Buying a new car is a very exciting time and you probably want to get straight to driving it everywhere. Before you do, make sure you’ve broken it in. There are multiple things you can do to help with this and things you should avoid doing.
Breaking in a new car means giving the engine, tires and other parts time to adjust and function smoothly. How long it will take will depend on the manufacturing of the engine and the type of car it. Doing this correctly may help with the performance of the car and the economy of the fuel. It’s also just as important that once your car is broken in, that you continue to do maintenance and look after it. This should allow for your car to run efficiently and smoothly for years to come. This number one Ford dealer UK might come in handy to take true advantage of such features.
- Check The Dashboard
See how many miles the car has driven. This should give you a rough idea of how much breaking in the car will need. A lot of websites and dealerships sell both new and used cars, like Vision Nissan, so it’s good to double-check the odometer. If you’ve bought a used car that hasn’t been driven a lot, then you most likely need to break it in. However, if your car is a few years old and has been driven extensively, then it should be good to go.
- Don’t Accelerate Too Harshly
It might be really tempting to go as fast as you can as quickly as you can in your new car, but flooring the accelerator can put a lot of stress on various parts of your car, like the engine, the oil, and the tires. Ease onto the accelerator and let your car get used to being driven.
- Avoid Towing
If you often tow things, you may want to put off using your new car until it’s broken in. Towing adds a lot of weight to your car and makes the engine work a great deal harder. It’s not good for new engines to have this excess stress because it may cause damage.
Similarly, you want to avoid packing your car with heavy things. This can have the same effect as towing. Instead, stick to only packing light objects while you enjoy cruising.
- Change The Oil
Changing the oil every 50 miles or so for the first 500 miles should help your car run smoother because it coats the metal parts of the engine and stops friction.
Make sure you continue to change the oil after the 500 miles. Over time, the engine will collect contaminants that’ll affect how well it will run and parts may start wearing away.
Once you’ve been driving your new car for a while, you won’t need to change the oil as often, but it’s a good idea to get into the habit of checking the oil frequently.
- Long Drives
Ideally, you want to go on long drives, so the engine has enough time to warm up and perform at its best. Not letting it warm up means it will have to work harder. If you’re taking the kids to school, you could add some distance before heading home. Maybe plan a long drive to that forest you’ve always wanted to explore or to see a family member who lives far away to guarantee the engine will warm up.
- Steer Clear Of Dense Traffic
If there’s a lot of traffic and it’s stop-start, the engine is running but not always moving. You want your car to be moving as much as possible so you can test the breaks and acceleration. Also, if an engine is idle for more than 30 seconds, it can cause damage to spark plugs and the exhaust system.
- Keep The Revs Low
Pushing the revs to the red line in the first 1000 miles can push the engine too much and could possibly lead to it wearing out. If you’ve bought a sports car, you may find yourself wanting to rev the car more, but it’s best to save this for when the car has been broken in.
Similarly, you want to change the gears (if it’s a manual) at a low RPM (revolutions per minute) to stop the unnecessary wearing of the engine.
Conclusion
You want to do everything you can to keep your new car’s engine performing as well as possible. This includes not towing anything and avoiding transporting heaving objects that might add extra strain. Keeping the revs low and going for long drives should allow the engine to warm up nicely and not to wear out the engine. Your car will thank you in the long run.
