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More and more people own cars, but many are unsure how to look after a new one. Some take delivery and head straight onto the motorway to test its performance. So is that right? Every new car has a running-in period, and it is not just driver and car getting used to each other but the components bedding in.
1. Do not let the revs climb too high
During running-in, do not go too fast, staying below about 80 or 90. But speed is not really the point; engine speed is. Running-in is the process of the engine's surfaces bedding in, and high revs damage the still-uneven bearing surfaces. Whatever the gear, keep below about 3,000 rpm, or 3,500 in an automatic.
2. Avoid emergency braking
Hard braking shocks the bedding-in brake system and loads the chassis and engine. For the first 300 km, avoid emergency stops.
3. Do not stay in one gear
With a manual, change gear promptly and appropriately. Avoid high gear at low revs or low gear at high revs, and do not sit in one gear for long.
4. Avoid long journeys
Many owners, excited by a new car, set off on a long road trip within days. The machinery needs time to settle. Avoid long runs at first, and let the car rest every few hours; prolonged driving does real harm.
5. Do not change the oil too early
Owners often over-service a new car, anxious about any hint of trouble. Over-servicing is not necessarily good: the factory fill is a running-in oil.