Running in of new cars

[markfranklin]

Hi all

Does anyone know if you need to "run in" engines these days? I know it always used to be the case that with new cars you had to keep the revs down below 3k for the first 1,000 miles. I drove my current Golf TDI like a Granny for ages on this belief.

When I get the FR TDI I will, like most, be pretty anxious to explore the capabilities of the terrific engine, and if I do not need to wait 1,000 miles before doing so, all the better! This just comes from some chap at work who reckons that with modern engines, they can just be caned right from the word go without any danger of damaging the engine.

Many thanks

 

[Tam]

AFAIK:
A Modern engine has done a couple of thousand miles on a test bed before being put in a car .... thats enough running in for me

 

[simon34]

Think it does say somthing about running in new engines in the handbook
but i didnt with any of my new cars though i do always allow th engine to reach operating temp before booting it and again allow it to cool before turning it off

 

[Poverty]

The engines are benchmark tested before being sent out so I and my dealer say that it doesnt need to be run in. Just make sure to let the engine warm up before booting it!

 

[ZBOYD]

Best thing is to just drive normally, don't be too granny and don't be too speed demon for 500 miles to 1000miles.

Fine to give the car some revs, just don't go bouncing it off the limiter at every opportunity. But generally there is no real need for a bedding in period. Just drive normally is my advice, and as always keep an eye on your oil level.

And warm up and warm down, as some of us say. Basically let the car get upto operating temperature, before you go hammering it about. That should be a golden rule for the whole life of your car!! If you had a spirited drive 'lots of high revs' let it run for a few moments with the engine running before you turn it off.

 

[sssstew]

the running in comments and links in the TDI FAQ at the top of the TDI forum on here are still relevant for the new engines, have a quick peeky in there.

 

[Tam]

I think half the reasons for the "running in" is not so much for the sake of the engine, but to ensure your not doing silly speeds when you find someone hadn't connected the steering / brakes / suspension properly

 

[simon34]

I think half the reasons for the "running in" is not so much for the sake of the engine, but to ensure your not doing silly speeds when you find someone hadn't connected the steering / brakes / suspension properly

Now theres confidence in seat build quality tam

 

[truCido]

:S I've heard the TDI's tend to burn a lot of oil in the first few thousand miles so as above keep a check on it....I was told by Skoda before I was supposed to pick up my vRS that it should be ran in for about 3k but I probably would of got to about 1k and got bored and started exploring it a bit more but nothing too bad!!

 

[Steve`o]

Just reading the engine cool down comments. A car will not cool down much if you leave it running, the usual running temp at idle is 88 degrees plus so it ain`t going to cool down no matter how long you leave it. The point of letting it idle is due to if you have a turbo fitted and you have just driven it hard, letting the engine idle for a while will enable the turbo prop to slow right down while having oil still pumped to it. If you switch it straight off then the turbo spins at high speed with no oil lubricating causing future problems.

 

[Fast_Eddie]

I LOVE running a new car in..I do 500miles below 4000 revs(no labouring at ALL and no over revving on downshifts either AND no full throttle!!))and then for the next 500 miles I 'allow' the car slightly past this but never over 5000 until around 1000 miles. At this point I feel like I have connected with the car and bedded everything in correctly. Plus it really makes you appreciate the cars power after that. I have never blown an engine up in my entire life and I drive very very hard. I ran my LCR in just as above and it lived off the rev limiter as did my previous LC....ok used a little bit of oil but revved very nicely!
Probably made no difference really but its just my way!!

 

[simon34]

Just reading the engine cool down comments. A car will not cool down much if you leave it running, the usual running temp at idle is 88 degrees plus so it ain`t going to cool down no matter how long you leave it. The point of letting it idle is due to if you have a turbo fitted and you have just driven it hard, letting the engine idle for a while will enable the turbo prop to slow right down while having oil still pumped to it. If you switch it straight off then the turbo spins at high speed with no oil lubricating causing future problems.

think all the cool down comments were meant because of the turbo's mine was

 

[FerrariStu]

I think the way you treat a car for the first 10000 miles makes a mega-difference to it in later life.

Of course the engine needs to bed in, but also you notice the gear box go through stages in the early life of the car. At first it's too firm and over the first few thousand miles (dependant on use) it clearly changes. It goes through an alarming stage that to me feels "gritty" and like it doesn't want to go (bedding in) until it eventually becomes smooth and silky later on (depending on how you treat it)!

I truly believe you can tell a car that's had it's engine/gearbox thrashed in the first few thousand miles which is why I worry about "nearly new" cars sold by stealers that are used by the reps to drive to work and back.

I'm on 2000 miles so far and mine's changing already.

 

[Rob GTI]

Car manufacturers obviously put the running in statements in for a reason, this is the advice I followed despite the dealer telling me otherwise. If you follow the logic of running in it makes sense and can do no harm so why not do it properly!!!

 

[ZBOYD]

Warm down i think i said. But your spot on, the idea is not to starve, a potentially glowing turbo of an oil supply. Give it a few moments to get back to normal.

After a few laps round Donington for example i know my Cupra R wasn't idling at 88°C

Normal everyday driving at normal speeds, its not an issue. Just after 'spirited' driving.

 

[Tam]

Had a Vectra SRI 150 a few years ago, it managed around 140Mph.

With just 18 miles on the clock