How to Break in a New Engine by Driving

Breaking in your new engine is not as important today as it used to be, but it is still a good idea to be gentle with your new engine until it has had time to adjust to being driven regularly. Once you have driven 1,000 to 2,000 miles in your new car, your engine is likely broken in and can stand less gentle treatment.

• Let your car warm up before you drive it. Even in warm weather, your engine needs time to heat up the engine oil and other fluids. Once those fluids have circulated, they can more effectively protect your engine.


• Combine your errands so you are not making short trip in the first couple of thousand miles. Shorter trips mean that your engine is starting and stopping and cooling down often. 


• Avoid speeding. For the first couple of thousand miles, your engine still needs to be treated gently. Speeding causes your engine to have to work harder, which can be difficult for a new engine.


• Avoid jackrabbit starts. Slamming down the accelerator also causes your engine to work harder than it should.


• Drive your car in as many different situations as possible. Drive around town to run errands, but also drive on the highway. Take a drive along some windy country roads as well as downtown main street. Exposing your car's engine to these different driving conditions helps to break it in more easily.


• Don't rev your engine or cause the tachometer to rise above 4,000 RPM. The higher the RPM the harder your engine is having to work, and at the beginning of its lifespan, your engine needs gentle treatment.