So just how bad is keeping the motor at a constant RPM for a long period of time? Will it glaze over the internal components?

I'm asking because I'm purchasing my new 2004 Brilliant Black RX-8 MT/Sport this Saturday, and the day that I pick it up, I will be driving it 700 miles home. Is keeping it off of cruise control sufficient? Or will driving her 65-70 mph for many many hours going to damage the engine? Just how bad is it?

The nice part is, when I get home, I'll have finished breaking her in .

Dynasty

 

Congrats on the new pickup! Anyways, I believe the break-in period calls for your shifts to stay under 7000-7500, but the majority of us kept it in around 4000-4500 for the first 600 miles. Every now and then I went to 6000 to shift a couple of times, but keep everything under control. Like I said, I stayed around 4k to 4500 rpms for my shifts during break in with a shift around 6000 every now and then. I did this until around 1000 miles and then I finally started getting a little higher and comfortable on the revs. Just two days ago I finally redlined it in 1st and 2nd gear and man was that a rush! I have 1500 on the car right now and it's running great!

 

must have gotten a heck of deal to get it 700 miles from home.... count on it using a good load of gas..... if i was you on the trip start off at like 65 for a little while then 70.... 75..... 80.... and back down dont keep a constant load just fluxuate your speed every so often to keep the engine at different speeds.. your rpms should fluxuate between like 3000 and 4000 or so if you do like i suggest

 

I did a lot of highway driveing when I first bought mine. What I did was just shift back and forth from 5 and 6 gear every couple of minutes to change the rpms it was running at. I would cruise at about 3k in 6th then after a few mintues I'd downshit to 5th and cruise a 4.5k for a bit to keep the rpms varying. I have no idea if it was broken in correctly but it at least gave me peace of mind.

 

i think the key is to vary the rpm so that the engine isn't stuck at a particular rpm for long periods of time (10-15 min?)

what I did during my break-in was, on highway cruising, I basically alternate gears between 4-5-6 every 5-10 minutes or so, and I did it to the dot for the first 600 miles, afterward I let the rpm to stay constant for longer periods of time, but still downshifts once in a while to loosen the engine up more. I also kept it under 6000rpm until after 1000 miles, after which I gradually allowed my right foot to get more frisky :D

 

http://www.racingbeat.com/FRmazda4.htm

Varying RPM's may be better.

 

I shifted before 6K for the first 600 then I trusted Mazda engineering and started redlining every now and then just to get a feel for it. Didn't start really pushing the car til 1500miles. I think what these guys are telling you is great advice so just relax and enjoy getting to know your 8. Congrats!!!

 

Congrats on the new car. Don't stress to much over the constant RPM thing ... just don't use the cruise control. As you drive, you will naturally vary the RPM (unless you have a robot foot that can maintain the exact RPM all the time).

Although Mazda says there is no specified break in, here are a number of procedures that I collected when I was a noob. I personally followed the Japanese Rotary Mechanic procedure. The RB procedure was WAY too conservative for me.


RACING BEAT
- For the first 1000 miles (1609km) do not accelerate under full throttle.
- During the first 1000 miles (1609km) do not exceed 4000 RPM.
- For miles 1000-2000 (3218km), expand the RPM upwards - but do not accelerate at full throttle.
- Over 2000 miles (3218km), full throttle and high RPM is acceptable.

Japanese Rotary Mechanic
0-600 (965.4km) Follow the Manual, but keep it under 4000
600-800 (965.4 - 1287.2km) Open it up a bit, vary accelerations and speed RPM < 5000
800-1000 (1287.2 - 1609km) Drive the car, enjoy it but still keep RPM's < 6000
1000-1250 (1609 - 2011km) Drive it as it's powercurve intended it to be RPM's < 7000
1250-1500 (2011 - 2413.5km) Test the car frequently from RPM's 6000-9000 in every gear
> 1500 (2413.5km) Drive it anyway you want, U DA MAN NOW!!!!!!


0-100 miles 4000 rpm
100-200 miles 4500 rpm
200-300 miles 5000 rpm
300-400 miles 5500 rpm
400-500 miles 6000 rpm
500-600 miles 6500 rpm
600-700 miles 7000 rpm
700-800 miles 7500 rpm