What is the recommended speed during the new car break-in period?
4 Answers
During the initial break-in period of 1 to 500 kilometers, the speed should generally be kept below 70 to 80 km/h, with the engine speed not exceeding 2,200 rpm. The mid-term break-in period from 500 to 1,000 kilometers allows speeds of up to 90 to 100 km/h, with engine speeds below 2,500 rpm. In the later break-in stage of 1,000 to 1,500 kilometers, the speed can be increased to below 120 km/h. All vehicles bear greater actual load when driving at low speeds compared to medium speeds, so it's not advisable to maintain speeds below 60 km/h for extended periods during the break-in period. The speed must be gradually increased. If the car is consistently driven at 80 km/h throughout the break-in period and then suddenly accelerated, it may cause the new car to perform poorly.
When I first got the car, I also wondered about this and asked several experienced drivers. Nowadays, engine precision has improved, so the key during the break-in period isn't about limiting speed to 80 or 100, but rather watching the tachometer to avoid redlining. For the first 500 kilometers, I mainly drove in the city, keeping the RPM below 2,500, and even on the highway, I kept it under 3,000 RPM. The worst thing is stomping on the gas right after a cold start—I remember once almost doing that in a rush to get to work, but my car-savvy neighbor stopped me. Modern car manuals now include break-in recommendations; for example, my SUV's manual suggests avoiding sudden braking and acceleration for the first 300 kilometers and not climbing steep hills with a full load within the first 1,000 kilometers. These tips are far more useful than obsessing over the speedometer.
Last time when I accompanied a friend to pick up his new car, the salesperson specifically mentioned not to be too fixated on speed numbers during the break-in period. Transmission break-in is actually more important. For the first 1,000 kilometers, make sure to use all gears in rotation—for example, with a manual transmission, don't always use fifth gear on the highway. During the break-in period of my car, I deliberately avoided using cruise control to prevent the engine from running at a fixed RPM. However, tire pressure and engine oil need frequent checks. New cars often have higher tire pressure after prolonged transport storage, and metal shavings in the engine oil are normal. It's fine to drive at 110 km/h on the highway during break-in, just avoid flooring the throttle for overtaking.
After 20 years of car repair, I've noticed many people focus on the wrong things. What's most harmful during the break-in period isn't high speed, but prolonged driving at a constant speed. Last week, a BMW owner drove 400 kilometers on the highway without stopping, which later caused engine noise. Modern cars undergo cold break-in before leaving the factory, so driving on the highway before the first maintenance is fine. The key is to pay attention to two things: don't use sport mode to rev the engine too high, and don't tow heavy loads. I once saw an owner towing a caravan with a brand-new car, which resulted in premature differential failure.
