Breaking in a New Car - Suggestions?
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Anonymous Poster
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Well if you have kids, the first thing you need to do is go in the back somewhere and spill a soda in the floor. Then clean it up. Then back it into the basketball hoop post once or twice, and then have one of the kids drop a bicycle against the side.
Take a young dog for a long drive, shove a couple of stale french fries under one of the seats and a few fruit snacks wrappers in one of the handy seat pockets. By then it's usually pretty well broken in and you can enjoy the fact that you still have a new motor and a hint of that new car smell that cost you upwards of twenty thousand dollars.
I envy you, there's nothing like a new vehicle, but if you don't perform these simple tasks, expect to have that 'deer in the headlight' look everytime you ride in it for at least six months. When you start to feel shaky about that first scratch, spill, tear, focus on the odometer, it'll keep you sane. Congratulations. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Take a young dog for a long drive, shove a couple of stale french fries under one of the seats and a few fruit snacks wrappers in one of the handy seat pockets. By then it's usually pretty well broken in and you can enjoy the fact that you still have a new motor and a hint of that new car smell that cost you upwards of twenty thousand dollars.
I envy you, there's nothing like a new vehicle, but if you don't perform these simple tasks, expect to have that 'deer in the headlight' look everytime you ride in it for at least six months. When you start to feel shaky about that first scratch, spill, tear, focus on the odometer, it'll keep you sane. Congratulations. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I think most of the time people today drive & forget. There are some obvious things like not towing a load for a while, and although none of the owner's manuals I've seen lately say it, I generally try to vary the speed a bit - some highway/some city driving. I do that for the first 500 miles or so - and also try not to do anything continuous for a long period of time (e.g. no 500 mile highway trips. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif)
Can't prove my methods do anything at all except make me feel better, but hey, I suppose that's worth something! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Good luck with the new ride! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Can't prove my methods do anything at all except make me feel better, but hey, I suppose that's worth something! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Good luck with the new ride! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Bird
Rest in Peace
Rogue, I don't really think "break-in" is as big a deal now as it was 40-50 years ago, but basically I do like Ranchman. Vary speeds, engine RPM, etc. for the first 500 or so miles, occasionally acclerate a little harder than usual to put a little load on the engine.
TimSullivan
Silver Member
I was always very careful about breaking in an engine. Then about ten years ago I had to have an engine replaced under warrantee. Ford dropped a new engine in my car two days before we were to leave for Florida. Ford said no problem just watch the temperature gauge and the oil. I asked about what speed to drive and was told just don’t run the RPMs up. Cruising they told me would be fine.
My son and I drove straight through 1300 miles. Just shut the motor down for gas and pit stops. We did the same thing in reverse a week later. I had that car for another 120K and it never used oil and was strong until I sold it. It was a Ford Taurus and I always got about thirty miles per gallon or more on trips. The best I ever did was 34 MPG at seventy MPH.
My son and I drove straight through 1300 miles. Just shut the motor down for gas and pit stops. We did the same thing in reverse a week later. I had that car for another 120K and it never used oil and was strong until I sold it. It was a Ford Taurus and I always got about thirty miles per gallon or more on trips. The best I ever did was 34 MPG at seventy MPH.
Now now.. Don't envy. Besides, it sounds like you are living your dreams, cashing out of the city and heading off to greener pastures. So you are home farming now? Sounds great. I spend 10 hours a day in a brown cubical going blind stareing at a CRT. The sick thing is I spend another 1/2 hour on the PC at home.
Yuk.
Anyway, the van is nice for now. Wait till it hits the western PA road salt!!! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
Yuk.
Anyway, the van is nice for now. Wait till it hits the western PA road salt!!! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
Anonymous Poster
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But I must envy, it is a female reflex. As far as home farming, the only thing we have successfully raised is swine, but there's always a market for the little oinkers. I have a 'tribute to cubicle people' around here somewhere, if I can find it, I'll send it you you.
Anonymous Poster
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I found it! Top ten drawbacks to working in a cubicle.....
10. Being told to 'Think outside the Box' when you're in a dang box all day long.
9. Not being able to check e-mail attachments without turning around to see who's behind you.
8. Fabric cubicle walls do not offer much protection from any kind of gunfire.
7. That nagging feeling that if you press the right button, you'll get a piece of cheese!
6. Lack of roof rafters for the noose.
5. The walls are too close together for the hammock to work right.
4. 23 power cords, 1 outlet.
3. Prison cells are not only bigger, they also have beds.
2. When tours come through, they don't even bother to throw peanuts at you.
And the Number 1 Drawback to Working in a Cubicle:
1. You can't slam the door when you quit and walk out.
10. Being told to 'Think outside the Box' when you're in a dang box all day long.
9. Not being able to check e-mail attachments without turning around to see who's behind you.
8. Fabric cubicle walls do not offer much protection from any kind of gunfire.
7. That nagging feeling that if you press the right button, you'll get a piece of cheese!
6. Lack of roof rafters for the noose.
5. The walls are too close together for the hammock to work right.
4. 23 power cords, 1 outlet.
3. Prison cells are not only bigger, they also have beds.
2. When tours come through, they don't even bother to throw peanuts at you.
And the Number 1 Drawback to Working in a Cubicle:
1. You can't slam the door when you quit and walk out.
JATO_RaT
Veteran Member
In breaking in our new (used) cars we like to get them payed off as soon as possible. Nothing like owning a 5 year old car thats still got payments left on it. Thats about all the breaking in we do. Rat...
