Engine Break-In Period: Fact or Fiction
Do you need to break in your new car’s engine? The break-in period for engines is a hotly debated topic among drivers and enthusiasts alike. There are many differing opinions, but it’s generally agreed upon that the more properly and efficiently an engine is broken in, the longer it will last and the better it will perform over the course of its life. All vehicles have a different break-in period. Some are broken in at the factory before arriving at the dealership. According to Ford, the break-in period for a new Ford engine is 1,000 miles. If you’re not sure of your vehicle’s break-in period, consult your owner’s manual. Keep reading to find out more about how to properly break in your new engine!
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Engine Break-In Tips: Do You Need to Break in Your New Car’s Engine?
- Let the car idle after starting it
- By allowing your vehicle a short bit of time (30 seconds or a minute) to warm up, your car’s fluid will begin to move more efficiently and properly, lubricating your new engine’s moving pieces.
- Keep the RPMs low
- When you get a new vehicle, don’t go racing it right away. It can be tempting to try out your new vehicle to see how fast it can go, but you should lightly break-in your engine for the first few hundred miles. Part of breaking in the engine involves seating pistons and rings in your engine, and with a fluctuation of power or too much power, this process can be disrupted or affected.
- Avoid using cruise control
- You want to avoid traveling at a constant speed with your new engine. Giving the engine a varied load will help it get used to varying conditions and will help to properly break it in.
- Avoid short trips
- You want to try to avoid short distance trips that will not allow your engine to get up to proper operating temperature. When your vehicle is not at its proper operating temperature, the oil will not
- Go easy on the brakes.
- You’ll want to avoid slamming the brakes for the first 100 miles in town and the first 1,000 miles on the highway. And if your Ford has a manual transmission, you’ll want to be gentle with the clutch initially, too.
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A new vehicle is an investment. If you treat it right, it will provide years of reliable performance without requiring expensive hassle and labor. For information about breaking in a new Ford engine, contact us today. Our knowledgeable team will provide you with every answer to help ensure your new Ford model runs at its finest for thousands of miles.
