Running in

Vertigo · 5 Dec 2006 at 11:42

Simon said:
All the engines where I work get worked hard from the start. If they don't blowby is high, oil consumption is higher and they don't perform aswell.

So basically you'd agree with what the guy in the above link is saying - work it hard from the outset to properly seal the piston rings?

austinpowers · 5 Dec 2006 at 12:19

I drove my Astra hard from 5 miles old, only ever used a max of one litre between 20k services.

Until the turbo died

Velocity · 5 Dec 2006 at 12:21

Hi Vertigo1

If you're getting another A3 which I think you are then inside the manual it does mention a running in period or approx 800miles I believe id follow that information personally.

Velocity

Vertigo · 5 Dec 2006 at 12:58

Well this is the thing. Virtually all manufacturers recommend taking it easy for 500-1000 miles yet there's a lot of advice saying to hammer it from the outset, as in the link provided above.

The question is, if hammering it is the best way to seal the piston rings and provide better power and lower oil consumption in the future then why do the manufacturers still specify the running in period? The guy in the above link doesn't seem to have a satisfactory answer to this.

Simon · 5 Dec 2006 at 13:23

Vertigo1 said:
So basically you'd agree with what the guy in the above link is saying - work it hard from the outset to properly seal the piston rings?

Yeah but our engines are in ideal conditions and everything is controled. For joe blogs to jump in and rag it, it would be very different. Certainly not good for the manufacturer to reccomend hard driving as most people would end up doing it before to oil was up to temperature and would probable cause more problems

Dangerous · 5 Dec 2006 at 13:38

I just drove my Octy normal from 7 miles - Still alive 22k+

Vertigo · 5 Dec 2006 at 13:44

Simon said:
Yeah but our engines are in ideal conditions and everything is controled. For joe blogs to jump in and rag it, it would be very different. Certainly not good for the manufacturer to reccomend hard driving as most people would end up doing it before to oil was up to temperature and would probable cause more problems

I see what you mean. I'm wondering whether the correct thing to do is to load the engine up a reasonable amount from the outset by giving it some hard bursts of throttle but at the same time to ensure that the engine is fully warmed through before doing this and also not rev it excessively high for a few hundred miles. Would you agree?

Vertigo · 5 Dec 2006 at 13:45

Dangerous said:
I just drove my Octy normal from 7 miles - Still alive 22k+

Normal for you is Warp Factor 5 for the rest of us Dave

Simon · 5 Dec 2006 at 16:07

Vertigo1 said:
I see what you mean. I'm wondering whether the correct thing to do is to load the engine up a reasonable amount from the outset by giving it some hard bursts of throttle but at the same time to ensure that the engine is fully warmed through before doing this and also not rev it excessively high for a few hundred miles. Would you agree?

Once up to temp with both oil and coolant. I would definately not be scared of using load. Obviously no full throttle from idle, but cylinder pressures from 2krpm and full power in higher gears will really force thouse rings out onto the bores and let them bed in, lifting off at about 2/3rd engine speed and letting the vacum (on a petrol engine anyway) will help do the 'other' edge of the piston rings.

Rings arent perfectly 90degrees to the bore at all times, they have a few degrees of flex

As mentioned in the link the first <100 miles are crucial to how the piston rings bed in.

Avoid high revs though as any high spots on the rings will overheat and work harden, this is a big problem as they will never bed in and is the reason OEMs tell you not to use high revs in the running in period.

For sure though the worst thing to do on a new engine is think you have 500miles before you can use it, so you go on a 500mile motorway trip.
HTH

Vertigo · 5 Dec 2006 at 17:47

Simon said:
HTH

It does indeed, ta very much. Basically warm it up fully then give it some between 2k and 3-3.5k rpm (redline is at 4.5k).

Next damn problem is that the car is being delivered by a driver from Milton Keynes which is going to put 70 miles on it in addition to whatever there is when it arrives there so by the time it arrives here it'll already have done getting on for 100 miles and I'll have lost the opportunity.

I'm sorely tempted to go down there on the train and fetch it.

Dandle · 5 Dec 2006 at 19:34

When we got the new A3 I took the car up to the redline four or five times in the first 25 miles, using third gear and with the engine loaded(to seat the rings according to the link above). Then I kept it under 3k for the first 600miles and up to 4k for the next 400miles with the odd blast near the end. It seesm to have worked well as compared to the oil used by some other new A3s ours used only half a litre in the first 6.5k miles, some report 1L per 1k. I wouldnt drive it flat out all the time when its new though as ours is still getting better fuel economy all the time proving that they still start out a little tight and need bedding in.

Vertigo · 5 Dec 2006 at 21:04

I think I'm definitely going to follow the advice of the link above and also Simon as I think he knows what he's talking about when it comes to engines

The car is due to be delivered from MK next Tuesday but the lease company have said I'm fine to collect it if I prefer. I'm going to take the morning off and go down there and get it as I can then make sure I "run it in" the way I want to plus it means I can have a bit of a "play" before going into work in the afternoon rather than having to sit staring out the window at it all day before I can drive the thing

Mr Jack · 5 Dec 2006 at 22:44

If I was you I'd follow the advice given in your manual, after all, that's the advice from the guy's who built the thing.

Another point to remember is that your new car will have four new tyres that need to be run in before they deliver their best grip, and new discs and new pads so the brakes won't be at top notch yet. Plus you won't yet know how your vehicle handles; so, regardless of any running in the engine requires, it's not a bad idea to take it easy for a while.

Dangerous · 5 Dec 2006 at 23:19

Let Andy up the BOOOOOSTT! Then I'll take her for a spin?

Vertigo · 5 Dec 2006 at 23:33

Mr Jack said:
If I was you I'd follow the advice given in your manual, after all, that's the advice from the guy's who built the thing.

I think what the proponents of the "run it in hard" method are saying is that the manufacturers are simply playing it safe. If taking it easy for the first 500-1000 miles results in potentially increased engine life at the expense of more oil consumption and slightly lower BHP then that's a more than acceptable solution from their POV.

Another point to remember is that your new car will have four new tyres that need to be run in before they deliver their best grip, and new discs and new pads so the brakes won't be at top notch yet. Plus you won't yet know how your vehicle handles; so, regardless of any running in the engine requires, it's not a bad idea to take it easy for a while.

We're not talking about hooning it down country lanes or taking it round a track from the word go, simply putting some load on the engine in the first couple of hundred miles by simply "booting" it a few times in a straight line.

Jonnycoupe · 5 Dec 2006 at 23:47

Mr Jack said:
If I was you I'd follow the advice given in your manual, after all, that's the advice from the guy's who built the thing.

There're only interested in making as many cars as possible last beyond 3 years with no warrenty failures. Oil consumption and performance arn't issue's they pursue.

No idea why running an engine would involve braking at all, let alone in a spirited fashion. The whole idea is the engine does the accelerating and braking.

gambitt · 6 Dec 2006 at 12:50

I agree with the "mototuneusa" method.