Dos and don'ts of a new car?

[jt999]

Hi all, just wondering the dos and don'ts of a new car.

I know don't crash it is the key one but do I need to run it in etc?

[Tim]

Once warm boot it as much as possible to run it. Most people will disagree with this but I'll find the evidence which says it's best.

[Coleman]

It needs running in, most manufacturers will have a recommended way of doing it. I'd imagine that once warm, just let the engine run through the rev range, change gear later etc

[jt999]

Also I hear of people saying stuff about the DPF, what's the recommended way for that? I assume I'll get a manual with the car but don't want to spend 4 days reading before taking it out...

[Hardcore]

Is it a diesel?
If it has a DPF, shouldn't be too much of an issue unless it's only used for short journeys

[Rob]

modern cars dont need running in. thats truly a thing of the past. just drive it normally. and get it serviced. dpf's usually regenerate themselves. doubt yours has one as its petrol iirc? just read the books mate.

[Michael]

DPF will regenerate itself, but needs to run above 2500 for something like 15-20 without dropping the revs

[jt999]

It's diesel (I'm not silly enough to ask about one on a petrol...)

That's quite a long time at high revs, not sure I'll be doing that much...
I guess my issue is that my daily journeys are fairly short (maybe 2 miles each way). On the weekends I do a 10 mile journey 4 times.
I do sometimes go 50/60 miles but it's less often.

If I don't get it to regenerate what issues would it cause me?

[Hardcore]

It's diesel (I'm not silly enough to ask about one on a petrol...)

That's quite a long time at high revs, not sure I'll be doing that much...
I guess my issue is that my daily journeys are fairly short (maybe 2 miles each way). On the weekends I do a 10 mile journey 4 times.
I do sometimes go 50/60 miles but it's less often.

If I don't get it to regenerate what issues would it cause me?

I don't think that'll be long enough to allow the DPF to regenerate naturally. It needs to get really really hot to work properly.
If they don't get hot enough normally to regenerate then a light will come on the dashboard forcing you to regenerate. Usually need to hold the revs above a certain amount for a certain length of time as mentioned.
During a forced regeneration the engine is flooded with lots of diesel so if it has to do this often or if a regeneration fails and has to restart all the extra diesel mixes with the oil and you damage the engine or block the DPF

[Coleman]

blocked dpf is a PITA, and can end up costing you, even though it's under warranty. A motorway journey in a gear lower than usual can do the job, once the engine has warmed up sufficiently.

[Hardcore]

I've never owned a petrol before but the way things are going that might change

Problems with diesel particulate filters may push companies towards petrol

[jt999]

Well this all sounds fun...

I guess I'll read what Mercedes tell me to do :-\

[Dave]

They're notoriously ****. So much so that its very common for people to remove them, or rather, gut them and refit an empty dpf casing. But now thanks to someone somewhere who hates everyone, its being added to MOT's that you cant remove or gut a DPF on a diesel if it was originally fitted with one from the factory, similar to the CAT rule that came in for petrols... Great news huh!!?

[Hardcore]

just wait until they bring in EGR removal / blanking as an MOT fail next.
Then remaps after that.

[Dave]

None of this affects me tbh so I just lol.