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New Car Maintainence Help


Anabolic
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Hi guys, abt to collect my new car in a few days, have some elementary questions that i hope u guys could help me out with.

 

1. What's the proper way to BREAK-IN a new engine? Pedal to metal? Slow an easy? Varying RPMs? Have heard differing views, and would like to maintain the engine's integrity as much as possible from day 1. How long should I break in my engine (in dist(km) covered) before i can resume normal driving?

 

2. Difference b/t synthetic and mineral engine oil? Read that new engines should use mineral oils? But synthetic oil is more viscuous? Would appreciate some help on what kind of engine oil to use. Preferred brands can be mentioned too!

 

3. Tips for keeping auto transmission in good condition? Any advise? Also, how often to change auto tranny oil?

 

4. Planning on getting one of those wax treatments for the car. (Toughseal, Glare) Anyone has any views on monthly waxing, and one of those once a year wax treatments? Any difference in cost, convenienve, etc?

 

5. The car i'm getting is a 1.6 litre car, pretty heavy. Believe it's abt 1.2 tonnes. What advise would be given for rims/tires upgrading? Tire size and rims size recommendations much appreciated!

 

Hope all the veterans and experts here can help! Look forward to meeting up with you guys asap after my A levels end! [:)]

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1. Its just not slow and easy. It is low rpm. Don't go above 3k for the rpm. I'm not sure about the distance covered. Should be 1-5k.

 

2. Dino (dinosaur) oil is better for the break-in period. You are going to change the oil during the servicing at 1k then at 5k so don't waste money on expensive syn oil. Syn oil is not more viscous. Engine oil is a very broad topic. It covers not only viscosity. There is film strength, total base numbers, shear stability...... many many factors. Syn oil has a higher film strength at 5000psi. Dino oil has 500psi for film strength. So quite obvious viscosity is not the only factor. New cars have tighter tolerances. Suggest a 30wt oil, any oil dino or syn.

 

3. ATF is very tough stuff. Very heavy oil. No need to change. Guaranteed for the lifetime of your car if you intend to drive it for 10yrs. But it helps to change it at the recommended interval your manual states.

 

4. Check out the detailing subforum. This is where your elbow grease can match your mechanic's grease as he doesn't take care of your car's appearance [:)]

 

5. You can upgrade to any size bigger that you want. The contact patches are bigger for bigger tires but size them correctly. There is a sizing site in the Wheels subforum. My suggestion is to run the stock tires first. Save your cash. Let them wear out (approx. 2yrs the most) and then change.

Edited by Genie47
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thanks Genie47. Very informative! Will take all that you've said in good stead. Thanks once again!

 

Anyone else has any advice feel free to post!

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1. Its just not slow and easy. It is low rpm. Don't go above 3k for the rpm. I'm not sure about the distance covered. Should be 1-5k.

 

actually, it should be varying rpm for running in. Still can visit the higher RPM (>3k) but not holding it at the the RPM for long (high speed runs). Even when you are driving on the expressway, should very the engine speed & also the RPM wink.gifwink.gifwink.gif

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During run-in period, once in a while, maybe once a week (for me it was once everyday) , just rev pass the 3k rpm. For me I rev upto 6k before 1000km & all the way to Rev limit around 6.8k after 1500km. Now that it's past the 2000km mark, 8 out of 10 times, I'll rev past 6k in the 1st gear wink.gifwink.gifwink.gif

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wah lou ... 6k rpm at 1st gear .... damm liao oil man ... heheheh [laugh]

 

With ur advice, I nowadays do 6k+ rpm on 2nd and sometimes 3rd gear. Got auto rev limiter everytime when CO sitting as passenger. [laugh]

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wah lou ... 6k rpm at 1st gear .... damm liao oil man ... heheheh laugh.gif

 

no choice, old habit lar! laugh.giflaugh.giflaugh.gif the FC isn't as bad as my preivous 2 Alfa 33, it was amost 9km/L light footed driving (seldom) & 7km/L + for heavy footed driving (most of the time) sweatdrop.gifsweatdrop.gifsweatdrop.gif

 

With ur advice, I nowadays do 6k+ rpm on 2nd and sometimes 3rd gear.

 

and the engine rev more easily thumbsup.gifthumbsup.gifthumbsup.gif

 

Got auto rev limiter everytime when CO sitting as passenger. Posted Image

 

 

happens to everyone lar! Posted ImagePosted ImagePosted Image

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boss... what car u driving?

 

me no boss lar! just an under paid engineer lipsrsealed.giflipsrsealed.giflipsrsealed.gif

 

'92 - '94 Alfa Romeo 33 1.7 QV

 

'94' - '01 Alfa Romeo 33 16v sly.gifsly.gifsly.gif

 

ur foot like Ronald Macdonald one ah? laugh.gif

 

how I wish my feet are bigger sly.gifsly.gifsly.gif I sometime have to buy ladies sport's shoe....worst when I was in US, can only wear teen shoes Posted ImagePosted ImagePosted Image

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cannot lar, my wallet acts as a foot lightening addictive ler.. sweatdrop.gif

 

 

my wallet also does that but my foot just refused to give in lar laugh.giflaugh.giflaugh.gif

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