Running in period
- Thread starter DavidSanderson
- Start date
Modern engines don't need running in as far as I'm concerned. More important than this is to run in the brakes and the tyres, to shred them of their oily coating. I'd go easy for the first few hundred miles but only for the brake and tyres sake. After which, drive it as hard as you like and enjoy!
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Follow the manual. Yes it is necessary, the manufactures don't put it in the manual just for fun.
Been saying this for years to all the so called experts who know better than the car maker, ran in all my new cars correctly and they have all performed quick and reliable over many years.
Still waiting on mine to arrive; what does the manual actually call for?
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Having spoken to some very good mechanics and engineers over the years, the advice is to take it a little easy for first 500 miles or so. Don't labour the engine at low revs, but try and vary the revs a fair bit.
Most important thing is to let the engine warm up so oil is at good temp, for most cars this will take around 10 mins or 5 to 6 miles, maybe longer in colder weather. Once engine is warm, give it full throttle but don't redline it for first few hundred miles. You are aiming for piston seals etc to bed in well and this needs some load.
So basically, you don't need to mollycoddle the car, but make sure the engine oil is up to temp before giving it the beans and don't cane it too much for the first 1000 miles.
Touch wood, has always worked for me and never had an issue with an engine or excessive oil consumption.
Above all, enjoy your car!
Most important thing is to let the engine warm up so oil is at good temp, for most cars this will take around 10 mins or 5 to 6 miles, maybe longer in colder weather. Once engine is warm, give it full throttle but don't redline it for first few hundred miles. You are aiming for piston seals etc to bed in well and this needs some load.
So basically, you don't need to mollycoddle the car, but make sure the engine oil is up to temp before giving it the beans and don't cane it too much for the first 1000 miles.
Touch wood, has always worked for me and never had an issue with an engine or excessive oil consumption.
Above all, enjoy your car!
A new vehicle should be run in over a distance of 1500 km (1000 miles). Forthe first 1000 km (600 miles) the engine speed should not exceed 2/3 of the maximum permissible engine speed. In doing so, do not accelerate at full throttle and do not drive with a trailer!
From 1000 to 1500 km (600 to1000 miles) you can gradually increase the engine rpm and road speed. 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 down.
How the vehicle is driven for the first 1500 km (1000 miles) influences the future engine performance. Subsequently, also drive at a moderate rate, especially when the engine is still cold: this will lead to less engine wear and tear and will prolong its useful life.
You should also avoid driving with the engine speed too low. Change down to a lower gear when the engine no longer runs “smoothly”. If the engine revs too much, cut fuel injection to protect the engine.
Sound advice from Madhatter IMO.
Not labouring an engine is often overlooked. I use the analogy of climbing stairs, labouring the engine is like climbing 3 at a time and is hard work on your knees, a "bit" like accelerating hard from low revs (say <1500rpm on a petrol).
Personally I've always done an oil and filter change after 1000 miles too on new engines.
I must admit my leased cupra only had a couple of hundred miles on the clock before I opened her up. Didn't do it very often but used the majority of the rev range when I could.
Thanks for the all the replies lads!
Some really useful info there! I have been told many different things but I think I will stick to the sensible safe option and break it in nicely for the first 1,000m.
Don't really want to risk any problems in the future for the sake of being impatient!
Some really useful info there! I have been told many different things but I think I will stick to the sensible safe option and break it in nicely for the first 1,000m.
Don't really want to risk any problems in the future for the sake of being impatient!
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Just for your info m8, If you have a manual box, that needs time to bed in aswell. Dont worry if its a bit stiff or clunky to start with, as time passes it gets better and better
Posted this already some time ago in one of the threads but I did run in my last 3 Seat's as advised there and they ran and run perfect. The Cupra took 1/2 liter of oil during 51.000 km's including some track use.
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm
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A few years ago the team Suzuki had to get a new bike for their British super bikes round
they had to get one shipped straight to them in a crate from Suzuki direct to the track!!
they stuck it on the dyno straight out of the crate and set the fuelling up then raced it!
upon completing the race they stuck the bike back on the dyno and they had more power out of the bike than they could manage in the past!
they reckon it was down to that it had been run at full chat straight out the box!
which brings me to my mate who got a bike and rode it like he stole it straight away! he has covered over 60k on the bike without a single problem!
at 15k he had it on a dyno and it was running great with good power another guy with the same bike same year and half the mileage that run it in properly had a bike that was smoking out the exhaust and less power!
read in to it all what you like! and do as you like as after all it will probably have been run on a dyno before coming of the production line plus those dockers dont give a crap about the cars they are ragging around when loading them on to the ships/car transporters!
any damage will have already been done
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It's also important to consider that all new car engines are run in on a dyno before being sent off for distribution, so it's not as if they are brand spanking new when the buyer gets them.
wow, so a lot of different opinions on this matter then!
Has anyone ever encountered any problems not running a car in correctly? I would imagine it would affect long term mpg etc.
every time I drive the car it is so difficult keeping my hand away from the sport button!
Has anyone ever encountered any problems not running a car in correctly? I would imagine it would affect long term mpg etc.
every time I drive the car it is so difficult keeping my hand away from the sport button!
It'll be difficult to find any representative scientific evidence to determine if the engine should be run in steadily or just thrashed from day one. Over many years of driving and riding on several brand new cars and motorbikes I don't bother with limiting the revs but make sure that the engine oil is upto temperature before any full load or high revs are applied, this also continues to be the case for the whole life of the engine.
I too have heard the stories of motorbike engines making more power if they're thrashed from the start rather than run in gently but unless you're a race team chasing every last bhp it ain't really going to make that much difference on the road.
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