MS3 Break-in period

It depends on what you read, as there are different schools of thought where this is concerned. Some advocate babying the motor to allow the engine tolerances to work themselves out before beating on the engine. Others advocate breaking the car in like you intend to run the engine later on. In other words, for performance engines that are meant to be driven hard, break the engine in hard. This allows the pistons rings to expand and seat properly producing better compression, better performance, and improved durability overall.

I used the first approach for my MSP and my MS6. In my MS3 I used a hybrid of the two methods as I purchased the MS3 in another city some 600km from where I currently live. I wasn't about to drive 600km with my wife and kids at a turtle's pace. I drove gently while in the city where I purchased it and in my home city, and like I normally do while on the highway.

IMHO, I would suggest a 1000km or 600 mile break-in period. In my MS6 I changed the oil after 200km and again after 1000km. I generally did not exceed 3000 RPM or sit at the same RPM for extended periods. Every once and a while I would hit it hard for a brief moment during this break-in period, so I didn't follow these guidelines religiously, but rather loosely. After the break-in I drove both the MS6 and the MS3 regularly and I change the oil every 3000km or so.

R
 
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Drive the b**** like you stole it and smile everytime doing it.
If you think for one second Mazda or ANY manufacturer hasn't already Broke in the engine and zingged it a few times your crazy.

Newer engines break in within 30-60 mins of startup. this seats the rings and breaks in the bearings. Most critcial part is to just change the oil soon. maybe 600-1000 miles and then have a blast.

ON My VW, i beat the snot out of it for 7 years before it had a Failure. Most people don't keep cars that long. My timing chain broke the car was on spray and hell i still got VW to replace the motor under warranty.

Regular maintainence is paramount. IMO So go enjoy the car. If your really worried about break do likei did. Drove the car off the showrrom floor straight to the nearest casino (2 hrs each way) and tried to win the car pay off :D
 
Good god rainman you change the OIL every 3000 KM????? thats insane. i guess you don't like money or something.

Maybe the extreme cold has something to do with it.
I change oil in my other turbo car every 3k MILES. and trust me i beat the ever living crap out of it. The cars get lots of track time.
 
i beat the hell when i got my msp and lol the engine broke so when i got my ex-cx-7(now my dads baby LOL) i baby it and im doing the same in my future silver ms3 !!! No more hard braking i rather wait and drive hard in 1000k miles or so!!!
 
No offense but the Protege isn't a tough car to begin with. also how hard did you beat on it, becuase my definition and yours will be different.
 
lol i know the msp was not a tough car thats why i gave up with it!! I love it but it was a pain , always a problem, i beated like(5600 rpm) the 4 week with like 700 miles broke the engine , got it change from japan LOl , but i did the same with my cx-7 and i still drive hard and no problems and i have 24k miles so i know this engine 2.3 disi turbo is really tough and it has a good potential!!!
 
About 600 miles so far:

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SuperStretch18 said:
Kind of hard to hold the camera still when you are going 130+mph...


lol~ totally didn't see the speed reading. That sounds much worse than driving and talking on the cellphone at the same time. >_<
 
Hikaru9 said:
lol~ totally didn't see the speed reading. That sounds much worse than driving and talking on the cellphone at the same time. >_<

Me neither. I was trying to read the odo and totally missed the speedo until it was pointed out...LOL!

Consider that MS3 broken in baby!

R
 
Yeah, that's a camera phone, so it doesn't take real good pics to begin with. 135 MPH kinda makes it a little worse. But yeah, I say break it in like you're gonna drive it.
 
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