Towing with a brand new car

Bazdownes
Bazdownes Forum Participant Posts: 6
edited March 2022 in Towcars & Towing #1

Hi all, I'm getting as brand new Kia Sorento shortly and wondered what was the official / unofficial advice as to towing with a brand new car. Do you need to get a few thousand miles under your belt to allow the engine to bed in or can you just hitch up and go?

Comments

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,300 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2022 #2

    I would assume somewhere amongst all the blurb on the vehicle, the manufacturer will make a recommendation.
    When we bought our first XTrail in 2007 the manufacturers advice was 800 miles. When we replaced it with a more or less identical one 7 years later, they had reduced it to 400 miles. 

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2022 #3

    I don’t think it’s necessary to 'run in' vehicles these days but the dealership will know. You can probably download the instruction manual to check for yourself.

  • Vulcan
    Vulcan Forum Participant Posts: 670
    edited March 2022 #4

    It is all in your user manual,

    " Don't tow a trailer during the first
    2,000 km (1,200 miles) of operation"

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited March 2022 #5
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,425 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2022 #6

    I've just checked my manual for my Sorrento (four year's old) and it says:

    Don't tow a trailer for the first 2000 km (1200 miles) of operation

    but that might have changed for today's model so best to check with your dealer.  

  • Vulcan
    Vulcan Forum Participant Posts: 670
    edited March 2022 #7

    I suppose it depends what you call "running in", my new vehicle does not specifically mention towing when new however the running in period is 2000 miles so whichever way you look at it they are covering themselves up to 2000 miles.

  • Vulcan
    Vulcan Forum Participant Posts: 670
    edited March 2022 #8

    Absolute waste of time asking dealers as the majority will tell you there is no need to run in a modern vehicle but the majority of owner manuals still state a running in period.

     

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited March 2022 #9
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  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2022 #10

    "Running in" means to not overwork the engine or use high revs or strain the motor in any way as I’m sure you know. Therefore, "running in" includes towing.

    Incidentally, when I mentioned checking with the dealership, I didn’t mean a salesman but a person with technical knowledge.

    As the OP has not got the car yet, he won’t have access to the handbook which is why I suggested downloading one.

  • eribaMotters
    eribaMotters Club Member Posts: 1,193 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2022 #11

    It's all in the small print but you have to search. Do not listen to the sales person. VAG state 1000km = 600 miles when you read the handbooks. 

    Interestingly I was talking with a fellow caravan puller this afternoon about oil consumption. I then realised that I had towed at close to these figures with diesel VW Touran, diesel Skoda Yeti and petrol Audi A3. The maiden tows ranged from 300 to 600 miles. In all cases I had needed to top up oil by 250/300ml. In subsequent ownership I do not recall putting in any extra oil between services.

     

    Colin

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,857 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2022 #12

    Both new Sorento's I purchased suggested a minimum mileage before towing.

    David

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