We were due to get our new car in Dec but now looks like mid - end Jan. Do we need to get some, if so, how many, miles on the clock before we hitch up?
In the olden days (haha) my father said cars needed bedding in and that they should be driven carefully for first 1000! I know that theory has changed of the yrs as I didn't have to worry with any of my new cars BUT this is our first new tow car!
Any thoughts, reason for asking is that I am looking at Easter (which is very, very early next yr) and not sure how many miles we will have on clock by then. OH commute 2 miles each way,hence reason for going from Disco to estate!!
When I got my last mondeo we towed to 330 miles with it when it was a week old, Ford said that it was fine as no need to run in any more , 4 years later and its been fault free
I,m getting another mondeo in about 3 weeks that will be used to tow in Feb as well
Cars are built very differently today, and don't generally need running in anymore. I think running in went out with having to de-coke the engine every few thousand miles, and engines that were knackered after about 80,000 miles.
We got our new volvo then next day went on hol to Scotland for 2 weeks. No problems.
Came back home then 2 weeks later went to france for 7 weeks and did 3300 miles.
I dont think you have to worry with new cars but if you are still worried ask the dealer. J x
We have never run in new cars and I drive high miles. I'll always leave it a thousand miles or so before opening up the throttle fully but we've towed with very few miles from new. Never had an issue and I run my car to 120,000 miles over 3 years.
It should give any recommendations re mileage before towing in the handbook, my car (Mazda)handbook recommends 600miles. I would take what the salesman tells you with a pinch of salt and just check in the handbook. As you are not planning to tow until Easter this will give you plenty of time to put a few miles on the clock if this is recommended
Our Kia Sportage handbook recommends that 1200 miles need to be on the clock before towing. However, we had no choice and towed the van at 800 miles, just took it easy.
------------- May, Bridge House Marina Garstang
May Willowbank Southport
June Ashes Kendal
July Laverick Hall Halton
July Bridge House Marina
Aug Solway View, Borgue
Sept Willowbank Southport
Oct Wagtail Farm York
Oct Fisherpool Delamere.
I think that if you are sensible about it, any car should be capable of towing, even straight out of the showroom. The key is being sensible.
Obviously, avoid over-revving, thrashing it in too high a gear, violent acceleration etc. Most caravanners with any common sense wouldn't do those things anyway, would they?
I am going to go against the grain a little here.
Although engine components are made to much better tolerances and surface finishes are better controlled than a few decades ago. My last 3 or 4 vehicles have been brand new and I have run each of them in as per handbook recommendations. My BMW Cooper S (Mk I) was not thrashed until 1500 miles had been done. I did an extra oil change prior to the first BMW service too. That engine was a beaut ! Used very little oil and performed exceptionally. I would tow but only after the breaking in period as per handbook. As above, just don't over rev the engine. You need to retain a surface finish in the bore which retains oil and seals the piston ring to bore interface. I believe it's worth the effort but then old engineers can be boring. Do not skimp on the oil quality. It used to be recommended to run in using mineral or semi synthetic oil before switching to full synthetic following the run in period. Just to open up a can of worms. LOL
------------- cramming for my finals in the twilight zone
My Sante Fe , new last year stated running in using various engine reves for about 400 miles, and do not tow untill after 1200 miles, done 20,000 miles now and uses no oil at all.