Oil Temperature - New Car

[ConR]

Hey guys...got a new GTI MK6...breaking it in...only have 200km's on it.

Have been looking at the oil temp in the MFD as I drive...I haven't pushed it hard at all, as I want to break it in properly...rev's under 3500...hasn't gone past 80km/h yet either.

It has jumped up to 102 degress a few times...is that high? It's usually always at 99 or 100.

Just curious, as I read something in another post of someone breaking in a MK6 DSG (mine is manual) with the ambient air temp at around 17 (exact same for me)...but his/her temp was only around 94 or 95.

Appreciate any help!!

[Manaz]

To put it in perspective - you're talking about a ~3% variation between 99ºC and 102ºC...

Ambient air temp is only part of the equation - engine load (what the car's actually doing, under what conditions) is probably more important.

And as for breaking it in gently, nah - drive it like it'll get driven the rest of its life. VW engines are pre-worn in anyway (they do ~3,000km worth before being put into a car from memory), and to be frank, you want to bed the piston rings in nicely, not baby them and not wear them at all, and the only way to do that is to put the car through a variety of conditions. If you're too soft on the car when you wear it in, when you DO give it some stick, you'll be introducing it to conditions it's never operated under before...

[ConR]

Hmm...thanks for the info Manaz. So many threads on breaking in your engine, not sure which to go with: break it in properly, or gun it right away.

So, for the dummy in me, 102 degrees is nothing to worry about? Just thinking down the road with hot Sydney summers..wonder what the oil will be like when it's 40 outside.

Thanks!

[G-rig]

100-102 deg is fairly normal when it's warmed up i would have thought.

Something people dont talk about much is letting the engine cool down a bit before switching it off. Probably not good for the turbo to go for a flogging then turning it off as the oil stops moving through it and the temperatures would go up when the engine is off (I noticed the MDF oil temp doesn't display unless the engine is on). So i'd take it easy the last few minutes of driving before turning the car off, just like you should do when warming it up (I wait till it's warmed up before going over 3,000 rpm). Cold thrashing isn't cool.

[ConR]

Yes, I have been going easy on it as I drive into my neighbourhood...also don't want my neighbours to think a hoodlum has moved in to the area =)

Thanks alot for the info guys!!

[skeep]

I've just recently done a climb up the mountain at Dorrigo NSW (bout 1000m alt), got the oil temps up to 112C or so. Got just over 3500kms on the odo. 98-105C is where it usually lives for me, so that 102C you were reporting seems perfectly normal to me.

Cheers.

[AdamD]

I've just recently done a climb up the mountain at Dorrigo NSW (bout 1000m alt), got the oil temps up to 112C or so. Got just over 3500kms on the odo. 98-105C is where it usually lives for me, so that 102C you were reporting seems perfectly normal to me.

I'm feeling very relieved to read this! I was on a cruise in my new GTI (1800kms) last night here in Adelaide, and after some time found myself at the front of a pack of fairly seriously driven machines (including an R34 GTR Vspec right behind me), just before a tight and sharp hillclimb (Corkscrew road for the locals). Keeping revs below 4,000 (or thereabouts) wasn't easy, and in between seeing off the Skylines I was doing my best to keep an eye on the oil temp (I am trying to run my car in carefully, after all). It got up to 109 at one point, and was hovering around 106 for at least 10 minutes or so before I was able to let the fast cruisers go and it dropped back into the healthier sub-105 zone.

Anyway, this is certainly not normal driving for me and my car's never seen those temps before, but I'm hoping it's unlikely to have any nasty consequences?

Would you recommend pushing the dealer to change the oil at 7500km if the oil's been, ahem, warmed up this much during the run-in period?

[Cousin]

And as for breaking it in gently, nah - drive it like it'll get driven the rest of its life. VW engines are pre-worn in anyway (they do ~3,000km worth before being put into a car from memory), and to be frank, you want to bed the piston rings in nicely, not baby them and not wear them at all, and the only way to do that is to put the car through a variety of conditions. If you're too soft on the car when you wear it in, when you DO give it some stick, you'll be introducing it to conditions it's never operated under before...

