BERLIN: What’s the best way to drive a new car to keep it in great shape?
Conventional wisdom has long since been to change the engine oil after a car’s first 1,000km, explains the Tuv, a leading technical inspection agency.
There were good reasons for this, mainly because the pistons’ movements in new engines would cause friction and lead to small particles entering the oil, which in turn would cause problem for oil filters.
These days, however, virtually no carmaker recommends an oil change so early on. After all, modern engines have minimal manufacturing tolerance, which means that all of their components are almost perfectly matched to each other.
In new engines, oil will hardly get contaminated within the first 10,000km to 20,000km. In addition, according to Tuv, today's oil filters are much more efficient than they used to be.
Even so, new cars should be driven carefully during their first 1,000km. During this period, it’s best for the engine if you can avoid driving at very low or very high revolutions per minute. A quick glance at the car’s owner’s manual can also offer some tips.
