Breaking in a New Car

[houndman]

I think you might be happier with a Honda.

How about a GTO??))

 

[Frank]

LOL..why, you want to avoid me on the road??

I live in Philly, and debating whether to fill the hollow spaces
behind the bumper covers so the Sube doesn't get torn up bumpers and
busted tail lights like other cars, including my old Chevy, because
people can't judge when pulling out of parallel parking spots. Got
into an argument with a guy I know who said, You Have to hit the
bumpers, when I commented how many times his must have been hit,
because of all the missing paint on his rear bumpers, so I Guess He
stops After he hits them also. I try to avoid all contact, and most
people drive automatics. No wonder I want a 5M. I guess that was the
motivation to build a car that Parks Itself. Today's cars are SO good
they need Avoidance Radar. Night Vision I can see, so you don't hit
deer or moose in the dark, but Avoidance Radar?? A breathilizer
ignition switch should be First on the list of features.

VF

I live about 40 miles away in DE. If I had to drive the Sure Kill
Expressway every day in Philly, I'd use all the protection I could get.
Maybe even put in a roll bar

Frank

Also, I'd be packing.

 

[Bonehenge (B A R R Y)]

and I thought Restrictor Plates were what lowerd the speeds. Learn
something new every day.) ) )

There are other racing bodies besides NASCAR. Restrictor plates fit
fuel injected cars poorly.

Some race cars even turn right and left during every race, not just
once or twice a year.

 

[Bonehenge (B A R R Y)]

Called Ins co today for premiums, and thay asked if the car had ABS
and air bags. Yes.. & Yes..)) Odd that they want you to have them but
they Claim they don't help. Oh, well...

The insurance company claims ABS and airbags don't help?

 

[hippo]

houndman@[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

You must like air bags and ABS. Not Me!!

I'm sure all the guys who dislike ABS think they can brake more
effectively in an emergency situation.

Betcha only, oh, I'll be generous--maybe 10% actually can.

If ABS wasn't an advantage, it wouldn't be illegal in certain racing
bodies. <G>

I can probably cadence brake to a standstill in a shorter distance than an
ABS system can stop the same car in the same conditions *BUT* there's not a
lot in it and more importantly I can't steer at the same time without ABS -
IMO *that's* the advantage to the majority of drivers if they'd bother
learning how to use it effectively.

BTW, given that's the main advantage of ABS, whty the hell would anyone
disconnect it from the *front* wheels when they steer the car?
Maybe he shouldn't stop there. Why not revert to fwd and take out the air
conditioner, seatbelts, radials, disk brakes. Stuff it, why not just buy a
'26 Chev and be done with all this poofy modern stuff? Cheers

 

[houndman]

I live about 40 miles away in DE. If I had to drive the Sure Kill
Expressway every day in Philly, I'd use all the protection I could get.
Maybe even put in a roll bar

Frank

Also, I'd be packing.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I avoid the Sure Kill as much as I can. The river drives are much
more fun.

I have been known to act a little crazy, if I encounter a dumb,
crazy driver. I'll do Anything to get away from them, since they are
an accident waiting to happen. I Do use my turn signals when taking
evasive actions, even if made fast. Don't want to get tagged as one of
Them...

VF

 

[houndman]

There are other racing bodies besides NASCAR. Restrictor plates fit
fuel injected cars poorly.

Some race cars even turn right and left during every race, not just
once or twice a year.

yea, but Rt & Lt hand turn races usually don't get to as high a speed.
You mean they have ABS and air bags?

 

[houndman]

houndman@[EMAIL PROTECTED]

writes:

You must like air bags and ABS. Not Me!!
I'm sure all the guys who dislike ABS think they can brake more
effectively in an emergency situation.
Betcha only, oh, I'll be generous--maybe 10% actually can.

If ABS wasn't an advantage, it wouldn't be illegal in certain racing
bodies. <G>

I can probably cadence brake to a standstill in a shorter distance than an
ABS system can stop the same car in the same conditions *BUT* there's not a
lot in it and more importantly I can't steer at the same time without ABS -
IMO *that's* the advantage to the majority of drivers if they'd bother
learning how to use it effectively.

BTW, given that's the main advantage of ABS, whty the hell would anyone
disconnect it from the *front* wheels when they steer the car?
Maybe he shouldn't stop there. Why not revert to fwd and take out the air
conditioner, seatbelts, radials, disk brakes. Stuff it, why not just buy a
'26 Chev and be done with all this poofy modern stuff? Cheers

weeeell, pickups used to have ABS in Just the rear. May still. Figure
I can manage the fronts locking easier than the rears, and in a turn,
that lighter rear will be coming around if the rears lock.

26' Chevy eh? Lots of shows on recently about 32 Fords. I think they
looked similar. I'll give them a look see. No computers in them right?
I never wanted to see them again till the Prestolite CD unit I put in
a new car in 62' Quit after 6mo, at the top of a suspension bridge
going into NJ. I coasted down and off it, and disconnected it. Threw
it Off the bridge on the way home.))

VF

 

[Bonehenge (B A R R Y)]

yea, but Rt & Lt hand turn races usually don't get to as high a speed.

So, these can't possibly go as fast as a stock car?
<http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/understanding_the_sport/>

Note the brake box.

 

[Gareth]

AFAIK the procedure continues to be the same.

I would jump on the interstate but would change the speed up and down
from the 40 or so interstate minimun speed all the way to 70 or so,
avoiding a constant speed.

