Break-in period?

[dirtdiver]

With my ICE vehicles I tend to baby them for a few hundred miles and maybe up to a few thousand miles. Also I take care to bed the brakes. What do you guys think about the lightenings? Has ford said anything? Im sure my twenty something son - the first thing he is going to want to do is hammer the throttle to see what all of the fuss is about. Im wondering about he gear faces, the bearings, that sort of stuff. My truck should be showing up in early July based on my unverified blend date of 5/25. steve

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[sotek2345]

The manual lists a 1000 mile break in period, but it is also copied from the ICE manual word for word.

Bedding the brakes is important though!

 

[T i h o r]

Porsche GT cars have their engines run/broken in at the factory.

The new C8 has the revs electronically limited until certain mileage is hit.

Our Lightning has none of those, so I'd err on the side of caution and just take it easy to be safe lol

 

[Roy2001]

Unless you brake very hard, there should not be any break in needed.

 

[TaxmanHog]

I will pay the operators guide the full respect it deserves, even if it's verbatim of the ICE guide, the BCE is watching your every move and the brakes and reduction gears, wheel bearings are all settling in, might not take so long, but why abuse it until at least a 1000 miles have past.

 

[M4X]

BEVs do not have a break in period. Any break in listed in the manual is purely driver break in/left over from ICE manual (liability for lead foots who don’t understand Instant acceleration from any speed, some time is needed to adjust from ICE.)

There are no rings to seat, no valve train, nothing.

Just liquid cooled electric motors, a power/speed control system (all electronic parts), a charger, and the battery (and the accessory items like electric AC/Power Steering/Heater/12v system (radio, lights, etc..)).

The only exception would be the brakes. And those break in very quickly with a proper drive.

The first time I floored my Tesla Model S Plaid was when I pulled out of the service center when I picked it up new. ?

I then sold it shortly there after because it was built like a 1994 Geo Metro with fancy trimmings, but that’s another story,

 

[RickLightning]

Actually, tires have a 300 mile period on all vehicles.

 

[sotek2345]

Actually, tires have a 300 mile period on all vehicles.

There are ways to accelerate that process, and make pretty pretty clouds....

 

[hturnerfamily]

I find it almost laughable that we argue about whether a Lightning, or any EV, needs any 'breakin' period, as though somehow 1,000 miles of 'driving' will magically take away any and all future problems that 'might' have arisen should we not all be good citizens and have driven 'carefully' for the first 'so many' miles. Who even comes up with these 'miles'? Is it engineering? Is it 'guessing'? Is it just a number pulled from a hat? Is it even realistic?? I know one thing - it's ridiculous.

 

[sotek2345]

I find it almost laughable that we argue about whether a Lightning, or any EV, needs any 'breakin' period, as though somehow 1,000 miles of 'driving' will magically take away any and all future problems that 'might' have arisen should we not all be good citizens and have driven 'carefully' for the first 'so many' miles. Who even comes up with these 'miles'? Is it engineering? Is it 'guessing'? Is it just a number pulled from a hat? Is it even realistic?? I know one thing - it's ridiculous.

Traditionally, the break in period is defined by the engineers. All moving contacting metal surfaces will wear and you want that initial wear (which is BY FAR the majority of the wear) to happen slowly and predictably. In an ICE vehicle, there is lots of this (Pistons, valves, transmission gears, differential, etc.). All of these parts are designed with this wear in mind. If you don't do a proper break in, you get rougher, less efficient operation through life.

For EVs there is far less of this, but still some - mainly in the reducing gearing. So while it is less critiical for an EV than an ICE vehicle, it still helps. The most important thing to limit is sudden changes - so ramp a little to full power instead of just stabbing it (at least at first) if you want the best performing vehicle.

 

[RickLightning]

I find it almost laughable that we argue about whether a Lightning, or any EV, needs any 'breakin' period, as though somehow 1,000 miles of 'driving' will magically take away any and all future problems that 'might' have arisen should we not all be good citizens and have driven 'carefully' for the first 'so many' miles. Who even comes up with these 'miles'? Is it engineering? Is it 'guessing'? Is it just a number pulled from a hat? Is it even realistic?? I know one thing - it's ridiculous.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=5

https://continentaltire.com/learn/pair-shoes-tires-need-be-broken-too

Most Ford manuals:

BREAKING-IN
You need to break in new tires for
approximately 300 mi (480 km). During
this time, your vehicle may exhibit some
unusual driving characteristics.

 

[PV2EV]

1000 miles might just be the break in period for us to get used to this heavy and fast beast

 

[Nick Gerteis]

Do people break in their cordless drills for the first week or so? Didn’t think so.

 

[sotek2345]

Do people break in their cordless drills for the first week or so? Didn’t think so.

I might if I bought an $80k cordless drill!

 

[Tony Burgh]

I was first to drive the demo. Even sales people hadn’t tried it. I didn’t look at odometer though.
I broke it in for 3/4 mile before hitting about half or 3/4 pedal to go 20 to 85 in maybe 100 yards.
In the plant we would put 300 hp motors on line as soon as wiring was rung out.

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