Can a New Car Go on Long Trips During the Break-in Period?
4 Answers
New cars can go on highways during the break-in period, but there are speed limits. For domestic cars, the speed is generally limited to 40-70 km/h, while for imported cars, it is usually within 80 km/h. The precautions for the break-in period of a new car are as follows: Warm up the car before starting: Wait 5 to 10 seconds after shifting to second gear before starting; Avoid high-speed driving: New cars have speed limits during the break-in period, with domestic cars limited to 40 to 70 km/h and imported cars to 100 km/h; Avoid overloading: Carrying too much weight during the break-in period can damage the mechanical components; Avoid removing the speed limiter too early: The speed limiter is a throttle device installed between the carburetor and the intake pipe. Owners should not remove it prematurely but wait until after driving 1,000 km; Avoid changing oil too early: The initial oil used in a new car is specifically designed for the break-in period, featuring low viscosity, good heat dissipation, and excellent oxidation resistance; Avoid emergency braking: Emergency braking not only shocks the braking system during the break-in period but also increases the impact load on the chassis and engine.
A veteran driver with twenty years of experience tells you that it's actually no problem to take a long-distance trip during a new car's break-in period, as long as you pay attention to the right methods. The third day after I bought my new car last year, I drove 800 kilometers on the highway back to my hometown, keeping the speed under 100 km/h and the engine RPM below 2500. I stopped at service areas every two hours for a twenty-minute break to let the engine cool down completely. After more than a year of driving, the car is in better condition than those that were carefully broken in. The key is to avoid sudden acceleration and braking, not to use cruise control for too long, and let the transmission shift smoothly.
A friend in car design mentioned that new cars nowadays undergo cold run-in treatment before leaving the factory, unlike the delicate ones from twenty years ago. The surfaces of engine components are pre-treated to be very smooth. For long-distance driving, as long as you avoid keeping the RPM too high for extended periods and stay below 3000 RPM, there shouldn't be major issues. However, remember that new tires need to run for about 300 to 500 kilometers to fully adapt to the road surface, so drive around the city for a few days before going on a long trip. Brake pads also need a run-in period; just slow down in advance when approaching highway exits and avoid sudden hard braking.
My neighbor who just picked up her new car last week told me about it. She drove 500 kilometers on the very day she got the car to go on a trip. It's advisable to plan the route in advance to avoid congested sections, as stop-and-go traffic is the worst during the break-in period. She adjusted the air conditioning to a moderate temperature to reduce engine load and only packed essentials in the trunk to lighten the car's weight. Now, after driving 3,000 kilometers, her fuel consumption has dropped by 0.6 liters per 100 kilometers compared to when the car was new. The car has already been tested for continuous operation before leaving the factory, so you can drive with confidence. What's more important is to come back and get the first maintenance done on time.
