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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!floyd!whuxlb!pyuxll!eisx!npoiv!npois!hogpc!houxm!ihnp4!ihuxl!seifert
From: seifert@ihuxl.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: How do you break in a new car?
Message-ID: <430@ihuxl.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 8-Jul-83 16:51:34 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihuxl.430
Posted: Fri Jul  8 16:51:34 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 9-Jul-83 18:33:05 EDT
References: <258@ihuxq.UUCP>
Organization: BTL Naperville, Il.
Lines: 41

>	If you have a manual transmission, don't down
>	shift  until  the  300  mile  mark  has  been
>	reached.  As  with  up   shifting,   steadily
>	increase  the  number  of  revs after 300 has
>	been   reached.   Don't    by    shy    about
>	downshifting.   It saves brake wear and tends
>	to give the engine a good blow through.


AUGH!!!!!	NO! NO! NO!

If one does not downshift, what does one do instead? Drive
on the freeway for 300 miles? Come to a complete stop at
every corner and carefully engage first?  Lug the engine?

Downshifting is very very necessary, unless you are driving a
Detroit (torque city) V8, maybe even then. Small displacement
engines need revs if you want any power.  Yes, this makes them
a little slow when you're breaking them in, and when you first
fire them up in winter and the oil's 26 below 0. (Assuming you
care about your engine and keep the revs down) Lugging is very 
hard on engines. Don't do it. The alternative is downshifting. 
The transmission is there to allow the engine to remain in a
narrow rev band over a wide range of road speeds. Use it for
this purpose. Do it carefully and do not over-rev your engine
when downshifting.  Learn to downshift properly. This means
double-declutch heal-and-toe techniques.  A little tricky
at first, but soon (eventually?) becomes second nature and
very automatic.  Saves lots of wear and tear on the syncromesh.

Point two, downshifting to slow the car down.

This works very well. If you are driving down Pikes Peak, or
if your brakes suddenly go away then this is the technique to
use.  For average everyday driving, brake pads are a *LOT*
cheaper than transmissions. (and engines, if you manage to
over-rev them) 

				Dave Seifert
				Windy City BMW
				ihnp4!ihuxl!seifert