I put about 150 kms on my new 2009 lancer gts before i read the manual and the break in recommendations.

The break in recommendations says :
Due to new technology there isnt really a break in period of slow driving. HOWEVER to optimize the car and the economy, follow these guide lines for the first 500 kms.
AVOID reving the engine.Avoid high speeds.Avoid fast acceleration off of starts and while driving.
Avoid braking hard. Avoid towing or over weighing down car.

It also says that doing these things could have a detrimental effect on the engine components.

I have changed my driving patterns and I am now taking it a lot more easier on the car untill i hit the 500 kms mark.

ALTHO within the first 150 kms I HAVE DONE THE FOLLOWS:

I reved the engine acouple times in neutral and in park, nothing longer then 2-4 secs and i accelerated fast off a start a couple times and while driving.

I have not Towed anything, weighed down the car, braked hard or got to high speeds. And over all if i accelerated hard or drove the car hard it was for only 5 - 10 seconds.

My question is :

Why would they say a break in period isnt necessary any more but then add in HOWEVER and then list things you should avoid ?
How important is it to follow these guidelines?
Do ppl actually follow these?
Based on how i have driven the car so far, is my car ok?

 

There are different methods used to properly break in an engine. Some will say drive it nice and easy, some say drive it hard while others use a both.

On the motor I built for my GVR-4 I used the MototuneUSA procedure by doing a several 3rd gear pulls from 2500rpm to 7500 and letting it come back down while in gear and not stepping on the brakes.
I started by doing a 3 pulls from 2500 to 5000 at 25% throttle, followed by 3 pulls from 2500 to 6000 at 50% throttle, followed by 3 pulls from 3000 to 7000 at 75% throttle. The final 3 pulls were from 3000 to 7500 at 100% throttle.
Then I changed the oil. Actually in the first 500 miles I changed the oil/filter 4 times.



I now have about 3500 miles on the motor and it runs like a champ and compression is bout 170psi across the board.

Here's what AMS recommends:
http://www.amsperformance.com/instru...structions.pdf

Here's what MotoTuneUSA recommends:
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

Here's what Buschur recommends:
http://www.buschurforums.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=19356

 

If the entire car is new, you should follow the guidelines put forth in the manual. Remember, you're not just breaking in the engine, you're breaking in the transmission, the suspension, the brakes, etc. If you blow your motor and get a new one, go hard.

 

so it is expected that the car has been reved acouple times but not abused and also accelerated a couple times but again not over abused.... is doing that sort of stuff ok or do you really need to drive it like an old person ?

 

It should be OK.