Hi all

Picked up my new vRS on Tuesday - pleased as punch !

What do you all recommend for running in the little beauty?

75% max revs for the first 600 miles??

Thanks for your help

Just take it easy... thats about it imo, not silly fast or silly slow. I just drove mine normal but without ragging it for the first 600 milrs or so.

Hi all

Picked up my new vRS on Tuesday - pleased as punch !

What do you all recommend for running in the little beauty?

75% max revs for the first 600 miles??

Thanks for your help

and no more than three quarter throttle.... that's what it says in the book..

BUT there are different schools of thought on this.... I'm of the side that says just drive it normally, I got mine new about 18 months ago, and use it as a driving school car, I drove it as normal from day one, and it has been fine. I've never had to top it up with oil, and the engine has been spot on. up to 55,000 miles now, and I intend to keep it for another 6 months, and am sure it'll run to 80k without problems..

this doesn't mean it doesn't "run in" though, it will loosen up nicely all the way to about 10k! improving in performance and fuel economy on the way!

sharky.

The most important thing to avoid is labouring the engine. Best to keep the revs between 2,000 and 3,000 rpm. If you are driving up a hill ensure that revs are fairly high. Apart from that, drive like normal.

Ignoring the dealerships saying they don't require running in (********) I would try to keep the revs down for the first few thousand miles (as said - without labouring the engine). It's worth giving it a few revs from time to time after 600 or so miles to stop carbon deposits but don't go mad. Don't forget that the whole car is new, not just the engine. It's not a bad idea to keep the speed down (below 50 or so) for the first few hundred miles to allow wheel bearings etc' to bed properly. And don't go slamming the brakes on untill they have done a few miles either :P

It's a bit boring, when you buy a new car you want to see what it can do! Well worth it in the long run though.

It's not a bad idea to keep the speed down (below 50 or so) for the first few hundred miles to allow wheel bearings etc' to bed properly. And don't go slamming the brakes on untill they have done a few miles either :Pquote]

Have you tried keeping below 50 in one of these??

Seriously, thanks for all your advice guys - will try and keep my foot off the loud pedal as much as possible

I managed to stay below 50mph for 200 miles today in my octavia RS so im sure you could do it if you set your mind to it :P

Pah, nail it from day 1.

yup, make sure its nice and warm and give it a good ragging. did this from day one in my old vrs with 3 miles on the clock and never gave me any problems in the year i owned it :-)

Rico

Warm engine up properly and drive normally. It will use less oil and make more power in the long run as the rings will be properly bedded against the bores.Interesting reading below:-

Break In Secrets--How To Break In New Motorcycle and Car Engines For More Power

Pah, nail it from day 1.

I think Ross is right. If you're too light-footed with diesels when new, you can get bore polishing and higher oil consumption in later life. I've followed this routine with good results:

0 - 1,000 miles limit to 3,000rpm

1,000 - 2,000 miles limit to 3.5k

2,000 - 3,000 miles limit to 4k

3,000 - 4,000 miles limt to 4.5k

But make sure you hit the limit a few times a week. And once you're beyond 4,000miles, take it to 4,500rpm or the limiter a couple of times a week.

My comments are from personal experience. I know there are a wide range of views on the subject but personally I will never make the mistake of not running an engine in properly again.

Warm engine up properly and drive normally. It will use less oil and make more power in the long run as the rings will be properly bedded against the bores.Interesting reading below:-

Break In Secrets--How To Break In New Motorcycle and Car Engines For More Power

Hmmmm very interesting. Only problem is, most new cars are likley to have done close to 20 miles by the time the customer takes delivery, so the 'damage' is done...!

Indeed, most have been fully 'road tested' by a PDi technician

Rag it's tits off from day one don't be to gentle with it, warm up it properly, cool it down properly, and keep an eye on the oil.

Most of all give it a damn good british colonial style thrashing, and if it objects .... thrash it some more.

Cars, Bikes, Race bikes, all beasted from new, all made good power and where reliable

Yes! Ragging is good. Wouldn't rag it too much when brand new though.

Our Oct II 140TDi has used loads of oil from new. We ran it in fairly carefully and being my wifes car she doesnt exactly drive it hard even now.

When we complained to the dealership about the oil useage, we were told that they recommend driving it hard from new as the engine then uses less oil going forward.

Dunno if this is true, but I plan to drive the vRS hard when I get it from day one

Our Oct II 140TDi has used loads of oil from new. We ran it in fairly carefully and being my wifes car she doesnt exactly drive it hard even now.

When we complained to the dealership about the oil useage, we were told that they recommend driving it hard from new as the engine then uses less oil going forward.

Dunno if this is true, but I plan to drive the vRS hard when I get it from day one

I've heard this story before..... poeple who've run them in gently seem to use alot of oil.... I didn't "rag" mine, but drove it normally, fast when needed, gentle when needed, full throttle when needed ect, 3- 55,000 miles now, and I still haven't had to top it up with oil!

Drove mine max 3000 revs till about 1000 miles, nailed it up to 7000 miles, remapped it and am spanking its **** with 20000 miles!!!

I wouldn't particularly hold back either

I'd just drive normally for the first 10 mins or so, giving the oil a chance to warm up. Once done, then give it the occasional ragging, just not labouring the engine.

With the PD block, you notice a big boost when the turbo comes on around 1700rpm, and I've found that gradually feeding it more gas gives a lot more go than just flooring it from tickover

the cars are driven before the customer and the engines are run on a test bed before the dealer gets it, so no need to drive it slow.

the cars are driven before the customer and the engines are run on a test bed before the dealer gets it, so no need to drive it slow.

No they're not. How much do you think that would cost skoda?!?! Its not just the engine that need running in anyway its all the moving parts.

Its not just the engine that need running in anyway its all the moving parts.

i agree there. i still drive mine gently until 1k then ill drive quicker, im a firm believer of gentle driving at first as its new.

i was told about the running bit before its fitted, ill stand corrected lol

I don't know about Skodas, but I've seen every Ford engine at Dagenham and every Nissan engine at Sunderland being run on test beds before they are any where near a car.

Also, I've seen the Nissan 'test track' where every car off the line is driven around (in a spirited manner) to check everything is OK.

yup, make sure its nice and warm and give it a good ragging. did this from day one in my old vrs with 3 miles on the clock and never gave me any problems in the year i owned it :-)

Rico

Yeah, but I bet it's burning oil and tappety now!

I always run in my new cars - had about 60 in the last 15 years............Always get more than the manufacurers economy figures - When not booting it of course!

Also found they hardly use any oil after running in properly.