I was told my salesman during the initial break in on my '13 that the only I shouldn't do is use the cruise control during the break in. I am following other recommendations I have found scouring the forums and such but I have not found anything on not using cruise control. Anyone have any insight?

 

Not using the cruise control makes it more likely that you will vary the RPM's as much as possible. Too much running at one constant RPM is not the best for break in. In fact, when I am on the highway during break in I often switch from 5th to 6th gear just to give the RPMs a change without over revving the engine.

 

Need to vary RPMs and also try to engine brake more frequently as well instead of pressing the brakes.

 

I would agree with not using your cruise control too much during the break-in period, but what I've done with all my new vehicles I've purchased (6 total including my 08 Clubman) would be to slowly take the engine up to redline in 3rd or 4th gear in the first 100 miles of driving. None of my cars use any oil (including the Clubman) and I now have 32k miles on it.

 

Don't know anything concrete to support it, but I'm like the other posters so far - I avoid using cruise control during the break-in period in order to help vary the RPMs. During my break-in period I also did things like vary speeds and gears to mix it up as much as possible.

 

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

I followed these steps religiously with my previous builds. I had perfect compression and no oil consumption!

 

I can see how this could make sense and I am glad it has been working for you. Unfortunately with a new MINI it's possible to get one already outside the critical 20 mile window as this site suggests. Just something to think about for a new owner who get's the car at close to, or over, 20 miles already on it.

 

Thanks a lot for all the input. Ive seen multiple recommendations on how many miles make up the break in period. I have a 40 mile round trip drive to work each day. What are your guys thoughts on length of break in mileage?

 

OK, this is hijacking this thread somewhat, but I think you guys would have enjoyed the owners booklet (manual is too grand a word for it) that came with the British Seagull outboard motor. This was a design (see below) that continued with very little change from the 1930s up to the 1990s and had bronze bearings. The booklet's advice on running(breaking)-in was "for the first ten hours of use, under no circumstances run the engine below three-quarter throttle and preferably use full throttle". Apparently this was to avoid glazing the bearings.

You don't get that instruction with car engines, more's the pity.....

 

Stop and go traffic is what you need, its a heat cycling that you want. Same thing with my RC cars two stock nitro engines.

 

I did as well; my MINI had 9 miles on it when I got my hands on it.

I've never checked compression, but at 46k miles it still uses no oil between changes, is strong like bull, etc.

As others have said: the advice for no cruise control was to ensure you supplied lots of rpm/throttle variation in those first miles.

 

Forget the factory issued break-in period. Run the engine hard from the day you get it. You'll consume less oil and you'll have a very strong engine for the long run! Just make sure to do a couple of early oil changes before you hit your regular synthetic oil change interval.

I have fond memories of getting my MINI off the truck at the dealer, having a whopping 2 miles on it, and going absolutely *****-out all over the interstate when I got mine.

I'm in the engine distribution business and even from the factory they are stepped up to 100% load from the minute they come off the line and then kept there for an hour ***** to the wall.

It's not any surprise that those who grandma their MINIs engine complain about oil use!

 

Must be true, ours has 97k and runs great. *knocks on wood*

 

^^^

That's how you break-in an engine, through heat cycles!

When I break-in my nitro powered RC trucks engines the same break-in method is used and those are two stokes, I also run them rich because the oil is in the gas.