Can a Newly Purchased Car Be Driven on the Highway?
2 Answers
A new car can be driven on the highway, but there are several precautions to keep in mind: 1. Maintain a reasonable speed: Avoid driving too slowly or accelerating too quickly with high RPM. It's best to keep the speed below 100 km/h and monitor the engine RPM and speedometer during the drive. The engine RPM should preferably not exceed 3,000. 2. Avoid using only D gear for automatic transmission cars: Make proper use of S gear and manual mode, which is more beneficial for the transmission. 3. Avoid overloading the car: Do not floor the accelerator when starting or slam on the brakes, as this can damage mechanical components. Emergency braking can shock the braking system and increase the impact load on the chassis and engine.
To put it bluntly, new cars can hit the highway right after purchase—modern vehicles don’t need excessive pampering. However, it’s advisable to take it easy for the first 1,000 km: avoid exceeding 100 km/h and prolonged fixed RPMs, like cruising at 120 km/h for two hours straight. During this period, the piston rings and cylinder walls are still adapting to each other, so varying speeds actually promote more even break-in. Remember to pull into a rest area every couple of hours to let the car cool down and check for abnormal tire heat. My brother once drove his new SUV home at 120 km/h immediately, and the transmission later developed minor jerks. Also, brakes may not be fully responsive in the first few months, so maintain extra following distance.
