Is it still necessary to break in a new car by driving at high speeds?
2 Answers
It is not recommended to break in a new car by driving at high speeds; it is better to do so after the first maintenance. Here are some relevant details: 1. High-speed driving should be done after the first maintenance: Before the first maintenance, avoid driving at high RPMs and refrain from sudden acceleration or braking. Try to keep the speed below 100 km/h. Of course, some manufacturers may specify new car usage instructions in the vehicle manual. For example, BMW models once noted: New cars can be driven at 4500 RPM and 140 km/h. 2. The key to breaking in a car at high speeds: The goal is to increase the engine RPMs in each gear, not just to increase the speed. Breaking in at high speeds allows the engine computer to record and store data from high-speed operation, which benefits acceleration and fuel efficiency afterward. For vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions or continuously variable transmissions (CVT), you can use the 3 or 2 gears below the D gear (or manual mode for vehicles with manual-automatic transmission) to break in at high speeds. Briefly rev each gear to high RPMs, and the total breaking-in time should be around 20 minutes.
Modern car manufacturing processes have long been upgraded, making it completely unnecessary to intentionally run the engine at high speeds. The precision of engine block and piston fit is controlled at the micrometer level, and transmissions undergo cold run-in at the factory. When I picked up my new car, I drove it normally right away—whether in traffic jams or cruising on the highway. After the break-in period, the inspection showed no oil sludge at all. Aggressively revving the engine at high speeds can actually damage the car, especially during cold starts in winter when uneven metal expansion increases the risk of cylinder scoring. At most, it's recommended to take a long-distance trip after the first maintenance to let the transmission adapt to driving habits. Don’t believe in those superstitious practices.
