Caporegime
Cars don't need running in anymore.
Show Us Your Motors!
- Thread starter Lopéz
- Start date
Soldato
- Joined
- 19 Oct 2008
- Posts
- 5,951
Correct but does that mean they don't improve with a few miles ? That's kind of what I meant. In the MX-5 manual it states no running in is necessary but some precautions may improve performance, efficiency and reliability in the future. Probably not enough to feel I suppose but when I had a Z4 3.0 Si coupe it really seemed to come alive with a good few miles on it.
Mine did. Manual advised not o go over 4K RPM or WoT for the first thousand miles. I bought the car with 300 miles on it.
That was a frustrating 700 miles
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Ours did?
Soldato
Not a traditional MG colour so purists will hate it but I love it and not seen another midget in that colour.
Caporegime
Well, not like they used to at least. Not to the degree where performance will be affected, unless it is programmed in.
Tolerances are much much tighter, and engines are run in a test cell before going into a car.
Soldato
Just read the manual rather than guessing?
Caporegime
The manuals for BMW M-cars disagree!
Caporegime
The boxster is awesome for shopping! Somehow the boot and trunk just fit bags in perfectly.
Caporegime
OK so its "needed" but not like it used to be, you're not going to be draining your oil after 1000 miles and sifting out bits of cylinder and valve that were too big and got shaved off like with a 70's Ford.
He said that he thought maybe performance was impacted because it wasn't fully run in. I said that modern cars won't need running in to the point that the performance is affected because tolerances are so tight from new. Its more of a heat cycles thing. Unless it is coded to run differently until it reaches a certain mileage.
Soldato
@Greebo - lovely weekend toy! My dad's one is vomit orange, but it's great to drive. Quite a rare sight on the roads these days.
OK so its "needed" but not like it used to be, you're not going to be draining your oil after 1000 miles and sifting out bits of cylinder and valve that were too big and got shaved off like with a 70's Ford.
He said that he thought maybe performance was impacted because it wasn't fully run in. I said that modern cars won't need running in to the point that the performance is affected because tolerances are so tight from new. Its more of a heat cycles thing. Unless it is coded to run differently until it reaches a certain mileage.
On some cars the ECU will "learn" as you drive building a profile for various temperature parameters, etc.
EDIT: Though in my experience those that do it at all tend to just adjust to your current driving style rather than build some kind of longer term profile.
Soldato
OK so its "needed" but not like it used to be, you're not going to be draining your oil after 1000 miles and sifting out bits of cylinder and valve that were too big and got shaved off like with a 70's Ford.
He said that he thought maybe performance was impacted because it wasn't fully run in. I said that modern cars won't need running in to the point that the performance is affected because tolerances are so tight from new. Its more of a heat cycles thing. Unless it is coded to run differently until it reaches a certain mileage.
After 'running in' double-digit volumes of new cars over the last 9 years I can tell you that they certainly do not perform properly straight out of the box. The engines start off typically feel 'tight', and somewhat gutless. They improve dramatically over the first 500-1000 miles, and then continue to improve more slowly even up to 10k.
Soldato
- Joined
- 22 Aug 2004
- Posts
- 7,606
Got myself a little cheap weekend car today. Been 31 years since I last owned one. Forgot how much fun they were.
9980XE @ 4.6 , 64GB 3466Mhz , Asus R6E Omega , Blue WC
Looks wonderful! Welcome to the OCUK MG, and British car club
Even the hoss likes it! (Even though the big hoss, has a small hoss poking out of it's bum)40L tank in an A4??
Soldato
So does my Golf and that has 55+some of them come with 1.4 don't they
Honestly the 1.4/1.5 engine isn't bad at all for such a small engine. You really notice the lack of power at motorway speeds but around town it's acceptable.
I'd dread to think what something like a Superb with that engine or an Octavia with a 1.0 would be like though