The first maintenance of a car means it has passed the break in period. During this period, some cars have high fuel consumption, and many people call the 4S store to inquire about why the car's fuel consumption is so high. Usually, they are also informed that it is due to the break in period, and it will be better after the break in period. After the break in period, many cars will experience a significant decrease in fuel consumption. Some cars may not show significant changes, while others may actually increase. What's going on here? Is fuel consumption really related to the running in period?

  There is a certain relationship between fuel consumption and the running in period, but it is not closely related to the mechanical running in itself, but rather to the driver himself. In terms of machinery, during the running in period, the coordination of various moving parts is not so perfect, the friction force is relatively higher, the movement is not smooth, and the resistance is high, so the fuel consumption will also be higher. In addition, the driver is not very familiar with this car, and some operations may not be standardized when driving. For example, if they are not familiar with the accelerator, they often step on it too hard, and the throttle control during acceleration is also not good. Poor control of braking force often leads to excessive pressure, which can increase fuel consumption. The driving method of a car is the same, but the tuning of the throttle and brake is completely different for different cars. Some throttle responses are particularly good, and the car will jump when lightly pressed, while others will slowly accelerate when pressed deeply. Some brakes are very sensitive when lightly pressed, while others feel as if they haven't been pressed. So for a new car, any driver needs to adapt for a period of time. After the break in period, the machinery itself has already been broken in, and the driver is familiar with the vehicle. A decrease in fuel consumption is normal.

Especially for some novice drivers, their driving skills are not good at the beginning. After the break in period, they have driven three to four thousand kilometers on their own, and their driving skills have improved. In this case, the fuel consumption will decrease more significantly. Why do some cars increase instead of decreasing? In fact, it is still related to one's own driving style. When driving a new car during the break in period, the vast majority of people will be more careful and gentle when driving. After the break in period, I don't pay much attention anymore. I drive more aggressively and step on the accelerator pedal deeply, which naturally increases fuel consumption. The change in driving style may not be noticeable to some drivers themselves, but they still feel the same as before. In fact, every driver's driving style must have changed before and after the break in period.

How do we know if the fuel consumption of the car itself is normal? Do not compare with before and after the running in period, instead compare with other similar cars. You can know the approximate fuel consumption of this car through your family, friends, car enthusiast groups, forums, and other means. As long as your car is around the average fuel consumption, it is considered normal. If it is much higher than others, the first thing to check is whether the way you calculate fuel consumption is correct. If it is correct, you should go to the 4S store and check it with a computer to see if there is a malfunction. Of course, if you feel very violent while driving, then fuel consumption must be very high.

     Is the change in car fuel consumption related to the first maintenance? Will the 4S store adjust anything? Basically, it has nothing to do with maintenance. The first maintenance only involves replacing the oil filter. Although the oil may affect fuel consumption, the first maintenance is definitely done at a 4S dealership. The oil used at the dealership is the same as the original car, so there is no change in the oil, it just becomes clean. Other aspects are just a routine inspection, and I won't use a computer to adjust the engine program. At most, I will check if there are any fault codes and if the data is normal, so fuel consumption is not related to the first maintenance item itself.

From: WONDEE Autoparts

2024-2-17