Running in new petrol engine?

richieboy

richieboy

richieboy

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Joined
29 Dec 2004
Posts
2,253
Anything specific I should be doing to 'run in' a new petrol engine? Lots of people seem to recommend changing oil after first 100 miles, not letting it idle too long on cold, etc, so what say ye Ocuk?
 
Are we talking a brand new VW Golf from the dealership, a brand new Hemi V8 crate engine in your hot rod...... or? New lawnmower?
 
It's a modern engine, it wont need any special care. Just do what it says in the handbook and service schedule
 
I should probably Google around for the handbook as don't have the car yet, wanted to check before driving it away! Sounds like the pages and pages of stuff I read on various sites may have been unnecessary...I certainly hope so I thought my head was going to explode.
 
Don't believe it's NikaSil after a quick search but I may be wrong, good idea to just keep an eye on the oil I guess rather than just blanket change it at 100 miles, that way I'm not changing it unnecessarily.
 
Drive it as normal. cars don't need a change at 100miles. But do keep an eye on oil level as it may use some for the first few thousand miles.
 
One of the reasons older cars needed running in was due to the honing techniques used on the bore of the cylinders. They couldn't manufacture the 'valleys' to carry the oil, as well as having flat surfaces for the rings to run on, so you had to wear down the 'flat' surfaces so that they became smooth. This has since changed, just FYI.
 
Let it warm up, don't rag it from cold, don't load it up excessively, use the gears, don't sit at the same RPM for hours on end. Nothing special.
 
read the handbook, as the manufacturer is likely to know the needs of their new engines than us on a website.

Despite people saying "it's a new engine, there's no need" I know BMW still specify a 1k mile run in period on their petrol engines.

From the Ford website for the Fiesta owners handbook:
http://www.fordservicecontent.com/F...tleSelected=G1532507&topicHRef=G1477791&div=f
Tires
WARNING
New tires need to be run-in for approximately 300 miles (500 kilometers). During this time, you may experience different driving characteristics.

Brakes and Clutch
WARNING
Avoid heavy use of the brakes and clutch if possible for the first 100 miles (150 kilometers) in town and for the first 1000 miles (1500 kilometers) on freeways.

Engine
WARNING
Avoid driving too fast during the first 1000 miles (1500 kilometers). Vary your speed frequently and change up through the gears early. Do not labor the engine.
Click to expand...
so, they state for the first 1k miles to take it gentle (basically drive it like it's cold) trying not to go over about 4.5-5k revs and don't just sit in the same gear at the same revs.

note, this was for a 2015 fiesta, other options are:
http://m.ford.co.uk/OwnerServices/Owners-Manual?selectedYear=2015&selectedModel=Fiesta+(2012)
 
The cynic in me thinks, does it matter?

If you are leasing and it's gone in 2-3 years, plus all covered by warranty, then why not drive it as if stolen from day 1? The Fiesta ST practically promotes this in you anyway it's that much fun :D

I'm sure I've seen documentary shows on the R8 and R35 where they either dyno the car at the end of the production line or take it out on track.

Plus, think about how the car was driven in the first 5 miles? From cold, short trips, as fast as possible by production line workers, delivery drivers and dealership monkeys :eek:
 
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