How to Run-In your new car the first 1,000Km

 

The way you treat your new car will directly affect its long-term performance, efficiency and longevity. Failing to properly run-in your engine, transmission, and tyres will have serious negative effects later on.

 

Despite the technology and intelligence car manufacturers have, new cars still require a certain treatment in order to get the best performance out of them. The moving parts of the engine need an adjustment period before reaching normal operating conditions, and these conditions are determined by how the engine has been run-in. The run-in involves settling the piston rings and ensuring that the bearings and cylinders wear evenly, but it’s not only the engine that needs a running-in. The transmission, tyres and brakes all benefit from it too.

 

TÜV SÜD in Germany, one of the world’s leading technical service providers of testing, product certification, and knowledge services, has given some tips on how to run-in your new car the first 1,000km, here is a summery of these tips.

 

1. Warm up the engine before putting it under any load. A 1,000Km running-in period is ideal. After this, you can high-rev her away to glory. 
2. For a petrol engine, don't allow the RPMs to go over 2,500 for the first 1,000 km. After that, you can increase the limit to 3,000 RPMs until 1,500 km and then, gradually increase it to the maximum by 2,500 km.
3. For a diesel engine, restrict the RPMs to about 2,200 for the first 1,000 km. After that, you can increase the limit to 2,500 - 2,800 RPMs until 1,500 km. Then, gradually increase it to the maximum by 2,500 km.
4. Long highway trips or time spent in bumper-to-bumper traffic is bad for the run-in process. The key to the run-in is to subject the engine to a wide range of RPMs, so you will probably have to alter your driving style and make a point of driving under various conditions.
5. If you are driving a manual vehicle, try and keep your gearshifts as smooth as possible. Different cars have different rev bands for shifting up the gears.
6. Tyres of brand new cars take time to generate the required amount of grip. So make sure that you go easy on the tyres before driving at high speeds.

 

By following these simple steps you can help ensure that your engine reaches its maximum performance and endurance condition. This will maximize you car’s power, fuel economy and engine life.

 

Safe driving everyone!

 

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