I've bedded in brakes without using the IMHO idiotic factory recommendations, and I've broken in quite a few engines from a fresh build.

The factory is concerned about warranty claims. They can't tell you how to do it right because they'd have a bunch of idiots on the road endangering themselves and others. So they do the hard part for you. They don't completely finish the job, but they get you to 90% before you've ever put a hand on the car. You can do pretty much anything you want and you'll be OK.

AFA seals failing - they all fail from heat. No exceptions, no exclusions. If you run your engine hard, they will fail sooner because there is more heat in the engine bay. If you don't run hard, the seals will last longer. It's that simple. The only way to screw up a seal on break in is to put it in completely dry. If there is assembly lube on the seal, you have nothing to fear, it will last a very long time until heat causes it to fail.

BTW, the same thing is true for your ignition coils since they live right in the middle of the cylinder head. Run hard, coils die sooner. Been proven over many years now with 2JZ-GTEs around the globe.

 

The fact is most new engine's important break-in is done within the first couple hundred miles. The only problem is that some engines are still showing breakin wear metal up to 20K miles (in UOAs).

Koz

 

I went easy (kept under 3k 98% of the time) on it until ~650miles and now am starting to hit it a bit and push it a bit harder. When i get to 1k miles, i'm goign to drive like i want to.

 

You have to have a STRONG tolerence for patience if you own a beast like the 350 and keep it under 65mph for 3,000 miles.