How to break in your new S4
01-14-2011, 05:24 AM
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How to break in your new S4
There's lots of different opinions on the internet and I was wondering how you guys broke in your car? Do you follow the car manual in breaking in?
01-14-2011, 06:03 AM
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01-14-2011, 06:25 AM
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01-14-2011, 09:03 AM
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No worries, just pointing you in the right direction. Almost everyone with something to say here has said it, and you won't likely get any newer opinions or info that is already contained in the reference threads in that link 
01-14-2011, 01:32 PM
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Please, do not use the gentle technique recommend in the manual. There is no fix for those that have oil consumption isses. All I know is that I have "Worn in"(a more acurate term for the proceedure) my latest cars (95 Cobra, 98 M3, 2002 A6 2.7T, 04 S4,04 350Z, 07 335i, 08 Lexus IS250 and my 10 S4) Aggressively. Did not beat the car. Ran WOT (after reaching normal operating temps)to redline from day #1 3-4 times per day in a controlled manner, followed by engine braking. WOTs below redline as desired. NONE of my cars have used any appreciable oil. ALL cars will consume small amounts of oil. Many who have followed my recommendations have thanked me. NO one has ever come back and said that they had engine problems or oil consumption issues who followed my(or Motoman's) recommendations. That cannot be said about the Audi easy break in technique. Not all that follow the easy break in WILL have problems. But too many will. So you can WEAR it in aggressively(I don't recommend the drive like you stole it method even though I believe it is actually better than the gentle break in technique), or you can follow the manufacturer's recommendation and take your chances. But what could I possible know and why would Audi recommend a break in technique that might result in oil consumption issues? BECAUSE, Audi sets the criteria for excess oil consumption so high that they know that they will almost never have a claim or need to do any remediation. BUT if someone over does the break in and over revs a cold engine and it goes BOOM, that could be out big money. It always about the money.
01-14-2011, 04:33 PM
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Please, do not use the gentle technique recommend in the manual. There is no fix for those that have oil consumption isses. All I know is that I have "Worn in"(a more acurate term for the proceedure) my latest cars (95 Cobra, 98 M3, 2002 A6 2.7T, 04 S4,04 350Z, 07 335i, 08 Lexus IS250 and my 10 S4) Aggressively. Did not beat the car. Ran WOT (after reaching normal operating temps)to redline from day #1 3-4 times per day in a controlled manner, followed by engine braking. WOTs below redline as desired. NONE of my cars have used any appreciable oil. ALL cars will consume small amounts of oil. Many who have followed my recommendations have thanked me. NO one has ever come back and said that they had engine problems or oil consumption issues who followed my(or Motoman's) recommendations. That cannot be said about the Audi easy break in technique. Not all that follow the easy break in WILL have problems. But too many will. So you can WEAR it in aggressively(I don't recommend the drive like you stole it method even though I believe it is actually better than the gentle break in technique), or you can follow the manufacturer's recommendation and take your chances. But what could I possible know and why would Audi recommend a break in technique that might result in oil consumption issues? BECAUSE, Audi sets the criteria for excess oil consumption so high that they know that they will almost never have a claim or need to do any remediation. BUT if someone over does the break in and over revs a cold engine and it goes BOOM, that could be out big money. It always about the money.
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01-14-2011, 06:29 PM
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I was inclined to follow the manual but after a lot of thinking I decided to follow Dr. GP's suggestios and at six months and 7,000 miles I haven't burned a drop of oil as far as I can tell. the car's happy.
Doc, who was that guy you mentioned before who wrote about engine break-in, especially for motorcycles? That guy explained the rationale behind the hard break-in really well I thought.
Doc, who was that guy you mentioned before who wrote about engine break-in, especially for motorcycles? That guy explained the rationale behind the hard break-in really well I thought.
01-14-2011, 07:48 PM
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My old 96 A4 used to drink oil, about a quart a month, but I got it used and according to the dealer it WAS driven by a little old lady.
My old B5 S4 never drank a drop with a "hard" break in and I'm breaking my brand new one exactly as DrGP describes.
My old B5 S4 never drank a drop with a "hard" break in and I'm breaking my brand new one exactly as DrGP describes.