flooring the accelerator
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Mississauga, ON, Canada
2005 C230 sedan w/ Bixenon, auto tranny, sunroof, garage opener, rain-sensing wipers, black on black
flooring the accelerator
Hey guys, I have 1600 kms on my new car (1100 miles approximately)...i never did more than 3500 rpm until 1100 miles....now, i slowly began to open up...is it ok to floor it once ina while...i wanted to test top speed, and i even red-lined it for about 3 seconds...i had it running at around 5.5 rpm for another 45 seconds...i dont plan on driving like this all the time, but is it ok to do this once in a while?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,498
Likes: 3
From: Ashburn, VA
'19 GLC 300, '19 TM3SR+
Originally Posted by hkalltheway
Hey guys, I have 1600 kms on my new car (1100 miles approximately)...i never did more than 3500 rpm until 1100 miles....now, i slowly began to open up...is it ok to floor it once ina while...i wanted to test top speed, and i even red-lined it for about 3 seconds...i had it running at around 5.5 rpm for another 45 seconds...i dont plan on driving like this all the time, but is it ok to do this once in a while?
To answer your question: yes, 1600 km is sufficient to open it up - floor it all you want. Just do not UNDERREV it, as this is far more damaging to the engine. Remember - this is a German car, born to be driven on an autobahn. This means that it is supposed to handle cruising at top gear with RPM near redline for long periods of time.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,851
Likes: 196
From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
Well said....
"The proper way to break an engine in is to constantly alternate RPM - including near-redline, but don't put a lot of stress on the engine during that time. Do not cruise at constant speed - but do not floor it, do not race it either."
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Mississauga, ON, Canada
2005 C230 sedan w/ Bixenon, auto tranny, sunroof, garage opener, rain-sensing wipers, black on black
Originally Posted by mleskovar
"The proper way to break an engine in is to constantly alternate RPM - including near-redline, but don't put a lot of stress on the engine during that time. Do not cruise at constant speed - but do not floor it, do not race it either."
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,480
Likes: 1
From: Central NJ
C230K Coupe/Orion/C4/C5/CD/AMG Spoiler/V60/TeleAid, 2 MGB's
Originally Posted by hkalltheway
so i'm guessing it's ok to floor/race occasionaly after break-in, right? However, my only concern is that after driving a little rough, when I get out of the car, I can smell a bit of a burning smell from the area of the exhaust/trunk. Is that normal?
2) the burning smell is probably just the cat. converter dissipating heat....nothing to worry about unless you park your car over a pile of leaves
