There was mention of 'running in' on another part of this forum. I have been driving since we had stickers for the rear window. 'Running in please pass'.

I have always been gentle with new cars I have had.

However, I recall living in Dagenham in the 1960/70s , going to work along the A13 and being overtaken by brand new Fords doing almost flat out with trade plates  a mile outside the factory, and thinking 'what's the point?'

To those that drive new. Do you take it easy to start with?   (Don't tell me things with engineering have changed, I know that.)

Don't tell me things with engineering have changed, I know that.

 

I guess you've answered your own question.

 

Modern cars don't have quite the same requirements for running-in as older cars did.

 

At least not for as long. I'd be tempted to minimise engine load for the first few thousand miles, no red-lining or towing, just until everything settles-in.

 

But then there are others who think working an engine hard from day one is the key to longevity.

Edited 14 December, 201312 yr by silver1011

Although I've been told by more than a couple of chaps who wok with diesel engines to 'rag it like you stole it' when the engine is new (only diesels mind you), their theory being it beds the bores in.

I have always either followed the running in advice or taken it easy, gently building up revs and load and not sitting at fixed speed on the motorways when the engine is still very new. The result is I have never owned a new car that has had it's oil level drop below about half on the dipstick, between services. that includes long intervals like 15k-20k intervals

Cars go through a rolling road at the factory so a 0 mile car hasn't done 0 miles

The principles haven't changed and it's usually covered in the owners manual, though as always there will be those who know better than VW who've built a far few engines in their time.....

When my sister bought her brand new car last year (hyundai) she was advised to "start as you mean to go on"

I run them in, we've had many a new car and I've always drive them easy for the first thousand miles or whatever the book says. The whole drive it like you stole it or Italian tune up from new is foolish. I've read posts on here from members who believe that driving it hard from day one actually reduces engine wear and stops heavy oil consumption in later miles? tbh I discount their opinion on all car things straight away as I think the manufacture knows better and it still states in most hand books to take it easy for a minimum if 500 miles.

I read a post a while back...it said that germans drive their cars quickly from day 1.......& it also said that they half half as many issues as we do with engines as a result, maybe coincidence.

I dont get into my car & rag it straight away to the red line, thats daft to do at any time, i get it up to temperature, i progressively increase the load whilst allowing the revs to drop whilst still in gear when slowing down as ive also heard that this helps the whole process ie basically engine braking.

I dont often go to the red line, but i do.....possibly once a week ill go flat out until im towards the red line in 4th gear.

I also do my fair share of economy driving to test for mpg etc but i never pay attention to the digital gear advisor on the dash as this encourages labouring the engine & imo people using that from day 1 is far worse than the person ragging their car from day 1.

There has to be an element of using the force:), how does the engine feel & sound when you are driving it etc, my 1.2tsi monte is smoothe & eager whilst i am giving it some stick, it shows no warning of being under undue pressure, actually it's such a good engine i can just tell.

With only 2k on the clock it is also loosening up nicely & mpg & tank range is increasing almost with every tank of fuel i put in, does that not indicate that im doing something right?.once my engine has done about 15k i also intend on adding some activ8 snake oil, very controversial i know but i put some in my motorbike engine & the gearbox has been much slicker ever since & ive yet to have any engine related issues, even after a couple of falls & endless amounts of high rev thrashings.

Regardless of personal preference im keen to see how my car compares in a few years time.

Don't tickle along gentling but don't rag it either for the first 1000 or so (that only took me 2 days mind!)

 

Having said that a few years ago we bough 2 identical tractors on the farm at the same time.  Because of the different jobs they were doing one go worked hard for the first couple of weeks and the other had lighter duties.  The one that was worked hard was always the "gutsiest" of the 2

Running in is not just about engines, cylinders and piston rings, bearings , valves etc.

 

Getting the newness/greeness off the tyres, the Disks and pads getting the coating off them and some use. Then some heat into them.

Hand Brake cable getting some stretching.

Tight new brakes can start to bind as they get hot if some running in has not been done on them.

 

Exhaust & catalytic converter loosing the newness, Gearbox, diff, CV's, Springs, dampers, bushes, bearings, steering components, etc getting a sympathetic start to their life.

Listening for noises, adjusting tyre pressures to what suits you needs etc.

 

Buying a keeper and Running in, might be done differently by some  from collecting a lease car you return in 3 years.

 

Ex Demonstrators, Courtesy cars etc will have had you first few hundred miles of the 'Rough Style' of running in,

as probably will Delivery by Driver vehicles.

 

george

I read a post a while back...it said that germans drive their cars quickly from day 1.......& it also said that they half half as many issues as we do with engines as a result, maybe coincidence.

I dont get into my car & rag it straight away to the red line, thats daft to do at any time, i get it up to temperature, i progressively increase the load whilst allowing the revs to drop whilst still in gear when slowing down as ive also heard that this helps the whole process ie basically engine braking.

I dont often go to the red line, but i do.....possibly once a week ill go flat out until im towards the red line in 4th gear.

I also do my fair share of economy driving to test for mpg etc but i never pay attention to the digital gear advisor on the dash as this encourages labouring the engine & imo people using that from day 1 is far worse than the person ragging their car from day 1.

There has to be an element of using the force:), how does the engine feel & sound when you are driving it etc, my 1.2tsi monte is smoothe & eager whilst i am giving it some stick, it shows no warning of being under undue pressure, actually it's such a good engine i can just tell.

