| wannamurano |
Warning this may be a dumb question. I've been reading all the threads on proper break in procedures. I get the points about driving conservatively and varying the speed during this period but I'm a little confused about varying the RPM's. Does this happen automatically as you vary the speed? Is there something else that I'm supposed to do? My RPM's don't seem to get above the 2 or 3 mark before dropping back down (that's assuming i'm reading it right). This is the first time I've tried to do a proper break in with a vehicle and I wanna get it right.
Thanks for your help! |
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| Eric L. |
RPMs measure the "revolutions per minute" of the engine crankshaft (i.e. how fast the motor is spinning). The reason why your RPMs go up and down is because your transmission is constantly shifting gears (continuously) to keep the RPMs in the appropriate range (i.e. engine power output) for your driving conditions.
If you floor the gas pedal, you'll find the RPMs rev all the way to redline (which is the maximum engine speed). Unlike a normal automatic, which has 4-6 discrete forward gear ratios, the CVT is infinitely variable, so you will never see a constant revving range, it will just be smooth smooth smooth.
You don't need to worry about varying RPMs during breakin. If you really want to vary it by a larger amount, push it into Ds (S, SL) or use the manual shift mode (SE) every so often. |
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| njjoe |
wannamurano-
What you do not want to do with a new (or recently rebuilt) engine is run it at the same RPM for an extended period of time. Taking a brand new car and driving it at constant RPM for 6 hours at 60 MPH on level highway without stopping is not good for the longevity of the engine, especially if done repeatedly.
As long as the RPMs fluctuate your engine will be fine.
"Does this happen automatically as you vary the speed?" - Yes, and even when driving at constant speed the RPMs will change as you ascend and descend hills.
"Is there something else that I'm supposed to do?" - Yes, enjoy the ride.
"My RPM's don't seem to get above the 2 or 3 mark before dropping back down." My MO spends 99.9% of it's time between 1,500 and 2,500 RPM. The only time it sees the far side of 3,000 is when I am accelerating onto a highway.
Enjoy the ride. :roadtrip:
-njjoe |
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| wannamurano |
OK well I guess I'm on the right track.
driving it at constant RPM for 6 hours at 60 MPH on level highway without stopping is not good for the longevity of the engine
LOL. would never happen in Houston traffic. Probably not for even 6 minutes.
If you really want to vary it by a larger amount, push it into Ds (S, SL) or use the manual shift mode (SE) every so often.
So If I wanted to do this when exactly would I? While just driving normally? |
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| Eric L. |
quote:
Originally posted by wannamurano
OK well I guess I'm on the right track.
driving it at constant RPM for 6 hours at 60 MPH on level highway without stopping is not good for the longevity of the engine
LOL. would never happen in Houston traffic. Probably not for even 6 minutes.
If you really want to vary it by a larger amount, push it into Ds (S, SL) or use the manual shift mode (SE) every so often.
So If I wanted to do this when exactly would I? While just driving normally?
Yeah you can shift to Ds whenever you want. The RPMs will go up because the transmission will use a more aggressive program (lower ratios). You will not be harming the engine or the transmission if you do this occasionally. |
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