Hi, I've as you may have guessed just defected from Honda over to Skoda. I will be picking up my Fab VRS on Saturday but would like to know what if any running in I should do on the car.

Welcome to the forum,

Officially you sould not go over 3000 revs (I think) for the first 500 miles, (although in sixth that can still be over 90mph), but in reality burn baby burn (IF you want to risk it). I think as long as you don't thrash it (It's hard) you should alright.

Thanks for the advice. Several collegues have told me that no running in is required which I found a little hard to believe so I think I'll take your advice and take it easy for 500(ish) miles before giving it a good hiding.

Paul.

It will tell you the recommended procedure in the manual, follow that, then you can let rip

Welcome to Briskoda :wave:

This crops up so often.

Basically, lots of bits of metal that have never met before are going to be doing the macarena before they are really ready. Keep the engine at low revs for at least 1k miles and you're laughing. All this 'no running in' nonsense is just that.

Sorry. Welcome to Briskoda!

The way I look at it nowadays is that if a car manufacturer is very happy not to see a new car with new engine for the first 10,000 miles, then surely, there ain't going to be loads of iron filings swimming around in the crankcase

When I got mine, I did occasionally push it before the 500 mile mark, but only when the engine and oil was nice and warm. A bit like a short sprint to stretch its legs, but the lack of stamina means you don't push it too long. I guess that makes sense as an analogy?

Welcome to the Briskoda Fabia vRS brigade.

Again, I stuck to the procedure as much as I could. I did open her up occasionally when the engine was warm. Now it has nearly 7,000 miles on the clock, it is a lot looser and much quicker!

I think the whole point of RUNNING in is to bed the parts into place. Saying that as long as you don't labour (6th gear at 20mph type thing) the car you should be OK to drive normally. To be honest most the new engines are bench tested before they are sold so any defects should be picked up straight away.

I have heard people say that not running in a car as per book and thrashing it from day one made their engine faster than a run in version, saying that though I would play safe then cain it within an inch of it's life after the running in period.

Good choice BTW of cars, drove the Octavia vRS didn't like it drove the Fabia vRS loved it straight away so my wife and I bought one.

Basically, lots of bits of metal that have never met before are going to be doing the macarena before they are really ready.

I was reading somewhere on t'interweb about some mechanic chap who advocates "hard" running in...basically, he says components are machined so accurately these days there isn't a whole lot of wear occurring from the start, and then it said something about getting piston rings seated correctly and that to do this best required a good hard bit of caning. Or something.

Rob.

Sounds about right dude ! tollerances are so fine not like the olden day engines where you could fit a 2 pence piece down the side of the pistons

Exactly - the manufacturers are producing some top line precision engineering, and yet they still do themselves down by pretending engines need to be run in!

Rob.

The only thing I would do over and above the normal thing is to change the oil every 5,000 miles instead of when the car is serviced. Sure the oil nowa days are good but if you drive your car hard every time you jump in and flick the key you want to know the oil is doing it's job.

Running in, I would agree with the 500 take it easy rule, if only to bed in the tyres, all new tyres should I have been told be treated gently to toughen them off so I guess that applies to a new car.

Also a diesel is tight when new so a bit of gentle care wont hurt.

Also check the thread on Oil http://www.briskoda.net/forums/showthread.php?t=6878&page=1&pp=15 New diesels use a bit so suggest you carry a litre in the boot

Hi, I've as you may have guessed just defected from Honda over to Skoda.

Congratulations!

But what Honda?

Thanks to everyone for your advice. I think i'll be taking it easy to be safe for a few miles or until my patients wears out.

...my patients wears out.

i wait with baited breath for the day that happens for me!

Forgot to mention, my old car was a Civic 1.8 Vti. Cracking car but bloody expensive to run. I will miss the Vtec screamer but I was so impressed by the torque of the fabia I had to trade up.