Everybody's recommendations?

flog the crap out of it.. run it in fast.. thats my theory with everything i own..:P

There is an article floating around the net written by a motorcyclist that advocates running in a motor hard in the first 100km. He claims, based on examination of a couple motors, that it promotes a better seal between piston ring and bore.

Assuming the theory holds for all engines, run it in hard.

Got a link to that article?

I would run it hard.. but not as hard as i would run in a newer model engine.

If youre talking about an astron, run it about 3 quarter to red line with lots of stops and starts (dont brake heavy to kill engine revs, let it rev down a bit).

Dont stick to one gear all the time when driving long distances, change up and down gears quite a bit.

Do this for about 200km's.. Then the engine should be right.

Got a link to that article?
No, but I did a hunt in google.. there are actually quite a lot of articles that talk about this phenomenon, in motorcycle, car and even aircraft engines.

We got our Vectra back not long ago after being rebuilt and I had the pleasure (or unpleasure) of running it in. I thrased the daylights out of it to see how well it was rebuilt, revv'ed it like nuts, spun the wheels a bit, just gave it all I could (legally). Works a treat now.

I ran my lancer in pretty hard when i first got it almost 4 years ago. Done plenty of burnouts, hard launches, etc.... in the 95,000km i've done on it. Still goes a treat. Only major thing i've had go wrong with it in 4 years are my front wheel bearings. My clutch is on its way out, but i'm surprised its lasted as long as it has

I would run it hard.. but not as hard as i would run in a newer model engine.

If youre talking about an astron, run it about 3 quarter to red line with lots of stops and starts (dont brake heavy to kill engine revs, let it rev down a bit).

Dont stick to one gear all the time when driving long distances, change up and down gears quite a bit.

Do this for about 200km's.. Then the engine should be right.

Yeah run it in hard without hitting redline (or at least to often). Also load it up in short bursts every now and again, as in use a higher gear going up a hill..etc

flog the crap out of it.. run it in fast.. thats my theory with everything i own..:P

Poor mysti.

Poor misty.
Yeah, she likes it like that... lol lol lol

lots of Higher end car manufactureres i.e; porshce, ferrari, etc.....

actually run the motors in at the factory on engine stands so that the motor has NO LOAD on it when running in. NO load means the motor spins freely, its not pushing and everything can settle and bed in evenly.

Having rebuilt plenty of motorbike engines, and working with motorbike mechanics with years of experience, i've learnt that the best way is to take it easy, especially during the first couple hours of use.
before even driving the car I PERSONALLY would start it up... let it warm up a bit give it a couple light revs.....turn it off....let it cool down. repeat this at least 5-6 times, each time letting the car warm up and cool down. As metal heats and cools it expands/contracts, As it would be a NEW motor it wouldn't have oil in all the places that it should just yet.
Then i'd take it for a granny drive, but dont drive it with the engine Labouring, drive as u would normally but avoiding hard accelrating and high rpm's.

For the first 200km's or so i'd take it pretty easy, possibly even do an oil change after 500km's or less, afterall an oil change costs you much less than a motor rebuild.

or.........

you could "drive it hard from go" :doubt:

You guys are sadist's, I like that.

But for motors I usually take it easy for the first 500 K's. Dont labour the engine, keep it between 2000 and 4500 rpm. Dont hold any constant speed for prolonged time (it causes flat spots and resonant points) and change the oil at 500 K's. :)

Flogging in a motor is for 2 strokes.

My mates dads Sigma GSR went hard with it's original engine in it. It died at one point and I can't remember if they had another fitted or reconditioned it but his dad nursed it and it went pretty weak after that.

Flogging in a motor is for 2 strokes.

But not 500's :(

dont let it idle for a long time
dont start and stop all the time
get it going and find a hill to climb
dont rev crap out of it
use a low gear to climb hills

as stated earlia driving up hills will push the rings out giving them a better seal and beading in
dont use a realy thin oil
change oil and filter in 1000km
make sure when you do start it, its getting to operating temp before you turn it off

take it for a good long drive checking oil and temp guages regualy
do not use coolant for 1st 5000km