how to drive a new car

[paulgolding]

I've looked through the manual and online and nowhere does it say the engine (Diesel) on the 307cc has to be run in.

Is there a way you should drive the car for the first few miles or can you just get in it and see how it flies ?? !!

[kai_mitsurugi]

Yeah I would like to know the answer to this too. Bloke in work claims you don't have to run in new cars anymore and that they do it at the factory. I said to him fine then, give me the keys to your new Clio and let me bounce it off the limiter in every gear and let's see what happens!

I don't see how this can be true. I've always known it as you run in a car so that everything has a chance to settle down and wear in. There's also a noticeable difference in fuel economy, oil consumption and power once a car has been properly run in.

[HDi fun]

This is a long debated subject. Firstly, Paul (Golding, not Garner) first impressions of the Pug? They're better than they used to be (thankfully).

Running in - In my opinion it's best to keep varying engine speeds during the process. Even if this means reselecting 4/5/6th gear every few minutes on the motorway yet holding a fairly steady road speed.

Much like normal driving, gentle when the engine and oil are both cold. And let it cool down before switching off after a spirited drive.

I think the old days of no more than 3000rpm are gone.

After a few hundred miles you need to stretch things and build up revs and load progressively towards full power and torque.

Much like bedding in brakes - gently for a few dozen miles. Then build up the forces and heat. Once the pads first show signs of smoke it's done. Now it's time to drive gently while they cool off.

[waynne]

Hills and similar high torque work at lower rpm speeds will help everything bed in. Be very paranoid about not driving mediumly hard with a cold engine for the first 2000 miles or so. (You should never drive an engine hard from cold but you need to lower the parameters a little on a new engine.)

Is there a break in service after a few hundred miles? This oil change will take out a lot of metal particles from the break in process. A filter magnet is a brilliant idea on such a new engine.

[paulgolding]

thanks guys. Hdi Fun, I will post a new thread up hopefully today about the new car but early signs are good

Gonna take our little boy out today so we'll get a bit of a drive and test it out.