Per the manual, it's broken in

"MM54" (mm54mk2)
06/08/2020 at 18:20 • Filed to: SpringCar2

The book says 620 miles / 1,000 km which is the current exact odometer reading

I’m a little skeptical though and plan on taking it relatively easy for a bit longer before a way-ahead-of-schedule oil change. I refuse to believe that you can leave oil in an engine for the ‘recommended’ 10k miles without paying for it long term, not to mention the original oil it was broken in on! I’ll probably do the transmission oil then as well, which is conspicuously absent from the maintenance schedule...

In other news, we visited an old friend on Sunday to say hello. Things being as they are, it may be another little while before this is back on the road.

The jury’s out on what I’m going to do with the RX7. I have no intention to get rid of it, but it needs the engine taken apart to re-seal (the dowels leak oil profusely) and while zero-rust and straight , desperately needs paint. Part of me wants to re-seal the engine, get some wheels with real tire options, and track it; part of me wants to treat it nice and also paint it and replace some of the sun-scorched interior bits, etc. in addition to the engine re- sealing.

DISCUSSION (8)

jminer > MM54
06/08/2020 at 18:41

I’d be hesitant to leave in the break in oil that long but once you get past that point unless you’re flogging it particularly hard or drive dusty roads a lot leaving in oil that long doesn’t bother me.

I’ve run multiple vehicles at 8k oil changes without any ill effects long term. I do abide by the yearly c hange though - no matter how many (or how few) miles you’ve driven change the oil each spring.

wafflesnfalafel > jminer
06/08/2020 at 19:18

right - get that first oil out pretty quick, I’ve done it at about 2k in our vehicles once things have settled in to get everything else floating around out of the system. After that I go more by time - about every 6 months recently since our mileage has gone down with reduced commute distances and number of days.

jminer > wafflesnfalafel
06/08/2020 at 19:23

I stick to a yearly change instead of every 6 months as I don’t take a lot of super short trips that don’t get the oil up to temp so I’m comfortable letting it go that long.

I’ve only ever bought one new vehicle (motorcycle) and changed it’s break in oil at the spec of 600 miles. Then again next spring even though I’d only gone 2k of the 8k mileage life in it.

MM54 > jminer
06/08/2020 at 19:38

I’m planning on changing it at about 1000mi (which if anything to me seems long for break-in but it’s a whole lot better than “ up to” 10k they recommend...). I usually will run synthetic 5-6k between changes and have been pretty keen on that. The cost of oil and 15-20 minutes of my time is well worth the peace of mind to know that I’m erring on the side of caution instead of “new turbo at 45k miles”

jminer > MM54
06/08/2020 at 20:33

That’s a fair point especially with the engine being Italian. I love the look of the 124, you still loving it? I'm a big dude and don't fit well in small convertibles or I'd seriously look at one.

MM54 > jminer
06/08/2020 at 21:36

It is excellent so far, and still puts a smile on my face when I get in and drive.

Danny Korecki > MM54
06/08/2020 at 23:43

It is broken in? Time for a burnout!

MM54 > Danny Korecki
06/09/2020 at 11:03

All in due time :)