Run It In..........

digitalwolf · 19 Feb 2006 at 19:43

People say you should run your car in as it helps prevent problems in later life.

I'm driving around in a brand new mini, so how should I be running it in and what shouldn't I do.

Obviously don't red line it at every gear change, which I don't do.

Enfield · 19 Feb 2006 at 19:49

Take it easy when the engine is cold.

djbenjo · 19 Feb 2006 at 19:50

Aren't modern engines run in at the factory?

digitalwolf · 19 Feb 2006 at 19:57

Enfield said:
Take it easy when the engine is cold.

So nothing over 3,000 RPM then?

Dangerous · 19 Feb 2006 at 19:58

djbenjo said:
Aren't modern engines run in at the factory?

Yeah dont need to warp them up anymore

digitalwolf said:
So nothing over 3,000 RPM then?

Just keep the revs low as possible until the engine warms up thats all.

atpbx · 19 Feb 2006 at 20:00

digitalwolf said:
People say you should run your car in as it helps prevent problems in later life.

I'm driving around in a brand new mini, so how should I be running it in and what shouldn't I do.

Obviously don't red line it at every gear change, which I don't do.

If its brand new read and follow what the manual says.

Enfield · 19 Feb 2006 at 20:00

digitalwolf said:
So nothing over 3,000 RPM then?

Yeah just low revs, still applys to non-new cars too before someone points out the obvious.

minidan · 19 Feb 2006 at 21:34

dont let it labour i would sooner have my brand new engine see 3500rpm in 2nd gear than 3th gear at 2000rpm rattling its breasts off.

[TW]Fox · 19 Feb 2006 at 21:37

minidan said:
dont let it labour i would sooner have my brand new engine see 3500rpm in 2nd gear than 3th gear at 2000rpm rattling its breasts off.

Since when is an engine thats at 2000rpm labouring? Perhaps in old Mini's and dodgy Nova's but not proper cars

vanpeebles · 19 Feb 2006 at 21:45

*snort* yeah! :rolleyes:

djbenjo · 19 Feb 2006 at 21:55

This is a Motors forum, not a Drugs forum vanpeebles

Matt82 · 19 Feb 2006 at 21:58

read what the manual says. keep the %age of throttle opening to a minimum

Nozzer · 19 Feb 2006 at 22:05

Engines that are thrashed from new will rev freer and faster in later life. But they'll probably die earlier

.

lordrobs · 19 Feb 2006 at 22:57

Drive it as you would any other car, just don't give it the boot when its cold and you'll be fine.

penski · 19 Feb 2006 at 23:01

be gentle on the bottom end but give the top end some stick...Running-in will effect an engine's characteristics.

*n

MrMoon · 20 Feb 2006 at 08:03

just rag it, never did any of my new cars any harm because I change them every 3 years so they are all still in warranty

Jonny69 · 20 Feb 2006 at 08:42

The science part is that before an engine is bedded in, the surfaces where two parts move against each other have high spots. The running in period flattens these down. If you rev the engine hard or use full throttle at low revs before that, then contact can be made through the lubrication, a hotspot occurs and the surface is damaged. You can kill an engine within a matter of a few thousand miles as a result.

I don't think this is the case for most modern cars as they are manufactured to very high tolerances and the running surfaces are pre-prepared, but I would still take it easy for the first 500 miles or so. It will still noticeably loosen up after about 2-5000 miles from new.

merlin · 20 Feb 2006 at 08:42

Dangerous said:
Yeah dont need to warp them up anymore

^ LOL

Some cars have running in oil for the first 1000 miles or so - if that's the case - go very steady till you get some proper stuff in, Subaru's running in oil is very thin to aid circulation, but won't cope with extreme heat very well at all.

Other than that - it's pretty much game on imo. Beat every new car I had senseless from 1000 miles onwards - they all loved it.

Dogbreath · 20 Feb 2006 at 09:38

[TW]Fox said:
Since when is an engine thats at 2000rpm labouring? Perhaps in old Mini's and dodgy Nova's but not proper cars

Any engine is considered to be "labouring" when you are trying to make it pull too high a gear for the conditions, e.g. in 5th gear going up a steep hill. Any engine can be laboured, not just old ones...

As for running in...cars (at least mainstream ones) are not run in at the factory, not sure where that rumour ever started. The best advice you can take is to follow the running in instructions that should be in the cars manual. Not following them could have waranty implications.

Firestar_3x · 20 Feb 2006 at 09:45

Dogbreath said:
As for running in...cars (at least mainstream ones) are not run in at the factory,

I can picture it now, 100 engines on a test bed running for 100hours at constant rpm at the makers expense and adding time to the production cycle all so the owner won't have to take it easy for the first 1000 miles..........

I always take it easy for the first 1000 miles, just treat the engine nice don't thrash it or pull away fast, i always book the car in for its first oil change between 1000 / 2500 miles no matter how much the manufacturer insists i don't need to bother.

Run It In..........

Man of Honour