How to Break in a New Engine
You have invested a lot of money in a new car, or you just put an engine into your present car; either way, you've spent a lot of money. One of the most important things now is to properly break in that new engine. What you do with that car in the next 500 miles will determine how long your engine will last.
- Drive carefully and do not stress your new enginer. Avoid quick acceleration and use normal deceleration for the first 500 to 1,000 miles.
- Do not tow anything if your vehicle is a truck or other vehicle with towing capacity
- Do not take long trips.
- Change the oil and perform regular maintenance every 3,000 miles, faithfully.
- Readjust valves every 6,000 miles.
- Make sure you are maintainging the appropriate fluid levels in your engine, including radiator fluids, battery fluids, break fluid, A/C, transmission and oil. Many systems are interdependent, and just because it isn't directly related to the engine doesn't mean that it cannot effect the engine.
- Keep your engine in tune. There's no quicker way to ruin your new engine than to avoid getting the engine its first tune-up. Do not neglect this important part of your vehicle's maintenance.
- Find out why your engine failed if you are rebuilding your old engine. As stated above, apparently unrelated automotive systems can affect the engine. For example, the catalytic converter, water pump, computer, relays and check engine light codes. Installing a new engine without diagnosing the exact cause of engine failure can lead to the new engine also failing.