Did you break in your brand new car?

Mr Benevolent

I was talking to a colleague who bought a brand new Clio yesterday. Whn I asked him if he was following the engine break-in procedures he just said 'Huh?'. That made me wonder. Are break-in procedures still used, and are they beneficial for the car?

r3nu4l

Audi certainly recommended one for my new car and I followed it.

Are they still beneficial? I haven't a clue but I do know that if anything happened the engine during or shortly after the supposed 'break-in' period, I'm sure the Audi diagnostics would be able to report back whether I had followed procedure of not. So I erred on the side of caution

CiniO

Confab wrote: »

I was talking to a colleague who bought a brand new Clio yesterday. Whn I asked him if he was following the engine break-in procedures he just said 'Huh?'. That made me wonder. Are break-in procedures still used, and are they beneficial for the car?

AFAIK all modern engines are already factory pre runned-in.
No point in breaking-in.
I remember though in the 90 my father always used to break-in the engine for about 1000 - 2000km as required in the manual.
After that period alway oil was changed·

Owen

CiniO's right, a lot of engines are pre-run in. Some manufacturers unofficially recommend not taking it easy the engine too - as the learning ECU's will adapt to your driving characteristics.

Tea 1000

There's more to run-in than just the engine. I would if I could afford a new car!

opinion guy

r3nu4l wrote: »

Audi certainly recommended one for my new car and I followed it.

Are they still beneficial? I haven't a clue but I do know that if anything happened the engine during or shortly after the supposed 'break-in' period, I'm sure the Audi diagnostics would be able to report back whether I had followed procedure of not. So I erred on the side of caution

Audi pre run in their engines these days. When were you told this ?

Wossack

fwiw, the new bmw supersport bike (s1000rr) had an ecu restriction in place, that wouldnt let it rev over a certain rpm for the first x amount of miles

(I think 9k rpm for first 1000km (max rpm is ~15000))

Owen

Bikes are completely different animals, different tolerances, etc.

Henry Ford III

I drove "gently" for 500kms or so, avoided labouring or over revving the engine, and tried to brake gently too.

I'm not entirely sure this was necessary btw.

CiniO

Henry Ford III wrote: »

I drove "gently" for 500kms or so, avoided labouring or over revving the engine, and tried to brake gently too.

I'm not entirely sure this was necessary btw.

While avoiding labouring and over revving during run-in period is very important, the most important would be to avoid driving long distance at constant rev's.
Like the worst thing you can do to the engine while run-up is to set cruise control at 120km/h and keep it for few hours.

Anyway - as was said before most engines are factory pre run-up already these days.

opinion guy

CiniO wrote: »

While avoiding labouring and over revving during run-in period is very important, the most important would be to avoid driving long distance at constant rev's.
Like the worst thing you can do to the engine while run-up is to set cruise control at 120km/h and keep it for few hours.

Why is that bad ?

Victor Meldrew

We had a new engine on a Rigid Inflatable Boat, (2 stroke V6, 150hp) sent two lads out to run it in. It had to be run for 2 hrs at a speed which translated to ~ 25kts in an empty boat. Revs had to be kept up or warranty would be voided. Engine cost ~ €9K. ECU had a memory..

Sea had a bit of a swell on, lads came back green and shaking. They considered it one of their most unpleasant experiences ever..

They should have loaded up ballast or taken passengers to slow it down and stop it bouncing...

Never complain about being restricted to 3/4 revs for first 1000kms in a car. you don't know you are born...

ANd I remember being really nice to a new 00 Astra Diesel van. So nice, that a colleague, who had a van of the same year thought mine was a petrol it was so quiet.

Did the same with a Diesel Passat, with the same results till my wife took it on...

gentle driving = quiet engine

ShadowHearth

I don't want to look like a total idiot, but can someone explain be this thing?

I newer owned a brand new car, so I don't have a clue about these run ins etc.

Thanks.

vectra

For the first 2 weeks I kep't my car between 2 & 2.5k revs.
3rd week I went to 3/3.5
After that I let it rip.:D

OH
Doesn't burn a drop of oil.
Did the same with my last car and it never burned a drop either.

r3nu4l

opinion guy wrote: »

Audi pre run in their engines these days. When were you told this ?

2008, it's even in my user manual (A3 2.0L quattro sportback, Common-rail engine).

Blazer

Did about 300km in my 2005 nissan primera 1.6l not taking it above 3,000 revs.
Recommendation was for about 150miles in the manual