Things To Do During The Break-In Period
5 Things To Do During The Break-In Period For Your New Volkswagen From Archer VW
A new Volkswagen is built with modern engineering and impressive German quality. From the moment you drive it off the lot, it will provide the reliable safety and convenient technology you need for your commute. Modern engines are built to more exacting tolerances than ever before, meaning maintenance is simpler and breaking in the engine is utterly painless. However, for the longest lasting performance and quality, allowing the engine to wear in gently over the break-in period is essential. The Volkswagen owner's manual suggests that you go easy on the engine for the first 1,000 miles on the odometer. Follow these five tips to break in the engine on your Volkswagen properly.
5. Avoid Towing During The Break-In Period
For the first 1,000 miles of ownership, it's wise to avoid any unnecessary towing and carrying heavy payloads in your new VW. Obviously, pulling the additional weight of a trailer puts added strain on the engine. If your Volkswagen model is equipped with a trailer hitch, it was designed to tow trailers with ease, but you can better ensure your engine is wearing in properly by avoiding the additional stress during your vehicle's break-in period.
4. Keep The Engine In The Lower Portion Of Its Rev Range
When an engine is new, its various moving parts are still getting to know each other. This wearing in process happens best under moderate conditions -- subjecting the engine to high revs and wide-open throttle during the break-in period can lead to maintenance issues down the road. Taking it easy on the engine in your new VW for the first 1,000 miles allows the engine to wear in smoothly. So, take a look at the tachometer in your car, and keep the car in the lower two-thirds of its safe rev range. For example, the 2019 Volkswagen Arteon has a 6,500 RPM redline. That means, according to the manufacturer, you should keep the engine below about 4,300 RPMs for the first 1,000 miles.
3. Very Engine Loads When Possible
While it's important not to overstress the engine when it's new, it's also important that the engine experiences a wide variety of conditions and loads. So that the engine's parts mate to one another not just at one RPM but at all the various speeds the engine will typically experience, avoid long, unchanging highway journeys and the use of cruise control for the first 1,000 miles. Even if you're hitting the open road, modulate your speed manually -- the natural variations in vehicle speed will allow the engine speed to rise and fall naturally, just like it will during most of your daily drive. If you used cruise control on a long, flat stretch of freeway, the engine would likely remain at the same speed for minutes or hours at a time, which isn't ideal during the break-in period.
2. Avoid Hard Braking For The First 1,000 Miles
The engine isn't the only thing that needs to break in. Your brake pads also need to be broken in properly. The friction material on your brake pads presses into the brake rotors when you press on the brake to slow down your car. Breaking in the brake pads means getting them seated against the rotors properly and wearing off that first, most fragile layer of friction material. Heavy braking when your brake pads are new can cause excessive brake dust, which can collect in uneven patches on your brake pads and lead to problems down the road. Remember, always brake as hard as you need to in order to avoid an accident when necessary, but avoid hard braking for the first 1,000 miles in your car whenever possible.
1. Avoid Wide-Open Throttle And Aggressive Driving
If you purchased a sporty new Volkswagen model -- like the eager GTI, the engaging Arteon or the exciting Golf R -- you might be tempted to see what this baby can do. But, we still recommend taking it easy for the first 1,000 miles. After the first 600 miles, you can begin slowly raising the engine's speed up toward the redline occasionally. But your Volkswagen is less likely to develop maintenance issues if it's allowed to break in properly. We can assure you, your patience will be rewarded with thousands upon thousands of miles of faithful, trouble-free service.