New Car Query

[pubrunner]

My better half is getting a brand new car (petrol engine) - with zero miles on the clock. We found a very good deal on the internet, approx. £1,800 cheaper than we could find locally on the Powys/ Shropshire border.

The downside ?

She will be getting a very early train next week, to pick up the car from Aberdeen !

Neither of us have previously had a new car before and what I'd like to know is this . . . . . . . would it be advisable to not go above a certain rpm, in order to 'run in' the engine ? I ask, 'cos, most of the cars that sweep fast on the motorway, seem to be new ones.

I remember years ago, older drivers telling me that it is best to 'run in' an engine for the first 1,500 - 2,000 miles; then to give the car an oil change - and then to use the best (synthetic ?) possible oil.

So, should my better half 'take it very steady' whilst driving back from Aberdeen ?

 

[perplexed]

My missus got a new car last year, and was advised that no running in was required, as this was effectively pre-done at the factory. Check with the seller though! Manufacturers may vary...

 

[bof]

Running in stopped with cars in the '80s IIRC. Probably the more accurate production of components like pistons. Still, I worked once with a pratty sales guy who got a company BMW and boasted how he'd done some absurd speed on its first run out. Lo and behold it was in the garage for expensive repairs to the engine with a week or two

So just drive normally, I guess.

 

[Night Train]

I would say yes, for a few reasons.

The warrenty could be based on manufacturer's guidance that says something like reduce load on engine for the first 1000 miles and then return to dealer for service and check up. On my car it was 1000 miles at less then 3000 rpm and gentle acceleration. That still meant I could drive at 70mph on the motorway but I had to take it easy to get there and let it slow down a bit when climbing hills.

Even modern engines need a period of running in and it is worth doing so to help gain the most out of the life of the engine and transmission.

The car is new and so hasn't had a 'shake down', it is worth taking it easy in case a component fails. It is better to find out it is a 'Friday afternoon car' while driving carefully then at high speed and high perormance.

The car is new to your wife, she should take it easy and learn the feel of the car over a number of differing conditions before pushing it to its limits. I found out a lot of quirks to my car over the first few weeks of ownership.

 

[Archie_tect]

Most new engines should be able to run at 70 comfortably within a safe rev range... as long as you avoid accelerating hard in any gear- if it has a rev counter keep under 2500 revs for a petrol engine [2000 for a diesel] and you'll be fine. The mpg you achieve will be significantly improved as a bonus!

 

[Bicycle]

Things have changed significantly in the car market in the past 20 or 30 years, as you would expect. Up to a point, the car industry is designing and building cars to resist major repair while in warranty and to become uneconomical to keep on the road beyond a certain age. This is not bad, evil or cynical: It's just the way the car market works.

The damage done by failure to run a car in (bed in the components) may not become aparent for 60k miles or more. By this time, many car owners have sold the car and in many cases it will be out of warranty.

I would advise doing something akin to what used to be thought of as 'running in'. As follows:

1. Be gentle with the throttle. This doesn't necessarily mean no wide throttle openings, but no sudden stabs at the throttle.
2. Don't scream the motor round towards the red line.
3. If the car has a turbo, don't let it spin until the oil has had a chance to reach its bearings. Also, let the engine chortle at tickover a little before switching off.
4. Don't labour the engine (chug along at very low revs) which some people do in the belief they are being gentle with it.
5. Make all gear changes as smooth as possible and where possible ease off the throttle long before using the brakes.
6. Generally be smooth and not jerky in the way you move away, accelarate and steer.

As an earlier post said, most new cars will sit happily at 70 at fairly modest revs and throttle openings.

The trick is to get there gently and smoothly.

If you follow that advice for the first 2,000 miles and then keep following it for the next 398,000 miles the car will probably last better than others its age. It will also probably cost less to run over its lifetime.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Stab it and steer*




*bonus point for identifying where that quote comes from.

 

[cd365]

Stab it and steer*




*bonus point for identifying where that quote comes from.

Wild at Heart

 

[Bicycle]

Wild at Heart

.. and weird on top.

 

[Globalti]

As bicycle writes above, mechanical sympathy is more important than a rev limit. Don't thrash it when it's cold and don't chug the engine are the best bits of advice. Also be aware that a brand new engine will be very tight for the first few thousand miles and won't really perform at its best until it has loosened up. Modern synthetic oils are much more durable than the old oils so just follow the advice in the handbook on oil changes.

 

[pubrunner]

Cheers for all the replies; I'll pass the info. on and hopefully, she'll treat the car sympathetically.

 

[Globalti]

Tell her not to forget to ask the seller to notify DVLA that it's being exported to England and have a copy of the notification with her in case the English Police stop her.

She will also need correct Department of Health clearance for any haggis, whisky or other Scottish produce she buys while on her shopping trip to Aberdeen.

 

[postman]

Please be careful of those high winds. It's not a very good sight i am told when a kilt suddenly lifts up.

 

[BrumJim]

I once drove a very new car (less than 1,000 miles on the clock) where the manual recommended "no unnecessary sudden braking". Which made us wonder who ever does indulge in this?

As above - don't labour the engine - don't get it to pull below 1,200 revs (or there abouts), and keep well shy of the red line for a couple of thousand miles. But a good steady run from Aberdeen should be very good for it.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Make sure the engine is fully warmed up and then take it to the redline on one acceleration everytime you drive it for the first week. Modern CNC machining means that tolerences are so close that the old style bedding in is no longer nescessary, you need to get the pistons running at full stretch to stop the bores glazing. Any up to date motor engineer will tell you that.

The important thing is not to overload the engine. A search on here will give some excellent running in advice -

http://www.car4play.com/forum/threads.htm?f=2