Run in engine

armourer
armourer Forum Participant Posts: 218
edited January 2016 in Towcars & Towing #1

whats the lowest mileage on your new car is it ok to start towing your caravan ?? dealer says the engines are run in on new cars now 

i have just bought my new yeti last week and wonder

how many miles i should have on it before i start towing

thanks

«1

Comments

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
    1,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #2

    I was told to just take it easy for the first 500 miles, let the brakes bed in, not to load the engine with too low a revs, I towed nearly immediately but as said I was sympathetic. Modern car engines do not need running in as it use to be, but there are
    other mechanical bits that should be treated with care for a few miles.

  • PrestonDave
    PrestonDave Forum Participant Posts: 67
    edited January 2016 #3

    Towed with our new Vauxhall Antara at about 300 miles but made sure I didn't push it to much, modern engines don't need running in like they needed to be so I wouldn;t worry, just take it easy.

  • Tigi
    Tigi Forum Participant Posts: 1,038
    500 Comments
    edited January 2016 #4

    Varies from manufacturer to manufacturer and some do as you say not give any limit. My own car a Merc does not mention towing specifically but does advise gentle acceration and not using engine braking for the first 1500Kms. My previous Tiguan also advised
    something similar. As a general rule aiming for a 1000` before towing seems sensible.

  • JohnDH
    JohnDH Forum Participant Posts: 183
    100 Comments
    edited January 2016 #5

    whats the lowest mileage on your new car is it ok to start towing your caravan ?? dealer says the engines are run in on new cars now 

    i have just bought my new yeti last week and wonder

    how many miles i should have on it before i start towing

    thanks

    Easy. 0.

  • xtrailman
    xtrailman Forum Participant Posts: 559
    edited January 2016 #6

    A couple of hundred miles if you can, just to bed in the brakes and tyres.

    Then don't over rev or labour the engine, until you have a few miles on.

  • Vulcan
    Vulcan Forum Participant Posts: 670
    edited January 2016 #7

    Kia and Hyundai specifically state,"Don't tow a trailer during the first 2000km (1200 miles), but apart from the warranty issue I think common sense is the order of the day.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #8

     .... I think common sense is the order of the day.

    Which is something that's often sadly lacking these days Sad

  • Si Jo Tom and Ems
    Si Jo Tom and Ems Forum Participant Posts: 58
    edited January 2016 #9

    100miles to scrub the tyres in, then let rip. New Cars are built to be thrashed from the off. The onboard computer control wont let anything bad happen. Sounds a bit Clarkson, buts its true :)

     

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #10

    100miles to scrub the tyres in, then let rip. New Cars are built to be thrashed from the off. The onboard computer control wont let anything bad happen. Sounds a bit Clarkson, buts its true :)

     

    No mechanical sympathy then ....... ? Surprised

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #11

    Anyone remember the old stickers 'running in, please pass' or for those that had old bangers you could buy the humourous 'running out, please push' ?

  • volvoman9
    volvoman9 Forum Participant Posts: 1,053
    500 Comments
    edited January 2016 #12

    Yes i very much remember the running in stickers Happy many many moons ago.

    peter.

  • ADP1963
    ADP1963 Forum Participant Posts: 1,280
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #13

    Was'nt that a pain in the backside when you were a Sales Rep!

    I stuck to the rule because a member of my family usually bought the car when it was changed. 

     

  • TimJim
    TimJim Forum Participant Posts: 162
    edited January 2016 #14

    Subaru state no towing until 1000mls completed

    Tj

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,582 ✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments Photogenic
    edited January 2016 #15

    My cars handbook says 600 miles. Not sure what is relevant for yours but it should be in the handbook probably in the towing section.

  • IainM1970
    IainM1970 Forum Participant Posts: 170
    edited January 2016 #16

    Towed with my much missed Yeti at 500 miles

  • Vulcan
    Vulcan Forum Participant Posts: 670
    edited January 2016 #17

    whats the lowest mileage on your new car is it ok to start towing your caravan ?? dealer says the engines are run in on new cars now 

    i have just bought my new yeti last week and wonder

    how many miles i should have on it before i start towing

    thanks

    Yeti manual states " Do not tow a trailer during the first 1000kl"

  • xtrailman
    xtrailman Forum Participant Posts: 559
    edited January 2016 #18

    whats the lowest mileage on your new car is it ok to start towing your caravan ?? dealer says the engines are run in on new cars now 

    i have just bought my new yeti last week and wonder

    how many miles i should have on it before i start towing

    thanks

    Yeti manual states " Do not tow a trailer during the first 1000kl"

    Write your comments here...But do they ever give a reason?

