Driving -> Breaking in the engine for Your Volkswagen Atlas SUV First Generation (2018-2023)

WARNING  
Driving with the trunk lid unlocked or open may cause serious injuries.  
Always drive with the trunk lid closed.  
Store all objects securely in the luggage compartment. Loose objects can fall out of the trunk and injure other road users.  
Always drive carefully and anticipate upcoming traffic situations.  
Avoid abrupt or sudden driving and braking maneuvers because the open trunk lid can move in an uncontrolled manner.  
Mark objects sticking out of the luggage compartment so they will be visible to others on the road. Follow the legal regulations here.  
If objects must stick out of the luggage compartment, never use the trunk lid to “clamp” or “secure” objects.  
If there is a roof rack with cargo on the trunk lid, always remove it before driving with an open trunk lid.  
WARNING  
Poisonous exhaust fumes may leak into the vehicle interior if the trunk lid is open. This can lead to a loss of consciousness, carbon monoxide poisoning,  
accidents, and serious injuries.  
To prevent poisonous exhaust from entering the vehicle, always drive with the trunk lid closed.  
If you absolutely must drive with the trunk lid open, take the following precautions to reduce the risk of poisonous exhaust fumes entering the vehicle  
interior:  
Close all windows.  
Close the power sunroof.  
Switch off recirculation mode.  
Open all the air vents in the instrument panel.  
Switch the blower to the highest blower level.  
NOTICE  
Opening the trunk lid changes the height and possibly the length of the vehicle.  
Driving through water on roads  
Note the following to reduce the risk of vehicle damage when driving through water, for example on flooded roads:  
The water must not be any higher than the bottom of the vehicle body  
Do not driver faster than walking speeds.  
.
Never stop the vehicle, drive in reverse, or stop the engine in water.  
Oncoming vehicles create waves that can raise the water level for your vehicle enough that it is not safe to drive through.  
Always manually deactivate the start-stop system when driving through water Start/Stop system.  
WARNING  
When driving through water, mud, slush, etc., the braking effect may be delayed due to damp or icy brake rotors and brake pads in the winter, and this can  
extend the braking distance.  
Perform careful braking maneuvers to dry and remove ice from the brakes. Do not endanger road users or disregard legal regulations when doing so.  
Avoid abrupt and sudden braking maneuvers directly after driving through water.  
NOTICE  
Driving through water can greatly damage parts of the vehicle, e.g. electrical equipment.  
Never drive through salt water because salt can cause corrosion. Immediately clean any vehicle components that come into contact with salt water using  
fresh water.  
Breaking in the engine  
A new engine needs to be broken in  
during the first 1500 km (approx.  
1000 miles). All moving parts should be  
able to work together. During the first  
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few hours of operation, the engine has  
a higher internal friction than it will  
later.  
Up to 1000 km (approx. 600 miles)  
Do not accelerate fully.  
Do not use more than two thirds of the maximum engine RPM.  
Do not drive with a trailer.  
Between 1000 and 1500 km (approx. 600 to 1000 miles)  
1. Increase the speed and engine RPM gradually.  
The driving style during the first 1500 km (approx. 1000 miles) also affects the engine's quality. Even after that – especially when the engine is cold – the engine  
should be driven at moderate engine speeds to reduce engine wear and increase the possible mileage.  
New tires and brake pads must be carefully broken in.  
NOTICE  
Do not drive at an insufficient engine speed. Always downshift if the engine stops running “smoothly”.  
If the new engine is broken in gently, its service life is increased while, at the same time, reducing engine oil consumption.  
Operating the vehicle in different countries and continents  
Approval regulations  
The vehicle was manufactured by the factory for a specific country and meets those approval regulations that were valid at the time of vehicle manufacture.  
If the vehicle will be used temporarily or for a brief period in another country, then read and observe the following information.  
Safety standards and regulations  
Some countries have special safety standards and regulations that differ from the vehicle configuration. Volkswagen recommends obtaining information about legal  
regulations from an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility before driving in other countries.  
Selling in other countries  
If the vehicle is sold in another country or will be used for an extended period in another country, then the applicable legal regulations in that country must be  
observed.  
Certain equipment may need to be installed or removed and functions may need to be deactivated. The scope and types of service may also be affected. This  
particularly applies if the vehicle is being operated for an extended period in a different climate region.  
Functions of the Infotainment system  
Due to the many different frequency bands around the world, the Infotainment system installed at the factory may not function in other countries.  
NOTICE  
Volkswagen is not responsible for damage to the vehicle caused by substandard fuel, insufficient service, or not using Volkswagen Genuine parts.  
Volkswagen is not responsible if the vehicle does not meet all of the applicable legal requirements in other countries and continents.  
Troubleshooting  
/
Brake system malfunctioning  
The red warning light turns on. A message may also be displayed.  
1.  
Do not continue driving! Immediately contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility for assistance.  
/
Brake pad wear indicator  
The warning light flashes or turns on red or yellow.  
The front brake pads are worn.  
1. Immediately contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility to have the system checked. Volkswagen recommends  
contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.  
2. Have all brake pads inspected and replaced, if necessary.  
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