Hi folks. I'm new here and new to cars in general having owned nothing but trucks since high school. But that'* about to change as I've just purchased a 2005 GXP. My trucks have always been babied and driven with a light foot, but I saw mention here of breaking in the Northstar a little differently. I haven't even picked it up yet but want to start off correctly. So.....
How do I break it in? Keep my foot in it, baby it, or do a 50/50 sort of thing?

Thanks,

Dave

Go easy on it intially, however I've heard Northstars (in Auroras and Cadillacs anyway) warm up nicely after 30 K miles. You wont have to wait that long, but you'll probably notice better performance after about a year or so of ownership.

Congrats on the purchase!

Break it in nicely over 5K, then cut the horses free

30,000?!?! That'* trade-in time
5,000 sounds better. Can I put my foot into it just a little bit? I don't mean wide open but just enough to let 'er breathe and make those wonderful sounds come out the pipes?
I certainly hope so, otherwise it'll seem just like my F-150 except closer to the ground.

Dave

For the 30K, I was referring to one case. A fellow Aurora owner took his 2nd gen to the track pre 30K and ran, then he went back several other time post 30K and netted better results.

As for break in time off the lot, certain going easy on the car for 5K is obvious but over the long term, the Northstar is like fine wine, it gets better as it ages.

I see.
Thanks,

Dave

Take it easy for the first 500 miles varying the engine rpm then after than keep your right foot planted firmly to the floor. :P

I am not kidding. There is no need to baby it. With todays closely toleranced engines, they can be driven hard right from the beginning. It is true that after a few thousand miles, there will be a few more hp but you really can't do much harm by opening it up and driving it hard.

Show no mercy. Don't drive like an old man

Now THAT'* what I was hoping to hear!

Thanks,

Happy Dave

I've driven my '04 hard from day one and have 47,000 trouble-free miles (knock on carbon-fiber and brushed aluminum.... :P )
I'm getting about 2 mi/gal better than I was last year and performance 'feels' better. I will probably head to KCIR in the next month and compare my times to last year when she ran several 15.5'* @ 90mph.

Well, I picked her up today and within a mile of the dealership I was challenged at a red light.
Two lanes, one of them goes straight (mine) and a left turn lane. A Neon pulls up to the light in the left turn lane but when the light changes decides to also go straight and tries to cut me off.
Not today.
OK, go ahead and laugh, so it was only a neon, but I only had to give it about half throttle to beat him to the other side.
Baby steps.
What wonderful sounds come out of this engine! But you all knew that already. It'* new to me.
She'* going to put the fun back into driving to work every day.


Dave

Anybody know just how fast the GXP will go in 3rd gear?
I had my foot in it and when I rolled off the throttle at 125 she shifted into 4th.
Just wondering.




Dave