Break-in period on new engine

Perhaps you mean 1,200 miles rather than 12,000? I kept my revs between

3-4,000rpm for the first 1,000 miles, and did not use the cruise control either during this time. I also let my car idle for 5 minutes before driving off, and don't rev above 3,000rpm until the temperature gauge has reached the half-way mark.

I suspect other drivers do different things, and you may not get a consensus. Kind of like asking how frequently should oil be changed.

*That* question often sparks off a heated debate.

IMO, warm up, don't over rev, and don't use the cruise until after the 1,000 mile mark.

Neil.

Thanks for the reply - and yes, I did mean 1200 miles not 12000 miles as the break-in period given in the manual.

**If it's mainly highway travel, try to vary your speed.

kaboomie

I did an oil and filter change at 300 on my Elantra when it was new, even though the service is called for more than that. The first run ins are the ones that generate a lot of swarf and other harmful metallic bits. Oil and filter change is cheap insurance.

. I also let my car idle for 5 minutes before

...That's interesting...In my Santa Fe manual it recommends NOT idling for more than 3 min. at a time during the 2000Km break-in period.... Len

....Ahhh....but at least if you don't have a new car to break in....you don't have to dispair at every little nick and scratch that you aquire.....I say this because I just got my first door ding/scratch at only 2000K! Len

IMO always warm a car up by gentle driving, not idling. Don't be afraid of taking it up to redline while breaking it in but don't do it too often. Vary the revs while driving but never labour the engine in too high a gear. i.e use a low gear for climbing hills. Unless you've got a dead flat highway don't use the cruise control at all. It's usually far more economical to be the judge of the throttle pedal yourself rather let cruise control drink megalitres going full throttle trying to keep to speed going up some hill.

To view the day to day life of a loser go here.

In my Elantra the engine idles at around 1,250RPM at start up, and then settles down after a few minutes to 1,000RPM. It's at that point that I normally drive off. Whether this takes 5 mins or 3 mins I can't be sure, but I certainly don't just drive off from cold.