Break-In for 392; what’s the real?

[Ge M]

Hey all. What’s the real deal, the right way to break in
an SRT 392?
Just got the Durango, I guess it doesn’t matter if it’s a different 392 or does it?
The SRT manual says break it in slowly ; hundred to 300 miles than 300 to 500 differently and then I am reading / hearing drive it 4K -6k rpm as soon as you can.
thanks all
Ge

 

[why2kmax]

take it easy and vary the speeds for the first 500 miles after that drive normally. they arent that delicate.

 

[vortecd]

I just drove mine didn't really pay attention how. Took 2 long trips the weekend I got (picked it up Friday night). It had 500 mile on it pretty fast. This has always been a debate from flooring it out of the dealership to driving it easy for the first 1000 miles. Do what you feel comfortable with. Changing the oil between 500-1000 is what I have done with every new car

 

[Ge M]

Thanks V for the input and will do the same on mine with the oil change.

 

[Xylander]

I'm a by the book kinda guy. I did my Hellcat's break-in on a single day... same with my 392 back in 2018.I just drive 3.5 hours to Pensacola for lunch, then on the way home, I run the interstate back and am home in time for dinner.

 

[Ge M]

lol. Smart, and a good day to boot!

 

[Ge M]

take it easy and vary the speeds for the first 500 miles after that drive normally. they arent that delicate.

Thanks

 

[Slowpoke387]

Basically just dont hammer it and dont force hard shifts. Try to avoid shocking the drivetrain and try not to drone along at the same rpm for too long. I always use the shifter in M mode and just vary my rpm‘s frequently. Ive never stuck exactly to the book, just no hammering down for 500 miles. Had three of these now with no issues.

 

[MiHiHemi]

Can’t say I could follow the rules on mine very well and all was good. Was out lapping at the local road course right at 1500 mi. and temp. tags

 

[Matt someone with an SRT]

I agree with vortec here, best way is a couple long trips. When you don’t have the urge to beat on it

 

[Stormtrooper1320]

The best way to break in your new car is to let me have it for the weekend. It'll be all broken in by the time I bring it back

I'm here to help

 

[ChargerChallenger]

The best way to break in your new car is to let me have it for the weekend. It'll be all broken in by the time I bring it back. Hell I'll even make sure the back seats work as well for two adults lying sideways😁

I'm here to help

 

[Stormtrooper1320]

Exactly.....and I won't let her poke her high heels through the headliner

 

[ChargerChallenger]

Welp this threads gone south😁. Now we are breaking in not only the motor but the interior😳

 

[72 440 Barracuda]

Hey all. What’s the real deal, the right way to break in
an SRT 392?
Just got the Durango, I guess it doesn’t matter if it’s a different 392 or does it?
The SRT manual says break it in slowly ; hundred to 300 miles than 300 to 500 differently and then I am reading / hearing drive it 4K -6k rpm as soon as you can.
thanks all
Ge

Its interesting to hear different break in methods, from babying it along during the first 500 or so miles to hammering it off the lot. My personal method is somewhere in the middle - get it warm and checking for leaks or odd sounds (obviously this is a new motor I would be installing - since leaks should not happen with a factory motor), and then bring it up closer to operating RPM - I don't tend to hammer any motor on the fringes, but they should operate up to factory RPM specs.
The SRT motors are a little different from my old school mentality because they do tend to gain RPM very quickly, which surprised me the first time I bounced off the rev limited - on a test drive no less 🤫. Unfortunately I have also bounced off the rev limiter on the Hellcat a couple times - that would not be desirable, but also easy to do at times like burnouts or missed speed shifts...
I would expect the motors to be ready to go from the factory, but I would also try to follow factory recommendations - if your right foot can do that!!

 

[Whatknot]

I just run whatever it is, the way I plan to use it in every day life. After 5 to 10 hours running time, change the oil, and good enough. Had the engine rebuilt in an old skidder a few years ago, the mechanic afterwards was going on and on about break in. Hauled it home on the semi, unloaded it, went skidding logs like normal. Put on about 8 hours, changed the oil and filters, kept just running it like usual. Well the guy came to see how it was about 6 months later, since it was all good, he went on and on about, see how a proper break in creates a good engine later on. I said well I didn't do a single thing you said, just went skidding logs like it was meant to do, changed the oil at 8 hours with regular diesel oil, no fancy whatever oil, so your theory is BLOWN!

 

[ChargerChallenger]

Whats interesting is how each manufacture has different guidelines. As an example my Ford GT500 in the manual said 100 miles and then have full blown FUN😁. My Indian Motorcycles are 500 miles and then full blown fun but yet my Harleys have always been 1000 miles. Guess the manufacturer's want every possible excuse should the motor or trans blow up. I think its more about the manufacturer covering their ass more than anything else. And for Diesel engines it point blank tells you to run the shit out of them and probably will be 10k-20k miles before its actually broken in. Its more about the Transmission on Diesels for the first 1K miles before you should tow with her. But if you read the manual some manufactures actually recommend you go tow this crapi out of the diesel😁

 

[Whatknot]

My 7 year old crotch rocket was doing red line shifts 10 minutes after I left the dealer. I bought it to ride hard, its my fun bike to go like hell on. That is what I bought it for, so as I said I treat stuff from day 1 like I Plan to use it. Now in all fairness I didn't beat it hard for the first 5 minutes while it was warming up, I do the same for all engines. 5 minutes down the road I pulled over, looked for anything loose or leaking, saw nothing wrong, so finished riding to my favorite road and flogged the shit out of it. To this day that bike which never gets shown any mercy, runs perfectly. Plugs, valve checks, oil changes, changed the coolant twice, and ride it like its stolen. I feel that break in was more important 75 years ago, modern engines not so much.

 

[Stormtrooper1320]

My 7 year old crotch rocket was doing red line shifts 10 minutes after I left the dealer. I bought it to ride hard, its my fun bike to go like hell on. That is what I bought it for, so as I said I treat stuff from day 1 like I Plan to use it. Now in all fairness I didn't beat it hard for the first 5 minutes while it was warming up, I do the same for all engines. 5 minutes down the road I pulled over, looked for anything loose or leaking, saw nothing wrong, so finished riding to my favorite road and flogged the shit out of it. To this day that bike which never gets shown any mercy, runs perfectly. Plugs, valve checks, oil changes, changed the coolant twice, and ride it like its stolen. I feel that break in was more important 75 years ago, modern engines not so much.

Reminds me of that commercial from the 70's.......don't remember if it was for oil filters or engine oil.....

"oil pumps like a heart....oil pan's like a liver.....you're an engine killer....engine killer....engine killer"

 

[Ge M]

Lot of different views of how to break in the engine what about the views on changing the oil? ... at breaking miles or right after it ? and you change it by dealer or is it OK anywhere where is reputable?
Thanks