Break in or Rag in??

[Ami-Jane]

Apologies if this has been covered before, I've tried searching without any luck.

Just wondered how many people think it's better to break a new car in slowly or drive it like you stole it right from the start?

I've heard different things that the ecu gets used to how you normally drive so if you're a bit "spirited" it's not worth breaking it in slowly - surely new engines now can handle it?

 

[Poverty]

Take it easy for the first 3000 miles and gradually build up pace as you do it. The after that just rag the **** out it.

 

[vngtx]

slowly as all the engine components have to be bedded in eg piston rings, crank bearings etc.

 

[MUFFIN]

Diesel, Rag the arse off it; Petrol, treat her like a lady!

Contentious topic for sure....

 

[jaykicksass]

Diesel, Rag the arse off it; Petrol, treat her like a lady!

Contentious topic for sure....

I have heard its best to rag a diesel but i went steady for the first 2k but occasionally gave it the beans and mine is lossening up nicely!

 

[Mr Cellotape]

Run in nice and gently.

It's what I was told by the Dealers with both the TDI's and the Petrols I have bought.

I know the dealers don't know much, but at least it's not your fault if something fails early in life.

 

[Ami-Jane]

thought this might be an interesting discussion

mine's going to be petrol but good to hear what people think for those reading this who are getting diesels - seem to be quite a few new cars coming

 

[Poverty]

dont forget that these engines get bench tested before delivery. If you granny the car too much its not ideal for it, just like bouncing off the rev limiter isnt ideal for it either. Ideally you need to take the car throught the entire rev range in the bedding in process. the more miles, the more you can build up the revs.

Get the exhaust hot and you will get white smoke coming out the back of her lol whilst she is new.

 

[Mr Cellotape]

Get the exhaust hot and you will get white smoke coming out the back of her lol whilst she is new.

I had that with the K1, but not with other cars.

 

[owen lcr]

just rag it from brand new is my opinion, as someone said all engines are bench tested for several hours before fitting to the car, that is all the running in they need in my opinion...

 

[dazjb69]

Take it gentle for a bit (like off the forecourt), then drive it like it's meant to be!!

 

[cheungy]

don't rag...although when I first had the leon brand new it was restricted anyway for the first few hundred miles...take it easy as everyone said here.

 

[EdHorny]

Easy 100 miles then give it the beans. That's what I've done and it flies like a dream.

ED

 

[Knight_Rider]

Well I got mine from a garage 250miles away from my house, I was going to bed it in. Then a Type R went past me on the motorway... 6 miles done, breaking in period over!

Then got to the 1,000 mile mark and then got it mapped

 

[Viking]

Engines are bench tested, as pointed out. Then during delivery they're treated with little respect by the people who drive them about, and arrive at the dealers where they're (occasionally) taken for a brisk drive to see what they're like, if they're a sporty model for example. After that they get handed to you. So when you take delivery, get it warmed up and then cane the bloody thing. All this nonsense about treating it carefully etc. was fine when Austin / Morris / Hillman etc. were building engines to "somewhere close to the nearest 32nd of an inch will be fine mate", as they needed to be run in then. Nowadays, as the engines are built with fine tolerances and then bench tested, there's just no need to run them in anymore.

If you have major engine work carried out, such as new pistons/cylinder head etc. then that will need running in.

Ever noticed how "one carefull lady owner" cars are sat at the lights blowing oil smoke out, while rep mobiles and ex hire cars are all running sweet as a nut with over 100k miles on the clock. Because they've been driven, that's why.

 

[Knight_Rider]

Engines are bench tested, as pointed out. Then during delivery they're treated with little respect by the people who drive them about, and arrive at the dealers where they're (occasionally) taken for a brisk drive to see what they're like, if they're a sporty model for example. After that they get handed to you. So when you take delivery, get it warmed up and then cane the bloody thing. All this nonsense about treating it carefully etc. was fine when Austin / Morris / Hillman etc. were building engines to "somewhere close to the nearest 32nd of an inch will be fine mate", as they needed to be run in then. Nowadays, as the engines are built with fine tolerances and then bench tested, there's just no need to run them in anymore.

If you have major engine work carried out, such as new pistons/cylinder head etc. then that will need running in.

Ever noticed how "one carefull lady owner" cars are sat at the lights blowing oil smoke out, while rep mobiles and ex hire cars are all running sweet as a nut with over 100k miles on the clock. Because they've been driven, that's why.

spot on!

 

[chrisjgill]

I tried to keep my '08 DSG FR under 3500/4000 revs for the 1st 1000 miles then started to increase. Now I am getting a CR Diesel I am not sure if the same policy should be applied.

I guess a good mixture is the way forward.

 

[andycupra]

somewhere in between. you dont want to rag it, but you dont want to have the engine labouring either.

 

[tackleberry83]

if you are going to rag it atleast wait for it to reach the running temperature, im in the same boat i collect my CUPRA Wednesday (hopefully) so i dont know how heavy my right foot will become. When i collected my MK4 Ibiza TDi FR two years ago that was ragged from day one and its still more than happy.

 

[HotHatchSteve]

Like andycupra, just keep it free reving and has you get towards 1000 miles then start giving it some.