Lucas Bell 
The break-in period for a new car might be one of the most overlooked warnings given by automakers. This process designed to help powertrain components and other mechanical bits begin to wear into each other while the engine maintains ideal temperature and oil flow, is often an afterthought. Most new car buyers throw this process out the window when they hop right on the highway and boot it on their way home from the dealer, which is especially true when it comes to new performance oriented vehicles. The temptation to wind out your newly purchased toy is high, though it appears Chevrolet Corvette C8 Stingray owners won’t get to experience their car’s full level of performance until they finish the break-in period.
This information comes by way of the Corvette Forum, and their ongoing series “Ask Tadge”. Forum members and others alike have the ability to post questions for the Executive Chief Engineer of Corvette Tadge Juechter, which he sorts through and answers the most interesting ones periodically. In his most recent “Ask Tadge” response, Juetchter commented on a forum member’s question pertaining to the 500 mile break-in period for the mid-engined Corvette. Juetchter confirmed in his answer that the C8 Corvette will in fact limit the torque available to the driver until the break-period has ended.
Not one to leave out the engineering reasons why Corvette went this route for the first time, Juetchter detailed a main reason for doing so involves the increase in rear traction available from the mid-engined platform. The increased traction allowed GM to fit the C8 Corvette with an aggressive gear set, which results in more torque multiplication on the driveline components. In order to protect these componentes while they seat themselves, Juetchter stated that the C8’s LT2 V8 engine is torque limited by around 25-30 percent (standard or Z51-equipped) in first and second gear through the break-in period.
The Chief Engineer also confirmed that the car’s engine speed is not limited at all during this time period, and the car will still run up to redline, though he suggested against that as well. But who are we kidding, that is exactly what anyone who buys a C8 Corvette is going to want to do, and we’re willing to bet they won’t wait 500 miles to do so.
