How to Break in a New Car
There’s nothing better than the feel and smell of a brand new car. Many Americans agree, with over 15 million brand new cars sold in 2021. If you want to buy a new car, too, then it’s important that you know how to properly care for it.
Proper care is especially important in the first few months of ownership. Don’t know how to break in a new car? Read on to learn everything you need to do to take care of your new car!
Hard Stops Are a No Go
It doesn’t matter whether you’ve just bought a new car or if you’ve had your car for years, hard stops are bad for your car. This is especially true, however, when you’re breaking in your new car.
Hard stops are hard on your brakes, and lead to premature wear and tear on your brake pads, and they can even damage your rotors. New cars have brakes that are more sensitive since they are just settling in. Be hyper-vigilant to avoid sudden stops for the first few hundred miles, and you’ll be good to go.
Accelerate Gradually
Having a new car is thrilling.
It’s so tempting to test the limits of your new car by revving the engine and hitting the gas from a full stop. This is particularly important for people who purchase cars with manual transmissions because you don’t want to accidentally redline the engine.
Instead, accelerate gradually, and try to vary your RPMs throughout the middle range. Keep all revs below the 3,000 RPM mark to help seal the piston rings against the cylinder bores and prevent oil leaks in the future.
City Driving Is Preferable
Ordinarily, the rule of thumb is that highway driving is preferable for your car over city driving. That’s because city driving involves lower speeds and more stop and go, meaning you’re utilizing your brakes more frequently and getting lower gas mileage. However, when you want to break in a new car, city driving is actually preferred.
Try to still to areas where the posted speeds are between 30 and 50 miles per hour for the first couple hundred miles. Once you’ve done that, you’re clear to drive on the highway without worrying about damaging your car.
Want to find cars that hold up in city driving? You can see here all of the options you have for your dream car!
Learning How to Break in a New Car Is Easy!
Buying a brand new car is a huge investment.
It’s only natural that you’d want to do whatever you can to make sure you protect that investment. That’s why it’s so important that you know how to break in a new car properly. By following these simple tips, you’ll be well on your way to a long and happy relationship with your new car!
Do you want to learn more about everything from automotive care to personal finance? You’ve come to the right place. Check out the rest of our blog for tons of helpful articles!
