot in it then coasting to hear the exhaust note.
Let's motor indeed!
MINImeat

[richmds]

Lets not forget that the first few hundred miles also is breaking in the brakes, drivetrain, tires, ... as well.

[ecirwin]

I think I might compromise a little and take the two lane highway home instead of the freeway. Unfortunately most of Northern IN is not very fun to drive in. Sure, you can find a spot here and there to enjoy, but that is not helpful when trying to get from A to B.

I guess it will also depend on when the car shows up and how much time I have to get home. If I don't leave the dealership until early evening, it will be tough to wander country roads in the dark.

Thanks again for the feedback!
Eric

[Bonnie Scotland]

You could always pay me to fly over and drive it home for you, i can book holidays, let me know
and i promise to break it in properly

alan fae bonnie scotland

[ecirwin]

Now you are trying to take away all my fun! Sorry Bonnie, I trust you to break it in properly about as much as I trust a valet to.

I am getting way to anxious for the thing to show up finally. 4 months is just too long to wait.

[BruceK]

I picked up my MINI in New York drove home to Texas. For the first stint of about 800 miles on freeways, I did just as you mentioned. About every 5 minutes or so (not every single minute ) I changed down from 6th to 5th, waited 5 minutes or so, changed down to 4th, waited, and repeated back up through the gears. With the tall gearing on the S it's very easy to maintain freeway speeds in the top 3 gears. I also made sure I varied car speed (as the manual directs) from about 55mph to about 75mph or so just by picking the appropriate lane for that speed.

(Oh after 800 miles I was on backroads and engine and vehicle speed natually varied. I stuck to the full recommended break-in period. Then I had a lot of FUN! )

[ecirwin]

Thanks Bruce,

Well it might not be the right thing to do, but at least I know I am not the only one thinking this way. That sounds like one heck of a trip to make. I am glad you enjoyed it in your MINI. Good time to bond and figure everything out.

Eric