Is it okay to occasionally floor the accelerator in a new car?

[VonJulian]

Flooring the accelerator not only creates a strong jerking sensation during acceleration but can also cause the engine to overheat, leading to the radiator boiling over and other engine malfunctions. The correct way to operate the accelerator: 1. The car engine's throttle is generally controlled by a pedal, also known as the accelerator pedal, which regulates the fuel supply to the engine. 2. The right heel should rest on the floor of the driver's compartment as a pivot point, with the ball of the foot lightly pressing on the accelerator pedal, using the ankle joint's extension and flexion to press down or release. 3. When pressing or releasing the accelerator pedal, apply gentle force, pressing lightly and lifting slowly. 4. When starting the engine, do not press the accelerator pedal all the way down; it's better to have it slightly above the idle throttle position. 5. When starting off, it's advisable to apply a bit of throttle just before the clutch engagement point, with a moderate throttle opening. Releasing the clutch should be closely coordinated with pressing the accelerator, with swift movements. 6. While driving, adjust the throttle according to road conditions and actual needs, increasing or decreasing it as required. Choose an appropriate gear to keep the engine running mostly at medium RPM and with a larger throttle opening to save fuel. 7. When shifting gears, the coordination between adding a bit of throttle, pressing the clutch, and pressing the accelerator pedal should be smooth. When driving uphill, do not press the accelerator pedal all the way down; when using a low gear, it's generally best to press the accelerator halfway. 8. When charging up a slope, do not press the accelerator pedal all the way down either. If the engine does not respond with increased RPM when the accelerator pedal is pressed three-quarters of the way down, shift to a lower gear and then press the accelerator pedal to accelerate. 9. Before stopping the car or turning off the engine, first release the accelerator pedal; do not rev the engine aggressively in neutral.

[LeonardoFitz]

As a mechanic who works with engines every day, I think giving it the occasional full throttle is no big deal. Although new cars need gentle break-in periods, modern engine technology has improved so much with robust protection mechanisms. But keep three things in mind: First, avoid stomping on it when the engine's cold—the oil hasn't fully circulated yet. Second, take it easy during the first 5,000 km break-in period, just like breaking in new shoes. Third and most crucial—never try this in rain or on gravel roads; tire slippage is far more dangerous than engine damage. Overall, flooring it once or twice a month is fine, but making it a habit will not only skyrocket your fuel consumption but also make your transmission suffer.

[SaraRose]

Last year when I just got my new car, I was also constantly worried about this and specifically asked the technical director at the 4S dealership. He assured me that the ECU has a rev limiter program, which automatically cuts fuel even if the tachometer hits the red zone when flooring the accelerator. The real focus should be on driving habits—for example, when climbing hills, it's better to downshift decisively than to hold the throttle halfway, and when overtaking on highways, flooring it is actually gentler on the transmission than partial throttle. What you really need to watch is oil quality—after aggressive driving, it's advisable to do maintenance 1,000 kilometers earlier. I remember once when I tried accelerating in an underground garage, the sound of tires screeching and gripping the ground was what really made my heart ache.

[Vivian]

From an automotive engineering perspective, short-term full throttle has minimal impact on modern engines. The key factor is temperature! When the engine is cold, the gap between piston rings and cylinder walls is larger, and sudden acceleration may cause abnormal wear. Test data shows that at 80°C coolant temperature, full-throttle wear is only 1/10 of that during cold starts. Additionally, automatic transmission vehicles should be mindful of downshift shock, especially CVT transmissions where steel belts may slip. It's recommended to wait until after the first maintenance before attempting aggressive driving. Remember a case where a new car was damaged during a track day - investigation revealed an improperly installed turbo pipe clamp. Such assembly issues deserve more attention.