Question for those with relatively new cars

[Big Wheel]

I know this is random, but I'm doing some research at work and I was wondering if a few people who have bought cars fairly recently (within the last 2 or 3 years) could chime in with what their "break-in" period was, according to your manual or dealer. The break-in period is the number of miles you need to put on a new car before you can safely put a normal amount of stress on the engine. All I need to know are your make, model and model year, and length of the break-in period. Feel free to PM me if you don't feel like posting this info on the board.

Thanks!

Edited May 23, 2003 by Big Wheel

[catesta]

Are you going to tell us we need to leave our cars on all the time?

[JohnS]

I thought all this was a thing of the past these days. The only thing I recall on my car was to brake gently at first. But I still tend to take things easy all the time!!

[Out2Lunch]

Are you going to tell us we need to leave our cars on all the time?

That's the word that I got from my auto mechanic, Ravi Goodwrench.

[catesta]

Are you going to tell us we need to leave our cars on all the time?

That's the word that I got from my auto mechanic, Ravi Goodwrench.

[Guest Mnytime]

Depening on the car and if it was an automatic or stick I have been told from 500-1000 miles. I have also been told to vary the speeds to help break in the engine better. So not just freeway driving (or for those in every other part of the US beside Ca., Highway). Try to vary it up between street driving and freeway/highway driving.

[BeBop]

I only had my car six days before it was broken into. And pushed over a cliff. Hope you have better luck with yours.

[Chuck Nessa]

What Mnytime said should cover most drivers. Others who really push their cars and hit the redline regularly need to consider a bit longer and need to investigate "seating" brake pads. Going easy on the brakes, as well as the engine is good advice for all, unless you know what you are doing. If you plan on switching to synthetic oil, I suggest putting at least 20,000 on the car with dino oil before making the change. This supposedly helps the rings "seat".

[John Tapscott]

My thought is that unless you're the kind of person who really abuses cars, just drive as you normally do from the git-go. Just don't forget your first oil change at 3,000 miles (or 5,000 km). That's what I've done with all my cars and with the exception of one, they have been OK for the most part. The problems with that one had nothing to do with the break-in period or lack thereof. It was just poorly manufactured. Needless, to say, I won't buy another one from that company again. (Hint - it was a model made by the company which recently merged with a famous Europen auto company).

[Big Wheel]

Thanks, all. This project is over so no need to PM me. For the record, most dealers told me pretty much the same this as John's advice--"Just don't be an idiot and drive 100MPH off the lot, and you should be fine."

The results of this will probably appear in local newspapers in a month or so.