Q: How do I break in the vehicle?

asked by on January 15, 2016

How do I break in the vehicle?

If you are purchasing your car new, you will need to break it in before you can drive it normally. The break in process lasts 600 miles, during which you should follow these guidelines: 1. Keep the engine operating between 2,000 and 4.000 RPM. 2. Avoid driving at a consistent speed for long periods of time. 3. Do not make hard brakes, except when necessary. 4. Do not idle the engine for more than three minutes at a time. 5. Do not race the engine. After 600 miles, you can proceed to drive your car without restrictions.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

How do I seek for a radio station?
Seeking allows you to quickly and easily access all of the available radio stations. When seeking, the radio will find the next station that comes in clearly, and play it. To seek, quickly press and release one of the two...
Is it safe to Rev a car engine
Hello. It is perfectly fine to rev the engine in your car as long as you are not over doing it or holding it at a high rpm for long periods of time. If the engine is functioning normally and...
How often should change my gas cap?
Hi, thanks for writing in. There is no real recommended replacement interval for gas caps. They are one of those "use it until it fails" parts. If you feel your gas cap may be going bad, then it may be...
My alternator is overcharging to about 14.8-15 volts. Can that cause other warning lights to come on?
Hi. Yes, in a lot of cars when the battery is low or the charging system is malfunctioning, the ABS Light, Brake Light and the Traction Control Light will come on. This happens because these systems must have the correct...
Throttle Position Sensor
You replaced the accelerator pedal and the throttle body itself. The throttle position sensor (TPS) is a sensor that is located on the throttle body used to monitor the throttle position of the throttle plate inside the throttle body in...
I started hearing like a scraping sound when I brake. What can be causing this?
Scraping or grinding sounds when braking are usually caused by work brake pads or shoes. If the friction material on the brake pads is completely worn away, then the metal backings of the pads will make contact with the metal...
only heast when driving cold when idle. heating core flushed twice. heat control valve and blend door seem to be working
The normal operating temperature for most automobile engines, including yours of course, is in a range of 185 to 220 degrees Fahrenheit. If your dash gauge is reporting a temperature as low as 140 degrees F, that likely means the...
My car, 2015 Nissan Sentra, is not letting me go above 60 MPH on highway and nothing over 30 on streets.
Hi there. Quite often when you have a situation where the car all of the sudden stops accelerating above 60, it will be caused by a few different component failures. Modern cars like your 2015 Sentra have a very complex...
Can I use Mobil 1 extended performance 5w-30 oil
Mobile 1 is a very good oil and I've used it in my personal cars for years, but I wouldn't leave anything in my engine for 20,000 miles. I think the claims they make are somewhat exaggerated. If not that...

Related articles

A Buyer's Guide to the 2012 Mazda CX-9
If If you’re having a hard time picking between a luxury sedan and an SUV, the 2012 Mazda CX-9 is definitely worth a look. It has the exterior of a mid-size SUV, but inside, you’ll find a world of luxury...
A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Porsche Cayenne
If If you’re looking for an SUV that offers plenty of cargo space, the ability to tow more than 7,000 pounds and that has luxury and fun to drive appeal, the 2012 Porsche Cayenne is your answer. Key Features All...
2012 Ford F-150 vs. 2012 Chevrolet Silverado: Which One Should I Buy?
When you’re ready to really get some work done, there’s nothing like a full size pickup truck. These trucks are ready to haul a big load and really get in there and get busy. SUVs are great for moving people,...