Running-in & oil level check - Twincharged 1.4 ONLY

[vxh29]

This query concerns guidance in the owner's manual in relation to running-in and checking the oil level on the VAG twincharged 1.4 petrol engine. It stems from the somewhat vague guidance given for the Skoda vRS as a result of which I would like to know what the related Seat Ibiza Cupra 1.4 TSI Owner's manual says.

The Skoda vRS manual reads as follows:

Running-in - The engine has to be run in during the first 1,500 kilometres.

Up to 1,000 kilometres:

• Do not drive faster than 3/4 of the maximum speed of the gear in use, i.e. 3/4 of the maximum permissible engine speed.
• No full throttle.
• Avoid high engine speeds.
• Do not tow a trailer.

From 1,000 to 1,500 kilometres:

• Gradually increase the power output of the engine up to the full speed of the gear engaged, i.e. up to the maximum permissible engine speed.

During the first operating hours the engine has higher internal friction than later until all of the moving parts have harmonized. The driving style which you adopt during the first 1,500 kilometres plays a decisive part in the success of running in your car.


Checking the oil level

• Ensure that the vehicle is positioned on a level surface and the engine has reached its operating temperature.
• Switch off the engine.
• Open the bonnet.
• Wait a few minutes until the engine oil flows back into the oil sump and remove the dipstick.
• Wipe the dipstick with a clean cloth and insert it again to the stop.
• Then pull out the dipstick again and check the oil level.

The manual also says:
"It is normal for the engine to consume oil. The oil consumption may be as much as 0.5L / 1,000 km depending on your style of driving and the conditions under which you operate the vehicle. Consumption may be slightly higher than this during the first 5,000 kilometres. One should therefore check the oil level at regular intervals, preferably every time after the fuel tank is filled or after driving for long stretches."

There is no indication as to what "style of driving" and "operating conditions" increase oil consumption but I would guess that driving your car as if you stole it and/or lots of short journeys where the engine doesn't have a chance to reach optimum operating temperature might feature?

Since you are advised to wait a few minutes until the oil has flowed back into the sump I have no idea why the oil temperature matters one way or the other?

How do these two pieces of guidance compare with what is contained in the manual for the Seat Ibiza Cupra twincharged 1.4 engine?

Please don't bother to mention your personal opinion on running-in and/or checking the oil level; I know that some people maintain that there is no longer a need to run-in a new engine and that there are heated debates as to whether you should check the oil level when the engine is hot or cold - I am only interested in the manufacturer's advice.

Many thanks for any feedback

 

[NetworkMan]

My car is not a 1.4 twincharger; it is a 1.2 TSi Ibiza but the words you have quoted are very similar to those in my owner's manual. SEAT say 2/3 max speed rather than 3/4. I'm pretty sure that VAG use much the same form of words for all their engines. I also found them rather vague.

Regarding the oil check. I'm pretty sure that they tell you to check with the oil hot because it expands significantly on heating - I did try to estimate the extent of this in the past and though it significant but not huge. Presumably there is a danger of overfilling if the check is made when the oil is cold. On my car I have found it necessary to wait between 5 and 10 minutes before the oil has run back sufficiently for the oil to no longer coat the dipstick when it is withdrawn. There is a difference between SEAT and Skoda here; SEAT say wait 2 minutes which I judge to be too short a time.

The words about 'normal' oil consumption are virtually the same.

 

[ibizaracebrake]

check oil after standing for 1 or 2 hours - oil takes a long time to drain back down. failing to allow this time will lead you to believe it needs oil when it doesn't, so you end up over filling it which is very bad. I run mine at 1/2 on dip stick to reduce crankshaft drag in oil in sump.

 

[NetworkMan]

I run mine at 1/2 on dip stick to reduce crankshaft drag in oil in sump.

No sensible engine would ever be designed to allow the crankshaft to dip into the sump oil. If that were to happen the losses would be horendous. Just think about it - 5000+ RPM and the crank pins smashing into the sump oil every revolution and then out again- no way!

 

[vxh29]

<snip>
Regarding the oil check. I'm pretty sure that they tell you to check with the oil hot because it expands significantly on heating - I did try to estimate the extent of this in the past and thought it significant but not huge. Presumably there is a danger of overfilling if the check is made when the oil is cold.
<snip>

Thanks to all for the replies, they are greatly appreciated

I must admit that I thought the reason must be to do with expansion but Googling about I have found the following on WikiAnswers:

The Thermal expansion of oil is called Dilatation and is Beta = 0.0007 (C-1)
Change in Volume = Volume * Beta * Change in Temp
Roughly 1% change in Volume per 14C.​

On the basis of that, I can't really believe that the effect of expansion is all that significant when reading something as crude as a dipstick - perhaps 5%?

Thanks again.

 

[seatcupra.net]

no need to run in engines these days!

 

[Squash man]

Manufacture's advice for oil is the same for the Cupra ie wait two minutes once warmed up. I even queried this with Seat customer services as every previous car you would leave to stand for longer before checking. They replied to say yes, leave for two minutes. Feels a bit wrong sometimes as you can have a full dip stick reading at two minutes that will clearly read overfull if you let it stand for longer!

 

[NetworkMan]

So 2 minutes for SEAT, a few minutes for Skoda. I wonder what VW and Audi say. Anyone know?

Note that Skoda say "until the oil flows back into the sump." In my experience the oil is still flowing back after 2 minutes; it needs more like 5 to 10 minutes.