Do today's new cars still have to be broken in?

Why do I need to break in my vehicle?

By taking it easy when you first drive a new car, you give the vehicle components time to settle perfectly into place. In the beginning, that means you shouldn’t rev too high or drive too fast. And whenever you can do so safely, it’s good to vary your driving speed. Not only is this good for your engine, it will also improve the life and performance of your drive shaft, shocks, brakes, and even your tires.

How long is the break-in period?

It’s not a question of time, but of mileage. These days, your runin period is basically the first 1,000 km. Check the recommendations in your owner's manual. The experts at CAA-Quebec Automotive Advisory Services advise members for free. Of course, you can always talk to your dealer or a trusted mechanic.

What are the steps for breaking in a vehicle?

Although you should never drive faster than the legal speed limit, safe driving speeds are crucial during the runin period.

At first, avoid straining the engine and stay below the 3,000 RPM mark. As far as possible, you’ll also want to avoid making brisk starts and sudden stops, taking turns too tightly, shifting gears too quickly, idling for an extended period of time, or pulling a trailer. A few more best practices:

• Avoid dense traffic so that your vehicle can get a good workout, i.e., accelerate, slow down, stop, and shift gears
• If your car has a manual transmission, take it easy on your engine by gearing down when you go up hills (while respecting the minimum legal speed)
• After every cold start, let your engine idle for a few seconds (or more, if it’s cold out) to give the oil a chance to circulate

Starting at around 800 to 1,000 km, once the engine has reached its running temperature you can accelerate a bit more aggressively and rev the engine more. As the mileage on your odometer creeps up, you can rev the engine higher before shifting and start to use the full range of the engine’s power.

New parts also need to be broken in

Your car also needs time to adjust whenever a major component is replaced. Even new tires need a runin period! With new brake pads or brake shoes, for instance, gradually increasing the braking intensity will give the parts time to wear evenly and ensure maximum effectiveness and lifespan. 

Do electric cars need to be broken in? 

In addition to requiring less maintenance, batterypowered electric vehicles don’t need to have their power train broken in. You just charge them up and they’re ready to go!