Completely agree
After the first corner, it's run in. That's it!

And there's a high probability you'll glaze your bores taking things too easy at the start.
Then you've got high oil usage problems and all the associated dramas that go with that.

Flogging your car ain't too good for it, but babying it is just as bad.


M

[skeep]

...Would you recommend pushing the dealer to change the oil at 7500km if the oil's been, ahem, warmed up this much during the run-in period?

To be honest I'm not sure about that one. I would imagine thats what the oil filter is there for, mind you the first replacement one is gonna need it lol. I went through a stage checking the oil gauge every week because I was paranoid I was burning it up too quickly. Still looked okay to me but I bought a top up 5W-35 504.00 approved oil just in case.

Almost 6000km on the clock, and its developed a much deeper throat when she's idling and low in the revs, damn I'm loving it, its a pretty decent stock exhaust once its worn in

[MIRSAD]

Today (23 degree outside) normal city driving - oil temperature was reaching 106 C... last somer few times it was up to 113 C... not sure is it little bit to high.

Plus last night I noticed that coolant was down to minimum - 2 months ago I added (it was also down to min) coolant and it was seating (engine was cold) exactly between min and max ... no stains in my garage???

[Transporter]

In a new engine that is not run in, the engine oil temperature could be higher and you will get to the operating temperature quicker, due to more friction generated from the piston rings and other components that need to be run in. It is nothing to worry about.

You could use it as a guide, once the engine is run in there will be less friction generated and it will take a bit longer to reach 100 deg.C in oil.

I took our new Tiguan for few run in trips (not very long), and I was amazed how quickly oil temperature reached 100 deg. C .

I started each trip gently, after 1km shifted to "S" mode to keep the revs up a bit, once the oil temperature started to show on the display I started to load up the engine and used the hills to accelerate and decelerate, during these trips I didn't hold the revs over 4000 rpm (IMO around 3500rpm for short time is right for the TDI). Nothing wrong with when during brisk acceleration rpm's reach 4000 as long as you don't hold it on 4000rpm for longer period of time. Also stick to the speed limit for running in period quoted in the owner's manual, cause gears, bearings, axles and the brakes need to be run in too.

At 1048km I drained the engine oil, replaced the oil filter and filled the sump with Mobil1 ESP 5W30.

[MIRSAD]

Thank You Transporter,

but in my case mileage is 17,000km+ (including first 1500Km run in period as per VW manual) ... first service performed on 8500km,

Yes, from time to time some brisk accelerations ... it is GTI ... but nothing out of normal driving (same as I was driving my previous cars 118TSI, 2lFSI...)

I am just not sure is oil temperature above 110C normal plus that coolant "disappearance" (250ml coolant in 2 months and 3500km)

[Transporter]

The oil temperature 110C is normal and it could be even higher if you drive in city traffic(also affected by ambient temperature), slower speeds, bumper to bumper or at higher speed in summer. I would only be alarmed if it is 120C and higher when driven gently in winter.

How many times did you top up coolant?

[MIRSAD]

The oil temperature 110C is normal and it could be even higher if you drive in city traffic(also affected by ambient temperature), slower speeds, bumper to bumper or at higher speed in summer. I would only be alarmed if it is 120C and higher when driven gently in winter.

Thank You Transporter... I was concern after seeing some people talking about 104 degree as being to high.

Any thoughts about coolant "disappearance" (250ml coolant in 2 months and after 3500km)

[Transporter]

Take the covers off the engine - top and under the car, get good torch and take a good look at the engine, especially at the hoses and the radiator. The coolant is purple sort of colour and if there is any leak it would leave the trails of the same colour.

Or better still, get the cooling system pressure tested, that way you will be sure that there aren't any internal leaks or leaks inside the car from the heater core or heather hoses.

If it is your first top up and you are not sure what was the coolant level before then it is possible that the coolant level in reservoir was lower to begin with.

Edit:
Just remember that the coolant temperature gauge is the main gauge that would indicate that engine is overheating.