Car Arrives Friday - break in of engine?

[on_the_verge]

Morning all,

Getting my car next Friday and just wondering if there is a running in period, always assumed that you should take it easy for the first 1000 miles, is this the case with the FR TDI??

Cheers

 

[S8N]

This question has been asked a few times and answers seem to vary. But...

The general consensus seems to be to granny it for the first 1k so you can bed in transmission and brakes. Then thrash it to within an inch of it's life after that.

My car was thrashed pretty much from day one and it's performance is fantastic!

 

[johnbev]

It`s your car, Your decision......... I took it steady in mine, £18000 spent near enough I didn`t want to risk anything.
Some say its fine to thrash but from new but make sure its up to working temp first, The damage/wear would probably be caused more on a cold engine than warm ,brand new or run in.

 

[NickP]

I took it easy for the first 1k - the occasional foray up the rev range but in the main nice and steady

 

[darrellr]

Thrashed from day one.

Well it's under warranty isn't it

 

[Cupra Kid]

I drive new cars all the time and i'm famous for leaving the works car park in a cloud of tyre smoke, so that gives you an idea of how I drive. I run these cars between 10 and 20k miles and never have any thrash related problems go wrong with them. HOWEVER my own personal car is babied and doesn't go past 2.5krpm until its warmed up after then it should be all ok to put the pedal to the floor. As said anyway, its all under warranty

 

[cambobfr]

The general consensus for running in is to push it hard in the mid-range. Don't over-rev it and don't sit on the motorway. This ensures that you'll get a good seal on the piston rings which means that you'll get maximum compression later on and you shouldn't burn any engine oil.
My first car didn't burn any oil at all (I ran it in from receiving it with 5miles on the clock). My second car started from 12 miles and I'm sure it was mistreated prior to be being handed over because it always burned oil and never quite had the same pull as my first car (both cars were 306 turbo diesels).

People keep saying that cars are now run in at the factory. I've not heard this from any reliable source personally so if were me, I'd run it in myself. It certainly wouldn't do any harm.
There's a link to a page on running in which was posted some time back on civinfo.com - I'll see if I can dig it out.

Hope that helps.
Bob

 

[cambobfr]

Found it, well two links actually!

http://www.civinfo.com/wiki/index.php?title=Running_in
This from a Honda Civic forum so there's the odd bit where it talks about the Civic, but it's otherwise still good advice.

Also, see http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm
This has more general running in info and includes bikes as well as cars.

 

[chrisboyle999]

People keep saying that cars are now run in at the factory. I've not heard this from any reliable source personally so if were me, I'd run it in myself. It certainly wouldn't do any harm.

i dont think cars are run in at the factory, but engines these days are built to such exacting tolerances there is very little running in to do.

what i can tell you for a fact is that every nissan which is built in sunderland comes off the end of the production line is started, driven 20 yards into a sound proofed booth with exhaust extraction, and thrashed from cold to either 120 or 140kmph (cant remember which) and held there in i think 4th gear for a period of time.

regardless of this, it cant do any harm to follow the advice in the handbook. which i think is go canny for the first 1000km.

 

[alx_chung]

I followed the manual more or less. Took it easy for the first 1-2K and only beasted it when the car was fully warmed up. Still taking it pretty easy at 6K now.
Alex

 

[on_the_verge]

Cheers guys, reckon I will give it an easy ride for the 1st 1k, roll on Friday

 

[THEKMAN]

if in doubt then take it steady for the start and then build up

 

[cuprascott]

the hadbook says 1000km so 620 miles - pretty much what i did. then not long after discovered launch control........

 

[Guinness]

you guys all make me want a leon. launch control Im gona get a pretty button that says that