How should I break in the new S4?

[MidlifeMN]

Picking up my new S4 on Monday. The dealership is about 100 miles away all freeway miles. I have been reading that you should vary the speed. Wondering what you guys think?

[A4 - Oh Snap]

Cruise home at 70-80 mph. [:)] No hard launches. No racing Porsches. No running from cops.

[foofighter]

this has been debated for sooooo long. some say babe it some say drive it like you normally would.

My thought process is to drive like you normally would but not hitting the redline till after the break in. Just watch your oil consumption and enjoy it.

Some guy actually said it's not the revs that counts but the heat cycle of the motor itself. In other words during break in avoid lots of short trips ie to run errands.

[PanzerS4]

DO NOT cruise home @ 70-80mph like someone posted. It's important to vary your revs during the 1st 1k miles. You should load the engine w/ short bursts up to ~5k rpm w/ a fully warmed engine. Let the engine decelerate on its own using the engine vacuum to brake. Do thi after revving to 4-5k rpm in 2nd and 3rd gear and then taking your foot off the throttle and letting the car slow on its own. The recommendation to gently break-in the car has more to do w/ other parts of the car not being ready to go fast (tires, brakes, etc.). If you at least vary your revs and run it up to near redline and then let off the gas you will spare the brakes and tranny for the most part. BUT VARY YOUR REVS most importantly on a trip in the 1st 1k miles. Go from 6th @ 3k rpm to 5th @ 3500 to 3rd @ 4k back to 6th and so on every 2-3 min of steady cruising during trips in the 1st 1000mi.

[Richard 350z]

That's all BS. Just hammer it from day one. Modern engines like the Audi 4.2 V8 are bullet-proof. The car will be stronger for it. I had mine up to 135 mph when it had 300 miles on it. [:D]

[phatAvant]

Originally posted by Richard 350z
I had mine up to 135 mph when it had 300 miles on it. [:D]

I guess that means drive like I normally would...[:D]

steve

seriously though dont rag the tits off of it...and you'll be fine

[whoneedsanm3]

Everything I've heard says that the B6 doesn't really need to be "broken in" like an older car, but that you don't really want to hammer it too hard to quickly. I was basically advised by an Audi master tech to keep it below 5500 sustained RPM's until I had about 1000 miles on it, and to not rev it too hard until it had warmed up for the same period (which is good advice anytime).

[Miguel]

drive it like normal...just dont do any hard brakinig...let the pads and rotors mesh...

[cj-S4]

There should be a break in procedure in the goofy little book we all forget about in the glove box, or on that manual holder shelf in the B6s. If not just drive it easy, no redline driving/shifting. No hard launches, and brake in the brakes as you would on a new brake install, after all they are new brakes. After 400-500 miles you should be able to start driving it harder. You will feel the engine opening up, it will feel more like it wants to go.

[Justin M.]

Go beat the hell out of it. That is why you have a warrenty. It is not rocket science. Don't over analyze it. Launch, redline, top speed-Anything goes...

[TorsenForcin]

I used the MotoTune break in technique - for better or worse [rolleyes] which involves slightly more aggressive treatment than panzers4 notes, also emphasis on engine braking on decel. I had to run it in tip mode so it would hold the gear on decel and had to be careful in the later stages of the process to not hit redline otherwise it shifted up automatically and I lost the engine braking upon deceleration. You'll love the sounds - I'm warning ya [drive]

[Dolphin_Vic]

2000 miles gentle drive, dun over rev it to 5k rpm that's fine

[jones3000]

let me drive it and break it in for you.[:D] [drive]

[math1138]

I was at the dealer waiting for my A4 to get serviced, when they asked if I wanted to take an S4 for a spin. They let me beat the hell out of it. Then the salesman stood on the door handle (door open at 45 degree angle) and started bouncing up and down saying, "let me see you try this with a honda." Kind of makes me question how important the "break in" period is.