So you have just collected the keys to your dream car. It is fresh out of the showroom and you cannot wait to hit the pedal to the metal and take it for a long, fast spin. But wait! Is it the right thing to do?

All automotive manufacturers, with the sole exception of Germans, advise you to take it light and easy immediately after the purchase of a new car. The reason being that there is something called the running-in period. Like all other machines, cars too have moving parts, which need some time and kilometres in order to get adjusted optimally in order to perform smoothly. For example, the piston rings, the bearings and cylinders need to wear out evenly before the car starts running the way it actually should. Similarly, the tyres, transmissions and the brakes too need their time to settle in.

Tyres of brand new cars take time to generate the required amount of grip. So make sure that you go easy on the tyres before driving at high speeds.

You can begin the running in of your car by sticking to the speed limits and the RPMs that are prescribed in the user manual of your car. For petrol engined cars, the manufacturers usually ask you keep the revs limited to 2,500-2,700 rpm and try and not go beyond 80kmph, at least for the first 1,000-1,200km. After you have crossed the 1,200km mark on the odometer, then you can rev upto 3,000-3,200rpm and maybe touch 100-110 kmph.

For car with diesel engines, you need to keep your revs even lower for the first 1,000km, say till 2,000 rpm. After that you can rev your car till 2,800rpm for the next 500-700km. Try and keep your speed in check as well. Do not go beyond 100kmph at least for the first 1,000km.

Stay within speed limits

Avoid accelerating too quickly and braking too hard, till the time it is possible. In case of a real emergency, you of course can do either. Try and shift gears as smoothly as possible, in the recommended rev band. We also suggest that you do not undertake long distance trips before you have run-in your car. Ideally we would ask you to avoid getting stuck in traffic too but given the scenario in India, it is too long a shot. Even then, we suggest you be as gentle as possible with your car.

Most manufacturers also suggest that you change the oil of your vehicle after 1,000-1,200 km as metal shavings might find their way in the oil reservoir. So then there are chances of engine damage too.

Check for oil regularly.

THINGS NOT TO DO WHILE RUNNING IN

>> Do not rev the car unnecesarily

>> Do not make th engine work harder. For e.g. shifting too early

>> Hard acceleration and heavy braking. To be avoided at all costs

>> Keep the car free of unnecessary load such as stack of magazines, heavy luggage kept needlessly and so on and do forth

SMOOTH GEARSHIFTS

Try and keep your gearshifts as smooth as possible. Different cars have different rev bands for shifting up the gears. Try and stick to the same for the first 1,500km at the least. Revving your new engine hard might be detrimental to the car.