With only 2k on the clock it is also loosening up nicely & mpg & tank range is increasing almost with every tank of fuel i put in, does that not indicate that im doing something right?.once my engine has done about 15k i also intend on adding some activ8 snake oil, very controversial i know but i put some in my motorbike engine & the gearbox has been much slicker ever since & ive yet to have any engine related issues, even after a couple of falls & endless amounts of high rev thrashings.

Regardless of personal preference im keen to see how my car compares in a few years time.

I also read on the internet that the Germans celebrate their war victories, doesn't make it right though.

As for showing your doing right after only 2k, nah, it'll show if you've done ok when it has 100k on the clock and not using oil and the turbo is still fine.

Generally don't scream them to the redline, but also don't drive like Miss Daisy. I always try to avoid labouring the engine and keeping at a constant revs for long periods.

 

I always warm up cars before thrashing them.

I also read on the internet that the Germans celebrate their war victories, doesn't make it right though.

As for showing your doing right after only 2k, nah, it'll show if you've done ok when it has 100k on the clock and not using oil and the turbo is still fine.

Dont mention the war

Yes but it does indicate cultural differences.we're a country of make do & mend & mechanical sympathy is in our blood from days when things always broke.seriously i dont know but i dont reckon a fighter jet pilot is able to "go easy" on his brand new typhoon engine & do we ever hear of train delays because the new train is being run in.

I think if you went flat out from zero miles ie race track conditions then it wouldnt be good but under normal roads & driving conditions i dont think it's an issue, theres too much traffic & restrictions.

& this luxury is only for new car owners, the millions of folk that have no choice but buy second hand will have no say in how their car has been run in, if it was that much of an issue would anyone trust buying second hand, on the other hand you do hear stories of similar cars,similar mileages, premature faults on 1 of them.

I also read on the internet that the Germans celebrate their war victories, doesn't make it right though.

As for showing your doing right after only 2k, nah, it'll show if you've done ok when it has 100k on the clock and not using oil and the turbo is still fine.

my mates diesel polo is now getting up to 190k. Had it since new and followed the not driving like miss daisy once warmed up. He gets an easy 55mpg, still pulls like a train and only engine work was a new turbo at around 140k.

my mates diesel polo is now getting up to 190k. Had it since new and followed the not driving like miss daisy once warmed up. He gets an easy 55mpg, still pulls like a train and only engine work was a new turbo at around 140k.

Ok fair enough, I'll accept that, that's 1 for not following the book. Is there's anymore to support this as I have two to support the driving like miss daisy. First being a 1996 N reg ford mondeo 1.8TD estate, driven carefully from 0-176,000 on the same turbo engine etc only major repair was replacement clutch at 160k. Next being a 04 Octavia 1.9tdi driven again by my step dad got to 130k without a fault. I still stand by go what the book says, they know a lot better than us (I include myself in this) we are nothing more than a gathering of armchair engineers making it up as we go along.

Ok fair enough, I'll accept that, that's 1 for not following the book. Is there's anymore to support this as I have two to support the driving like miss daisy. First being a 1996 N reg ford mondeo 1.8TD estate, driven carefully from 0-176,000 on the same turbo engine etc only major repair was replacement clutch at 160k. Next being a 04 Octavia 1.9tdi driven again by my step dad got to 130k without a fault. I still stand by go what the book says, they know a lot better than us (I include myself in this) we are nothing more than a gathering of armchair engineers making it up as we go along.

my bora. 1.9tdi which had since new and new owner I work with which is on nearly 130k. Run on shell from day one and thrashed once warm. EGr valve is clean as a whistle, no smoke and uses zero oil between services. My 1.9tdi polo before that which was my first brand new car and followed running in to the letter used half a litre of oil every 1k and just didn't feel that quick. The bora on the other hand feels like much more than 130bhp

Besides which I've seen a brand new r32 been delivered to a dealer off a transporter just sat there on the limiter from stone cold so it's all well and good following the running in process when some idiot has already bounced it off the limiter

Another interesting fact from watching a programme on Bentley the other day. On the production line they will pick a random engine (one in 20 I think) to take off and bench test. This involves running it on the limit for something like 18 hours. Presumably you wouldn't know if you had this engine in your Bentley but I bet it runs a lot better than nursed engines that never go about 2k.

I would never thrash a cold engine but when it's hot go for it. Tolerances are in micromillimetres now in engines so essentially there is nothing to run in really engine wise. As said further up its all the other bits like tyres and brakes to cover them should you have an accident going flat out in the first 10 miles and not being able to stop.

 I still stand by go what the book says, they know a lot better than us (I include myself in this) we are nothing more than a gathering of armchair engineers making it up as we go along.

 

Spot on.

 

BUT having said that, in 25+ years of driving company cars I ragged the *rse off them from the moment they came off the transporter, and I would say I was a pretty typical high mileage company car driver.

60% of all new cars are sold / leased etc. as company cars, so buy a secondhand car and the chances are 2:3 that it was "run in" by someone like me.

None of them ever had major problems, but in any case were changed at 75,000 miles / 3 years.

I do wonder now how many continued on into a long and fruitful old age.

Im sure brand new rental cars dont get run in properly and there the fastest cars ever tbf