When to Drive a New Car at High Speed?
2 Answers
It is recommended after driving 5,000 kilometers. During the break-in period of a new car, high-speed driving above 90 km/h should be avoided. When the new car has been driven for about 5,000 kilometers and is about to complete the break-in period, the owner can briefly run the engine above 4,000 RPM to reduce carbon deposits and improve engine performance. Here are some precautions: 1. Avoid full-load driving: New cars during the break-in period should avoid full-load driving, as excessive load increases the burden on the engine and transmission, leading to excessive power output and over-wearing of components. Therefore, owners should understand the maximum load capacity of their cars and avoid full-load driving during the break-in period to extend the vehicle's lifespan. 2. Avoid prolonged use of low gears: Owners should avoid prolonged use of low gears and intentionally allow each gear to undergo the break-in process. For automatic transmission models, although the manual gear shifting process is eliminated, owners should accelerate continuously under good road conditions to allow the transmission to shift up smoothly and avoid insufficient break-in of higher gears.
I think the idea of running a new car at high speeds depends on the situation. Don't immediately take a brand-new car onto the highway and drive over 100 km/h right away—that's not good for the engine. Generally, it's recommended to wait until the car has covered around 1,000 kilometers, allowing the engine to go through a basic break-in period so the components settle in better. With the new car I'm driving now, I waited until it was mostly broken in before testing it at higher speeds on the highway, and it felt much smoother. If you push a new car to high speeds right away, the engine can wear out more easily and may even develop unusual noises. After the break-in period, highway driving can help clear some carbon buildup and even improve performance a bit. Still, avoid aggressive acceleration—take it step by step, with safety first. Also, check the tires and braking system—don't overlook these when driving at high speeds.
