Running in a new car?

Barks

Barks

Barks

Soldato
Joined
20 Jul 2008
Posts
4,475
I appreciate with performance cars you're supposed to run them in but does this apply to your average hatchback.

Am I ok to drive a practically brand new car (sub 100 miles) from London to Edinburgh or should it be worn in a bit first?

Cheers,
 
Running it in is about how you drive, not how far you drive and is really a personal preference. I have always run my new cars in as its not just an engine you're bedding down its things like clutches, gearboxes, diffs, brakes etc. Each to their own.
 
I thought most cars these days were run in from the factory?

If it was me, I'd drive it how I drive any other car - let it warm up, then use it as I see fit. Also, letting the car tick over for a while after hard use is a good habit to get into for turbocharged engines.
 
By all means drive it wherever you like as far as you like. However don't just stick it on a motorway and set the cruise to 75. You need to vary the engine speed in the running in period.

Mine came with running in instructions. READ THE HANDBOOK.
 
The "all modern cars a pre run in" is an urban myth too. Bar the odd couple of specialists NO manufacturer beds in engines on the dyno. Many have running in maps and modern manufacturing standards tend to ensure a more consistent build and modern lubricants protect better but I still see value in bedding in new components.
 
Add to the above that modern manufacturing means that parts are held to closer tolerances and fit properly to start with.

Follow the instructions in the manual :)
 
would be best to do a bit more gear changing and different loadings on the engine.

cruising on a motorway with very little load on the engine might not wear it in properly (rings etc).
 
I could be totally wrong here but are you Tommy B? You both seem remarkably similar and you even registered the month after Tommy B stopped posting on here.
 
It depends on the materials used, but most cars can be given plenty of stick from day one now.

Oil use can stay high for quite some time now the chemistry is so advanced, the Alfa twinnys are quite bad for it, sometimes you have to use a poorer oil for a while just to get the pistons to bed in.
 
OllyM said:
I could be totally wrong here but are you Tommy B? You both seem remarkably similar and you even registered the month after Tommy B stopped posting on here.
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I could deny this but the truth is I was wondering how long it would be until someone realised. What on earth made you think that?

Thanks for the advice, I'll be sure to check out the handbook when it arrives.
 
scott212 said:
I could deny this but the truth is I was wondering how long it would be until someone realised. What on earth made you think that?

Thanks for the advice, I'll be sure to check out the handbook when it arrives.
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You're probably going to get this account banned now as you're not allowed two accounts.
 
BigglesPiP said:
It depends on the materials used, but most cars can be given plenty of stick from day one now.

Oil use can stay high for quite some time now the chemistry is so advanced, the Alfa twinnys are quite bad for it, sometimes you have to use a poorer oil for a while just to get the pistons to bed in.
Click to expand...

You make this stuff up yeah?
 
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