Drive it?? Is breaking in the engine a thing anymore?

 

The only thing I do with a new vehicle, besides drive it, is bed in the brakes (doing something like this). Not sure if it is really necessary, but it's fun to do in a new car .

 

If you go online and read the Owners Manual before you get your Rigi, most all of your questions will be reliably answered.

 

There really is no special break-in for the engine except to vary the RPM and do not push it to the max or tow For the first 600 miles.

They also ask you avoid hard braking.

 

I thought you were supposed to drive like you stole it for break in purposes! 😁

 

Just drive it. If you have to stand on brakes to avoid a collision or floor the accelerator to pass on your way home from the dealer, the vehicle won't blow up and you'll never know the difference.

 

Just drive it. Probably best to vary the RPM and not let it idle for a while.

 

Just let the valets cherry it out.

 

I drove mine conservatively for the first 1000 miles, tried to avoid aggressive throttle, varied RPM's- but fairly normal over all. It just make sense to my brain to take it a little easy.

 

How did everyone break in their Ridgeline?

 

Did you get locked out or something?

 

Just do not tow or run the engine at WOT for long periods of time for the first 700 miles. Today’s engines are not that particular on break in.

Enjoy!

 

Thanks looking forward to cruising easy for a lil

 

In owning a few V6 3.5L (Windstar, Audi, Highlander), it's varying the RPM's and keeping away from redline. Speed is by virtue of the transmission multiplier so don't judge by speed, which is why there's always an RPM gauge in all cars I've ever owned. I'd be sure to keep things in mostly the 2,000-3,000 RPM. The 9 speed on the Honda should be sufficient to keep you in those zones. I have done the paddle shifting and as loud as I got it in 2nd gear, it was only 4,000 rpm.but again, never close to redline ( which is 6800 rpm ahead of the gas cut-off ).
edit I'd do this for about 500 miles before doing some higher RPM's.
Just my wooden nickel on the matter.

 

I changed (first) oil & filter @ 6,500 mi. I also cut the oil filter apart to have a look inside. Every pleat of filter material had debris in it of varying type. Plenty of it was metallic. It was far from being restrictive. I think it would have been okay out to 15% on the M/Minder.
I was expecting to find things in the original filter. I'll damn sure be checking the next filter, too.