550hp and Gauge

[baabootoo21]

My two cents worth is that yep years ago you did break in on engines but now we have the synthetic oils no ring seat. Computer may be doing for other parts of the car. We just need to realize that when they now build engines they are so precise and better machined. Non of the videos I watch mention break in and they are doing drag races and burn outs and do not mentioned they had x miles on the car before trying and got good times in the quarter mile. I think that's interesting. Was the computer holding back? Just some food for thought. Later RJD

Yup.

 

[aceinspp23]

A lot of the test cars the YouTubers get likely have a lot of miles on them. Even modern turbo engines still have to ring seat, that’s a fact, but that doesn’t explain 130hp jump.

In a nutshell, electronics are likely holding the car back on purpose until certain, unknown to the public, milestones are hit. It’s probably more so to protect the transfer case and transmission than to do with the engine.

As far as people still drag racing them and having decent times, the car is still fast with 420 hp and 530 torque on tap before unlocking, so I wouldn’t think too much about it, but those test cars generally have already got miles.

We’ve got two people now confirming it and the RHO community was talking about suspicions of it before these new sixpack Chargers existed.

I don[t see Dodge putting miles on them before letting loose and burning rubber. No need for ring seat old school and now days it does not apply. If it did my cars would have gone belly long ago. Later RJD

 

[8pack-217]

I don[t see Dodge putting miles on them before letting loose and burning rubber. No need for ring seat old school and now days it does not apply. If it did my cars would have gone belly long ago. Later RJD

From AI:

Yes, modern turbocharged engines still require ring seating (also called “break-in”), though the process has evolved.

Why it’s still necessary

Piston rings need to conform to the microscopic imperfections in the cylinder bore. Even with precision machining, cylinder walls have a controlled roughness (called a “crosshatch pattern”) that holds oil and allows the rings to gradually wear into a perfect seal. This process is ring seating, and it’s a physical reality that hasn’t changed regardless of how refined the engine is.

How turbos make it more important

Turbocharged engines actually benefit more from proper break-in because they operate under higher cylinder pressures and heat loads than naturally aspirated engines. A poorly seated ring in a turbo engine is more prone to blowby, oil consumption, and premature wear.

What’s changed in modern engines

• Tighter machining tolerances mean the break-in period is shorter than it used to be — often 500–1,500 miles rather than 3,000+.
• Better ring coatings (like PVD or plasma-nitrided rings) are harder and more wear-resistant, but still need to seat.
• Factory fill oils in some new vehicles are specifically formulated to allow seating while still providing protection.
• Some manufacturers (like Porsche and BMW) publish specific break-in guidelines; others are more relaxed about it.

The ongoing debate

Some engineers argue that factory test cycles partially seat the rings before the car leaves the plant. Others (including many performance engine builders) insist that careful, varied-throttle driving in the first 1,000 miles makes a measurable long-term difference in compression and oil consumption.

The short answer: the physics haven’t changed, so yes — gentle, varied driving in the early miles is still worthwhile, especially in a boosted engine.


———————————

At any rate, Dodge is limiting the new Scat Pack’s peak power until some unknown conditions are met. Whether you want to believe that or not is your choice . The rings probably seat within the “break-in” period the manual outlines, but the full power is not unlocked at that mileage.

 

[Ted3]

Somewhere on this forum site someone mentioned that the engine is electronically limiting hp until you hit 1,800 miles. I only have 300 miles on mine but my head snaps back forcefully enough when I nail it. With all that torque I'd be interested in the G force developed. Is there such a gauge on these?

 

[Devcom23]

Somewhere on this forum site someone mentioned that the engine is electronically limiting hp until you hit 1,800 miles. I only have 300 miles on mine but my head snaps back forcefully enough when I nail it. With all that torque I'd be interested in the G force developed. Is there such a gauge on these?

Its not just on the forum I am paying attention to people also saying they appear to be slower and their engine out put being below 500 hp. One of them drag races and is getting high 13s to mid 14s. Then again there are also people saying they aren't limited so maybe newer build chargers have a safety prevention put in after some earlier issues that have been reported.