    I now ignore such advice.

  • Vulcan
    Vulcan Forum Participant Posts: 670
    edited January 2016 #19

    whats the lowest mileage on your new car is it ok to start towing your caravan ?? dealer says the engines are run in on new cars now 

    i have just bought my new yeti last week and wonder

    how many miles i should have on it before i start towing

    thanks

    Yeti manual states " Do not tow a trailer during the first 1000kl"

    Write your comments here...But do they ever give a reason?

    I now ignore such advice.

    That is pecisely what I meant regarding using common sense,

    Not a good idea when the vehicle is still under warranty.

  • xtrailman
    xtrailman Forum Participant Posts: 559
    edited January 2016 #20

    I have yet to read of a failure while towing with a new car, related to mileage, have you?

    I towed with both my last two cars at well under the 1000 miles or 500, recommended with zero problems.

    My present one i bought in Nov last year so will have at least a 1K on it before i tow in April, but if i bought in summer, i wouldn't be missing out on towing just because of mileage.

  • DORMAN12Q
    DORMAN12Q Forum Participant Posts: 90
    edited January 2016 #21

    I've towed the 1st day i've got new motors before, it does them no harm,

    If you bought a brand new van or truck you wouldn't run around in it empty for the 1st few thousand miles so why would a car be any different , same goes for any engine driven plant such as pumps generators etc they have to earn their living from day one.

  • Mitsi Fendt
    Mitsi Fendt Forum Participant Posts: 484
    100 Comments
    edited January 2016 #22

     .... I think common sense is the order of the day.

    Which is something that's often sadly lacking these days Sad

    The problem with common sense is that sense is not common.

  • Vulcan
    Vulcan Forum Participant Posts: 670
    edited January 2016 #23

    I have yet to read of a failure while towing with a new car, related to mileage, have you?

    I towed with both my last two cars at well under the 1000 miles or 500, recommended with zero problems.

    My present one i bought in Nov last year so will have at least a 1K on it before i tow in April, but if i bought in summer, i wouldn't be missing out on towing just because of mileage.

    i understand that is your choice but is it worth risking the warranty for the sake of a few hundred miles.

  • xtrailman
    xtrailman Forum Participant Posts: 559
    edited January 2016 #24

    I have yet to read of a failure while towing with a new car, related to mileage, have you?

    I towed with both my last two cars at well under the 1000 miles or 500, recommended with zero problems.

    My present one i bought in Nov last year so will have at least a 1K on it before i tow in April, but if i bought in summer, i wouldn't be missing out on towing just because of mileage.

    i understand that is your choice but is it worth risking the warranty for the sake of a few hundred miles.

    Write your comments here...How am i risking my warranty?

  • xtrailman
    xtrailman Forum Participant Posts: 559
    edited January 2016 #25

    I just looked in the manual.

    Says dont tow a TRAILER for the first 600 miles, otherwise damage can be done to the engine, transaxle, differential, and wheel bearings.

    And at no time tow above 62 mph when run in.

    Now explain to me how a TRAILER taking a few bags of rubbish to the tip puts any more stress on those parts than carrying a full boot and passengers?

    Obviously care has to be taken towing a 1565 kg caravan whatever the mileage, but how is it going to damage anything on the list. My car is rated to tow 2000kg.

    And has anyone actually done any damage? Just applying common sense here.

    Warranty isn't mentioned.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,310 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited January 2016 #26

    I have no idea if it matters or not, but in our handbook it says not to tow before 400 miles, so we did a few long day trips solo. Personally when I have spent £30,000 on a vehicle I can't see the point in taking the risk.

  • Vulcan
    Vulcan Forum Participant Posts: 670
    edited January 2016 #27

     

    Write your comments here...How am i risking my warranty?

    If your vehicle handbook does not have a mileage limit before towing then obviously the warranty would not be affected however, if did have a limit then I doubt that any mechanical warranty would be honoured if you towed under the prescribed mileage.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #28

    Whether towing or not, is it not common practice to "be gentle" with anything new?

  • DORMAN12Q
    DORMAN12Q Forum Participant Posts: 90
    edited January 2016 #29

    even a tank?

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #30

    even a tank?

    Can you tow with one ...... Innocent

  • DORMAN12Q
    DORMAN12Q Forum Participant Posts: 90
    edited January 2016 #31

    I suspect you could.