Run in period

[kctt]

Hi guys,

I am driving up to Canberra (from Melbourne) in a couple of weeks time. I was thinking of driving my new R32 up there but realised that it's probably not ideal for running in the engine.

What are your thoughts on that?

[G-rig]

Yeha not ideal to take is straight on the highway, but the wharfies have probably already run it in for you .

once it's done it's first 50km i dont think it will matter, just drive it normally up and down the rev range but don't baby it.

If anyone gives a link to that redneck USA snow mobile website again i'm going to lose it.

[kctt]

When I bought my A4, I was told (not that I believed) by my Audi salesman that Audis engines run in from the factory. Also you do not need to baby the engine.

I thought maybe VW may be the same ie. run in from the factory. If that was the case, I was hoping that I didn't need to be as strict when I run in the R32.

[G-rig]

That's true they are run in at the factory.

My salesman said it's under warranty so I could do 130km/hr out the front and it's perfectly fine.

Just don't flog it when the engine is cold but i'd 'go easy' for 1500-2000km

[kctt]

Yeah, I definately will rev the engine sensibly. But I just wasn't too sure about the running at a constant speed for a few hours.

[bazzle]

Just drive normally , vary speed from time to time and enjoy the trip

If you get hot smells its generally the body wax seeping towards the exh etc.
Still not a bad idea to open the hood when you top up with fuel..
Check tyre press too, should be approx 40psi cold for the R32.

Bazzle

[kctt]

Just drive normally , vary speed from time to time and enjoy the trip

If you get hot smells its generally the body wax seeping towards the exh etc.
Still not a bad idea to open the hood when you top up with fuel..
Check tyre press too, should be approx 40psi cold for the R32.

Bazzle

Thanks Baz.

1. Body wax? What is that?
2. Open the hood to check fluid levels?
3. 40psi - is that the manufacturer's recommendation?

[Maverick]

2. Open the hood to check fluid levels?
3. 40psi - is that the manufacturer's recommendation?

Yes check the fluids.

40.6 psi is the recommended pressure from the tyre placard in the fuel flap.

http://www.my-gti.com/192/volkswagen-golf-gti-and-r32-tyre-pressures

[POLARBEAR666]

Thrash the car from day 1 really hard. That way the pison rings will wear into the bores before the cylinder bore cross hatching from the factory wears out.

Once that happens the rings will always be loose if you have not caused them to expand fully and wear into the bore walls for a flush fit.

Higher oil use and less power is the result of driving miss daisy.

[Maverick]

Those that have spent their hard earned cash on the car might want to follow Volkswagen's recommendation for running the engine in, after all the Volkswagen engineers should know a thing or two about the engines and what is best for them.

Volkswagen spend a lot of time and money developing and testing engines, this would include pulling them apart, testing oils and testing different run in procedures and if thrashing the car was the best for the engine they would recommend this.

Of course if you don't care and/or didn't pay for the car by all means thrash it.

[Greg Roles]

If it were me, with a new R32, I'd not take it.

The age old debate, but again, I'd use penrites specific run in oil for 500kms, dump it, and move onto VW's recommendation. If my diesel didn't need 507 for the PD and DPF, well it would have had the penrite run in as well.

Polar is saying the right thing, the wrong way. You want to LOAD the engine, make it pull higher gears to maximise the peak cylinder pressure to load the rings, but revving the car and flogging the tranny, diff, brakes and tyres isn't smart. You can load the engine, stay within speed limits, and properly bed in all the other mechanical components by simply shifting up early and making the motor lug a bit. Vary the revs and speeds, no need to head near the last thousand rpm.

It all happens in the first few hundred km in a petrol car anyhow, and it's true the factory has done most of it already. Still that first hundred km's is vital in my humble opinion.

Each to their own, enjoy your car.

And YES before anyone lectures me on oils, putting in a non VW spec oil to run it in with IS risking your warranty.....but I'd do it, worked marvels on my last new car.

[brad]

Hi guys,

I am driving up to Canberra (from Melbourne) in a couple of weeks time. I was thinking of driving my new R32 up there but realised that it's probably not ideal for running in the engine.

What are your thoughts on that?

Take the scenic route through the Snowy Mountains? (Snowy Mts Highway is good IIRC)

Are you driving it straight out of the showroom & up to Canberra? That's about the only situation that should concern you. If you've already got a couple of hundred kilometres on the odometer then a trip to Canberra won't be an issue.

Drive it "normally".
Any sign of an incline, change down gears so that you are varying the revs.
Don't try & drive for maximum economy.
Don't use cruise control.

Above all, stop worrying & enjoy the car.

[Greg Roles]

A twisty / mountain drive is perfect, makes you do what is ideal anyhow! Good call Brad!

[brad]

It's been ages since I was down that way & it would probably add a few hundred km And some hours to the drive but would MEL--> Bairnsdale--> Omeo--> Tallangatta--> Corryong--> Tumbarumba--> Batlow--> Tumut--> Yass-->CBR work?
Or
MEL--> Bairnsdale--> Orborst--> Delegate--> Bombala--> Cooma--> CBR?

[kctt]

cogdoc/Greg - Thanks for the explanation on why we need to load the engine. Yeah, I am more inclined not to take the R32 atm, but I'll see.

brad - Not straight out of the showroom! I hope to pick it up next week - depending on how long I can wait. The car is actually ready to be picked up but I need to sell one of my cars first.

Thanks for the route suggestions. It sounds tempting. Not too sure if the missus will enjoy as much though..