Engine Break-In Period: Fact of Fiction
The engine break-in period is a hotly-debated topic amongst drivers and aficionados alike. There are many differing opinions, but it’s generally agreed upon that the more properly and efficiently an engine is broken in, the longer it will last and the better it will perform over the course of its life. All vehicles have a different break-in period, and some have even been broken-in at the factory before they were sent to the dealership. According to Ford, a new Ford engine’s break-in period is 1,000 miles. If you’re not sure of your vehicle’s break-in period, consult your owner’s manual. Keep reading to find out more about how to properly break-in your new engine!
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Engine Break-In Tips
- Let the car idle after starting it
- By allowing your vehicle a short bit of time (30 seconds or a minute) to warm up, your car’s fluid will begin to move more efficiently and properly, lubricating your new engine’s moving pieces.
- Keep the RPMs low
- When you get a new vehicle, don’t go racing it right away. It can be tempting to try out your new vehicle to see how fast it can go, but you should lightly break-in your engine for the first few hundred miles. Part of breaking in the engine involves seating pistons and rings in your engine, and with a fluctuation of power or too much power, this process can be disrupted or affected.
- Avoid using cruise control
- You want to avoid traveling at a constant speed with your new engine. Giving the engine a varied load will help it get used to varying conditions and will help to properly break it in.
- Avoid short trips
- You want to try to avoid short distance trips that will not allow your engine to get up to proper operating temperature. When your vehicle is not at its proper operating temperature, the oil will not
- Go easy on the brakes.
- You’ll want to avoid slamming the brakes for the first 100 miles in town and the first 1,000 miles on the highway. And if your Ford has a manual transmission, you’ll want to be gentle with the clutch initially, too.
A new vehicle is an investment. If you treat it right, it will give you years of performance without a lot of expensive hassle and labor. For information about breaking in a new Ford engine, contact us today. Our knowledgeable team will give you every answer to help make sure your new Ford model is running at its finest for thousands and thousands of miles!
