Hello everybody !

Just bought a new V70 T5 - 100 miles now.

After reading the manuals havent found any

(not speaking of "detailed") guidelines

for break-in period.

1) What NOT to do (drive, service)?

2) What to pay ADDITIONAL attention to ?

3) What is the Volvo's definition for such

a period timewise, after all? ;-)

Would appreciate a weblink as well as

reference to volvo standard manuals.

This is my first Volvo (and first new car at all)

so I have no idea ;-)

Thanks,

Andrey M., Florida

V70 T5/01/auto/siver/graphite/17"Pirellis

I also have a new V70, only 600 miles so far, no real problems, very happy with it.

I've seen a range of advice on breaking in this car, and I'll just note the guidance I got from my service manager. He told me to bring it in at 3,500 miles for the first oil change. He said the oil from the factory was designed for running in. He did not urge that the car be babied, but to avoid hard acceleration, say hitting over 3500 RPM. At the first oil change I would need to choose between using mineral vs. synthetic oils from then on, and I will go with synthetic.

This is what I did......well what my(Volvo only)

service manager told me to do.

First try to keep speeds below 60MPH most of the time, and keep the RPM’s in the "normal" range....

When you are on the highway vary you speed/RPM often.

I had my oil and filter changed with mineral oil at 600, 1200, 2500 miles.....then at 5000 had the oil and filter changed, but this time I went with Mobil-1 full synthetic. Now I still have the LOF’s done at 2500 miles with Mobil-1. I have 13000 on the car.

This may sound a bt over the top, but 90% of all the driving I do is in, or right around New York City, and I usually keep my Volvos for abou ten years.......and I like them to be very happy all the time.

just a bit of extra care at the start(break in), and staying on top of the needed things along with a quality volvo only service dept. could make the whole ownership of your car a much better thing.

Good luck with it!

Steve Ferraro

Hoboken, NJ

Sounds like good break-in info Steve. One other question- how long- for the break-in period- 1,000 miles, 5K? We just got ours yesterday (V-70 T-5, nautic blue/sand leather) and think it's great!

There is no question I over do it when it comes to taking care of my cars, but what I did was keep the speed under 60MPH for about the first 1000 miles.....also the engine RPM was not brought over 4K but for very very short bursts for the first 1000 mi or so.

Also I changed the RPM’s as much as I could on long trips, and did not use the cruise control at all, until after 1500 miles.

BTW: I still have my lof’s done every 2500 miles with Mobil-1 10W30 full synthetic.

The best thing I could tell you, or any new volvo owner is to find a "dealer service dept."

that you are happy with.....you do not need to stay with the dealer where you bought the car.

These cars need quality service.....not joe the shade tree mechanic, and not some "jerk off" dealer service dept that just wants you to spend as much as you can on your car.

Just take a day or so and go to every volvo only dealer in your area, and ask the people you see waiting in the service area how they like the service they get there, and how long they have been going to that service dept.(You may also want to ask how long the service maager and the lead mechanics have worked there.....if its less than 10 years walk away). It should not be too hard to narrow it down to one or two "Volvo only"(they are the only places I would even look at)dealer service depts that know how to take care of a volvo the right way!

good luck with the new car!

Steve F.

Hoboken, NJ

Another newbie question-- what are "lof's".

LOF= Lube, Oil, and Filter change. When 90% of your driving is in NYC its good insurance to do them more often than the 7500 miles volvo calls out in the owners manual(BTW the 7500 mile LOF is for "normal" driving....you may want to do it more often for harsh (read real world) conditions)

One more thing.....red your owners manal "COVER TO COVER"!

good luck,

Steve F.

Hoboken, NJ

Thanks for the input. In my M I have a LOF every 3K miles, even though the service indicator lights put it closer to every 9K. With the turbocharger in the T-5 I thought something similar (every 3K) might be the way to go. (I had read the manual's 7.5K and 5K rec.) Have heard you need to pay more attention to the oil level, pressure, & quality with a turbo than with other engines. Most of our driving is similar to yours, but in Houston rather than New York.

Audrey,

New cars today do not need a "break in" like the old days. They are built to tighter tolerances. Of course common sense is the rule here but ,generally, be kind for at least the first thousand miles or so. No heavy throttle acceleration, etc. Vary your engine speed, occaisionally doing turnpike speeds as well as 'street' speeds. In other words do what you normally do when driving. I would advise changing your oil at the 2500 mile mark as there may be a little wear on engine parts (caught in the oil) as all the parts mate with each other then change your oil at whatever interval you are comfortable with. I use synthetic oil and change @ 7500 intervals.

Best of luck with your new car.

Regards,

Eddie W. in FL

Thanx, guys.

I really thought there might have been something other

than "behave with care and use common sense"... seems like not.

That's fine with me ;-)

Those dealer salespeople (Deel Volvo in Miami) haven't had

any intention to explain me the "break-in". I've got complete

feeling that I was first guy in years asking them about this ;-)

Yours,

Andrey M.