Lost In Translation

September 5, 2009

I was surprised to see in the index to the Owners Handbook the item "Break-in tips". I couldn't believe they were offering burglary lessons or perhaps - how to get into the car without the key - but in fact the section referred to was actually about what I would call "running in".

I have got used to the idea that modern cars do not need running-in and it was a bit of a shock to find that for the first 1200 miles we are instructed "Do not drive at constant speed for extended periods". I wonder what constitutes "an extended period"?

I have only about 200 miles on the clock at present and a long journey coming up on Wednesday, most of it on motorways, so I was rather hoping to set the cruise control and let it get on with it. Clearly I need a plan B . . . . . :o

September 6, 2009

I was surprised to see in the index to the Owners Handbook the item "Break-in tips". I couldn't believe they were offering burglary lessons or perhaps - how to get into the car without the key - but in fact the section referred to was actually about what I would call "running in".
I have got used to the idea that modern cars do not need running-in and it was a bit of a shock to find that for the first 1200 miles we are instructed "Do not drive at constant speed for extended periods". I wonder what constitutes "an extended period"?
I have only about 200 miles on the clock at present and a long journey coming up on Wednesday, most of it on motorways, so I was rather hoping to set the cruise control and let it get on with it. Clearly I need a plan B . . . . . :o

Firstly, all cars I've had of late have all had running-in periods (a 2001, 2004 and 2006)... it's just that when asked the sales people (on handover) didn't know about it, and said it wasn't needed. Personally, not in their interests to have you do it, so I always followed the manual instead.

As for "extended period", I'd say your cruise control on the motorway to be a very good example of what they mean. Personally have until at least Jan (extended delivery time!), to think of my plan B. It'll most likely be either using another car for motorway trips, or varying the speed between 65 and errr, perhaps a little bit more.

Good luck.

September 6, 2009

I was surprised to see in the index to the Owners Handbook the item "Break-in tips". I couldn't believe they were offering burglary lessons or perhaps - how to get into the car without the key - but in fact the section referred to was actually about what I would call "running in".
I have got used to the idea that modern cars do not need running-in and it was a bit of a shock to find that for the first 1200 miles we are instructed "Do not drive at constant speed for extended periods". I wonder what constitutes "an extended period"?
I have only about 200 miles on the clock at present and a long journey coming up on Wednesday, most of it on motorways, so I was rather hoping to set the cruise control and let it get on with it. Clearly I need a plan B . . . . . :o
Firstly, all cars I've had of late have all had running-in periods (a 2001, 2004 and 2006)... it's just that when asked the sales people (on handover) didn't know about it, and said it wasn't needed. Personally, not in their interests to have you do it, so I always followed the manual instead.
As for "extended period", I'd say your cruise control on the motorway to be a very good example of what they mean. Personally have until at least Jan (extended delivery time!), to think of my plan B. It'll most likely be either using another car for motorway trips, or varying the speed between 65 and errr, perhaps a little bit more.
Good luck.

Thanks Phil - I have had a series of 3 litre V sixes over the last ten years - Toyota Camry, Lexus, Nissan QI, Maxima etc and I don't recall any of them setting down these kind of conditions.

Even in the "bad-old-days", running in only meant a gradual build up of speed to the first (low mileage) service.

For someone like me, retired and now on a low mileage routine, 1200 miles could take several week and be very irksome. It doesn't appear in the marketing blurb and it's a surprise.

September 6, 2009

The Nissan 350Z I had a couple of years back had a 1200 miles running in period.... the idea was to keep the revs down to no higher than 5500rpm and once over 1200 miles build the revs up gently over a couple of weeks or nearer 2000 miles, there was no set figure for this. The rev limit was 6600rpm so as long as this was not reached too early all was fine.

As far as I am aware constant speeds do not hurt an engine, it is running at either a too high or too low rev range for the speed.

I would advise to simply take it easy and drive in a considered manner.

September 6, 2009

Thanks Phil - I have had a series of 3 litre V sixes over the last ten years - Toyota Camry, Lexus, Nissan QI, Maxima etc and I don't recall any of them setting down these kind of conditions.

Never had anything with quite as beefy an engine, but a Toyota MR2, BMW 1 Series and Toyota Yaris were all driven ever so carefully for the first few miles, to be honest not doing motorway trips in any, constant revs weren't an issue, but accelerating too hard, and not redlining it were... but then not sure how the later would translate to an auto/CVT.