Driving And The Environment; Running-In; Exhaust Gas Purification System - Seat ALTEA Owner's Manual

174

Driving and the environment

Driving and the environment

Running-in

Running in a new engine
The engine needs to be run in over the first 1,500 km.
Up to 1,000 kilometres
– Do not drive at speeds of more than 2/3 the maximum speed.
– Do not accelerate hard.
– Avoid high engine revolutions.
– Do not tow a trailer.
From 1,000 to 1,500 kilometres
– Speeds can be gradually increased to the maximum road speed
or maximum permissible engine speed (rpm).
During its first few hours of running, the internal friction in the engine is
greater than later on, when all the moving parts have bedded in.
For the sake of the environment
If the engine is run in gently, its life will be increased and its oil consump-
tion reduced.

Exhaust gas purification system

Catalytic converter
To maintain the useful life of the catalytic converter
– Use only unleaded petrol with petrol engines, as lead damages
the catalytic converter.
– Do not let the fuel get too low in the tank.
– For engine oil changes, do not replenish with too much engine
oil ⇒ p age 209, Topping up engine oil .
– Never tow the vehicle to start it, use jump leads if necessary
⇒ p age 252.
If you notice misfiring, uneven running or loss of power when the vehicle is
moving, reduce speed immediately and have the vehicle inspected at the
nearest specialised workshop. In general, the exhaust warning lamp will
light up when any of the described symptoms occur ⇒ p age 59. If this hap-
pens, unburnt fuel can enter the exhaust system and escape into the envi-
ronment. The catalytic converter can also be damaged by overheating.
WARNING
The catalytic converter reaches very high temperatures! Risk of fire!

● Never park where the catalytic converter could come into contact with
dry grass or flammable materials under the vehicle.
● Do not apply additional underseal or anti-corrosion coatings to the
exhaust pipes, catalytic converter or the heat shields on the exhaust sys-
tem. These materials could catch fire when the vehicle is being driven.