I agree with this completely. I would do this without turning the engine
off for about 100 miles. When you turn the car off, do an oil change
immediately. You will be amazed at how many metal shavings and particles
drain out. The rings are primarily set during this first hundred miles.
Do another dino oil change at about 1500 miles. At about 5000 miles
change over to fully synthetic. Change every 6000 thereafter.
An engine broken in this way will be very efficient during the course of
its life. Gas mileage, acceleration, etc.

gary

 

[Todd H.]

I agree with this completely. I would do this without turning the
engine off for about 100 miles. When you turn the car off, do an oil
change immediately. You will be amazed at how many metal shavings and
particles drain out. The rings are primarily set during this first
hundred miles. Do another dino oil change at about 1500 miles. At
about 5000 miles change over to fully synthetic. Change every 6000
thereafter.
An engine broken in this way will be very efficient during the course
of its life. Gas mileage, acceleration, etc.

Subaru does not recommend such early oil changes. The car is shipped
with special oil apparently to aid in breakin.

Least that's what Iv'e read in more than a few places.

 

[Gareth]

Subaru does not recommend such early oil changes. The car is shipped
with special oil apparently to aid in breakin.

Least that's what Iv'e read in more than a few places.

Maybe I am a cynic. Do manufactures want a car to last 300,000 miles, or
would they prefer you to buy a new one every 150,000 or so?

 

[hippo]

Maybe I am a cynic. Do manufactures want a car to last 300,000 miles, or

would they prefer you to buy a new one every 150,000 or so?

Subaru *do* recommend leaving the delivery oil in until the first
scheduled change to assist with running in. No they probably don't want
your engine to last forever, but yes you probably are a cynic!

My 91 Liberty wagon was traded at 332,000Km and had great compression and
*no* engine problems whatsoever. Current 99 Outback has 185,000Km. Both
cars were private delivery and serviced every 12,500Km per Oz specs. Both
ran Castrol Magnatec from its introduction 9 (?) years ago.
Only prob with Outback was a big oil bill following a change done with
Repsol synthetic.
A leak that I couldn't trace to its source used about 3L in 2000Km. Added
a seal swell which seems to have stopped the leak and will revert to
Magnatec at next change. Cheers

 

[hippo]

(e-mail address removed) Aug 25, 2007 at 05:53 PM

"Bonehenge (B A R R Y)" <DwightSchrute@[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Aug 23,

2007
at

07:56 PM

houndman@[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

You must like air bags and ABS. Not Me!!

<snip>
Stuff it, why not just buy a
'26 Chev and be done with all this poofy modern stuff? Cheers

weeeell, pickups used to have ABS in Just the rear. May still. Figure
I can manage the fronts locking easier than the rears, and in a turn,
that lighter rear will be coming around if the rears lock.

26' Chevy eh? Lots of shows on recently about 32 Fords. I think they
looked similar. I'll give them a look see. No computers in them right?
I never wanted to see them again till the Prestolite CD unit I put in
a new car in 62' Quit after 6mo, at the top of a suspension bridge
going into NJ. I coasted down and off it, and disconnected it. Threw
it Off the bridge on the way home.))

VF

Properly set up brake system with a decent proportioning valve would stop
the rears locking up unladen in the first place. Loaded it isn't a problem.
Same with suspensions about 80 years ahead of leaf springs so all the
wheels stay on the ground all the time in all condiitons.

ABS is bloody useful used as intended but it woun't suspend the laws of
physics. People trying to do a crash brake and 3 lane S swerve at 150Km/h
are going to come unstuck and quite probably fall over!

There used to be a guy in Sydney ran a 26 Chev as a taxi truck until at
least the mid 90s. Original owner and a miserable old coot. Some of the
very faded original paint was still on it with a fair bit of bare metal
and the absolute bare minimum spent on anything for at least 30 years.
Last time I saw it it was with a diferent owner fully restored but still
with a taxi truck plate.

Looked a bit like this one while in daily use!

http://www.stovebolt.com/gallery/lupton_si_1926.htm

Cheers

 

[houndman]

what's the latest theory on breaking them in? Last I remember was no
sustained high speeds for 1K mi, or something like that. May be
picking up a car 120mi away, and the Interstate would be quicker, but
I'm thinking secondary roads, and maybe stopping and letting it cool
down often. Don't need no head gasket blowing.(((

VF

Bought the 2.5i 5M wagon yesterday but not 120mi away. Hadn't driven
one on a highway, so wanted to before I paid. Had it out for about 2
hrs, driving on all kind of roads and speeds. Pushed it a little at
times. Too much happening to watch the revs. Car had the armrest
console that Had to go, unless I wanted to rest my arm on it, and
shift the 5sp with my wrist. Opened the lid which helped a little, and
then saw the whole thing tilted back, so tilted it.. Will take some
time getting used to visability restrictions. Back seat head rests
blocked some view, so seat backs have to go down.

Brake pedal was soft, and clutch grabbed low. The clutch pedal saftey
switch was annoying, since the pedal had to be depressed all the way.
The clutch grabbed abruptly sometimes, and wondered if the AWD had
something to do with it? Haven't driven a manual in 25yrs, but it
doesn't take long to remember. I didn't notice the pedals working the
same, in 2 others I tested about 7 weeks ago. the brake pedal was
soft, and a tech in the showrrom said ABS is like that... If they tell
me they All work like that, I'm gona ask to drive another one. The
dealer still has it to check the items.

VF