Hello,

In a couple of weeks the new yeti that I bought will arrive at the dealer.

We were planning on hooking up our trailer (appr. 1200kgs) and go on holidays with the yeti/trailer combination.

Since the Yeti will be new and since the manual states clearly, no twoing or jerky driving for the first 1000kms or so, I was wondering:

Is it really necessary with the modern engines to break them in ?

pleased to hear,

Johan

A 1200kg trailer is not much for a 170tdi Yeti, I'd just take it a bit easy for the first 1,000km.

Caravanning in Liberia must be a first for the forum. What are the roads like?

I towed my 1200kg caravan 2 weeks after getting the car. Just take it easy and you shouldn't have any problems.

Fred

Mine towed at 500 miles, as have my previous three Octavia vRS models, no problems resulted.

As the (sensible) comments above indicate, just take it easy. In reality, more harm is done to a new engine by subjecting it to excessive strain at low revs rather than by over-revving it (within reason of course).

Basically, don't let the engine labour, rather you should try to keep the revs in the range where maximum torque is being developed for the first 2000 miles or so. It actually makes sense to drive like that normally anyway as that is when the engine is at its most efficient. (Note I said max torque, not max revs!). Of course if you had a DSG car, it would make the decisions for you.

.

And enjoy your Yeti

Edited 30 April, 201313 yr by speedsport

Our Yeti was 10 days old when we hooked up 1570kg and towed it through Wales, I had to add a drop of oil when we go there but nothing else.

I concur that there would be only very remote chance of problems while the engine was relatively new.

The concern comes for the long term life of an un-broken in engine, being treated like "normal" (whatever that is?) right from fresh out of the box. I guess it might be the subsequent owner(s) who would feel the effects in terms of accelerated early wear rates leading to reduced engine/transmission life and premature replacements??

As the owner / driver of several cars now that have exceeded 200,000 miles very happily - I can testify that the long term health of the engine benefits from sympathetic treatment during early life. Oh - and full oil changes at half the so-called "recommended" distances of course!

I concur that there would be only very remote chance of problems while the engine was relatively new.

The concern comes for the long term life of an un-broken in engine, being treated like "normal" (whatever that is?) right from fresh out of the box. I guess it might be the subsequent owner(s) who would feel the effects in terms of accelerated early wear rates leading to reduced engine/transmission life and premature replacements??

As the owner / driver of several cars now that have exceeded 200,000 miles very happily - I can testify that the long term health of the engine benefits from sympathetic treatment during early life. Oh - and full oil changes at half the so-called "recommended" distances of course!

My Yeti has now done 77,000 miles and still goes extremely well

Thanks all !

We are working and livig in Liberia but our home base is Lithuania and that is where we will haev the Yeti !

I will probably take the car for at least a couple of hundred kms around the (beauthifull) countryside in the baltic states before hooking the trailer up !

Actually looking forward to the Yeti, will be fun!

brgds

Johan

Hi James,

RE: "My Yeti has now done 77,000 miles and still goes extremely well"

I hope that's true as I've just bought a 78k example. Expecting to at least double, possibly triple, that without any problems, if it's been treated right from new. Do you know how your's was "broken in"?

Mind you, there's an old adage in motorsport circles that engines "always go best, just before they blow up!". Which was certainly true of the Vauxhall red tops I experienced in a Darrian rally car a couple of years back. It's not the "go" I have mild concerns about on unsympathetically broken in engines, so much as the long term dependabilty. Problem is, you only really discover the good/bad effects after at least 100k???

Edited 1 May, 201313 yr by FlintstoneR1

Flintstone R1,

I got my Yeti in August 2011, I drove it out of the dealer with only 2 miles on the odometer, the Yeti has been on variable servicing and all I do is put diesel in and drive it, nothing has broken, failed or let me down (apart from when I hit a Porsche Cayenne) the Yeti has been driven mostly with just me in it, but has also towed heavy loads, caravans, cars on trailers and also moved lots of stuff with seats down, I have well over 200 kilos in there on a regular basis.

I can honestly say it is well used, it also has to stay with me until August 2014, by then mileage will be well into six figures.

It's often impractical to "run in" a car before putting it to the intended use (towing) in this case. If it were possible, I would do a few hundred miles at least before towing (cos that's just me) but like everyone says on here - just take your time. Labouring a new engine and transmission isn't good for it but that's something that can be managed with thoughtful driving. Far worse in my opinion is to travel at a constant speed. Change down for a bit, slow down for a few miles etc.

We are working and livig in Liberia but our home base is Lithuania and that is where we will haev the Yeti !

I will probably take the car for at least a couple of hundred kms around the (beauthifull) countryside in the baltic states before hooking the trailer up !

Never been to Lithuania, but I've been to Estonia 3 times to visit the Methodist Church there. The countryside is beautiful - lovely places to roam with a Yeti! Enjoy!

Never been to Lithuania, but I've been to Estonia 3 times to visit the Methodist Church there. The countryside is beautiful - lovely places to roam with a Yeti! Enjoy!

I used to have an awesome chat up line that went something like 'i used to be the milky bar kid for Latvia and Estonia', it did attract a lot of interest, It goes to show how confused myself and the people I meet are...

But I would love to visit, but Czech is far enough this summer!!!

Rev Tony B, not a aviation fan and a Methodist?!?