Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!ittvax!bunker!bunkerb!rik From: rik@bunkerb.UUCP (Ray I. Kaville) Newsgroups: net.auto Subject: Re: How do you break in a new car? Message-ID: <215@bunkerb.UUCP> Date: Fri, 22-Jul-83 10:52:40 EDT Article-I.D.: bunkerb.215 Posted: Fri Jul 22 10:52:40 1983 Date-Received: Fri, 22-Jul-83 21:24:04 EDT References: ihuxq.258 Lines: 21 If you go strictly by the manual you will probably do all-right, providing you don't plan on keeping your vehicle for a long time. I drive a 1976 Mercury Cougar XR-7 and the manual calls for an oil change every 5000 mi. This is fine for the first couple of oil changes since it takes a few thousand miles to take the burrs off of the metal parts while they seat but I wouldn't recom- mend this practice if longevity of the engine is a consideration. Not only is engine wear a signifigant factor in the oil change but you have to realize that oil breakdown from heat causes more friction on the working parts. Currently I have more than 111,000 miles on my car and I don't use ANY oil. My oil changes My oil changes are done every 3000 miles on my car and every 1000 miles on my motorcycle (which has over 20,000 mi.) The filters are changed every other time and believe me, the oil is always in need of change. Oil is the one absolutely necessary part of your maintenance procedure and the only one that I would reccomend you do more often than the manual dictates. (a few cans of oil is a lot cheaper than a rebuild on the engine) R.I. Kaville