Some drivers think they must take their new cars out on to the freeway to break them in like horses. But this is precisely the wrong thing to do. Owners of new cars should avoid driving them at high speeds until the vehicle has been driven 2,000 km, because minute particles are left on the cylinders and transmissions. Taking new cars to high speeds is a short cut to wearing them down.
Park Yong-sung, a researcher at the Korea Automobile Testing and Research Institute, advises drivers of new cars to keep their vehicles at speeds of less than 100 km/h until the engine, joints and other components are given time to adjust to their dimensions.
There are those who think new cars need to be polished right after they roll off the assembly line. But the paint on new cars needs at least three months to dry completely. Although the surface may be dry, the inner layer of paint is still in the process of drying, so polishing can actually deteriorate the condition of the paint.
Many drivers also drive with their windows open, saying that turning on the air conditioning burns more fuel. This is true when driving at low speeds. But when driving over 80 km/h, it is better to close your windows and drive with the air conditioner on. If you drive with your windows open, there is more drag. Research shows that driving with the air conditioner on is actually 2 percent more fuel efficient than driving with your windows open.
There is also a popular belief that keeping new cars in the garage prolongs their life spans. But all machines need to be used moderately to keep them in good condition. The same goes for cars. If a car must be parked for a long time, it is good to take it out for short drives around once a week or at least leave the engine on for a short while. Choi Kyung-wook, a researcher at a used car sales website says the best used cars are those that have been driven between 10,000 km to 20,000 km a year.
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