Fredvon4 has got it goin' on. He sounds as if he knows as much about the mechanics of vehicles as anybody I've ever met. I'm glad to know he was protecting our investment as taxpayers of the military fleet, and he continues his wonderful service to this forum. Thanks for the great advice and I really learned something about bedding the brakes. I plan to print his post out and have it ready when I finally pick up my car. Thanks!!!
The major manufactures do understand that the typical owners has no mechanical background and they do their engineering with this in mind..
They are motivated to make the motor withstand initial abuse to protect against warranty repair and generally have a product that is reliable for a long enough time to get points in owner satisfaction surveys...
What I am saying is... if you just get in and drive your new vehicle exactly as you drive* any vehicle, it will not be harmed and last a good long normal life...(* except those of you that are max 0-40 at every green light)
All my suggestions do is increase the probability that your equipment will last longer (then normal) and be more reliable...in other words, less costly to own and maintain
But I will repeat it one more time... you do not need to do any of this if you simply follow the owners guide recommendations...Their advice is NOT wrong...just not optimal
Well, I may have "gone against the grain" but I did have a 300 mile return trip home with mine when I picked it up. I did vary the speed up and down on the way home, but did NOT have any stops to let the engine cool down except for one refueling. Now, once I got home there have been many starts and stops with cool-downs in-between. So, have I did big 'sin' by driving it home for the first 300 miles with no cool-downs in-between? I currently have 515 miles on it now and do intend to change the oil around 1k. I intend to put synthetic in it at that time. I believe someone above mentioned M1 5W40. Is that what their dealer recommended?
Lots of folks will have to do the LONG drive home... I would not be concerned... you say you varied the speeds/rpm... not a big sin...enjoy your new vehicle
I have not yet received my Smart but I purchased 4 new Japanese motorcycles over the years, and each one had the oil changed and the engine gone once over at the 500 mile mark. In each of those, I personally went back and checked the oil and each one had metal shavings and miscellaneous junk in the oil from what the engine did to itself as it was breaking in.
Do what you want, but I fully intend to change the oil in my Passion at the 500 mile mark.
Just in case anyone wants to see the filter ... for a little over $12, here's what you get:
Here's a couple size comparisons ... the big filter is from my Cummins-powered Dodge Ram ... on the big side versus itty-biity Smart! It's like a shot-glass versus a Big Gulp.
Fredvon4 has got it goin' on. He sounds as if he knows as much about the mechanics of vehicles as anybody I've ever met. I'm glad to know he was protecting our investment as taxpayers of the military fleet, and he continues his wonderful service to this forum. Thanks for the great advice and I really learned something about bedding the brakes. I plan to print his post out and have it ready when I finally pick up my car. Thanks!!!
Fredvon4 is beyond got it going on. He is a valuable resource and I know I am going to have to review that brake break-in bit that he posted**now if I can just remember what thread...
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