Breaking-in a New Car

*EASY*

If your car is new, drive the first few thousand miles carefully. The way the engine and transmission are treated during the break-in period will determine how long they last and how well they perform. Since accelerated wear naturally occurs with new engine parts, it is important to minimize this wear (especially on bearing surfaces) by keeping the engine load light and lubrication conditions optimum. Some part wear is desirable and necessary. However, if part wear is unnecessarily excessive during break-in, the useful lives and performance of the engine and transmission will be greatly reduced.

A new car should be driven gently for the first 200 miles. It should be highway driven after that point with intermittent gentle accelerations from cruising speed; however, engine speed should be kept at 1,500-2,000 rpm. Avoid harsh accelerations or abnormally high speeds. Since the first five hundred miles are most important for minimizing accelerated part wear, it is desirable to accomplish much of the breaking-in while highway driving. However, highway driving should not be at a constant speed or load in order to permit piston rings to seat properly. Release the accelerator pedal pressure for a few seconds every five minutes when it is safe to let the car coast.

Numerous cold starts should be avoided since they aggravate frictional wear. Stop-and-go traffic should be avoided since engine warm-up and full lubrication are delayed under such conditions. If you are breaking-in the car in very cold weather, use a radiator blind to obstruct the radiator and thus reach engine operating temperature and optimum lubrication as soon as possible. Also, do not let the engine idle excessively to avoid sludge buildup. Finally, do not burden the engine with extra physical weight, harsh accelerations from a standstill or lugging; such care will preserve bearing surfaces.

SYSTEMS
DRIVING HABITS
DRIVELINE USE
LONGEVITY TIPS