Tips for breaking in a brand new engine?

[Transporter]

I accept his opinion, but my engine oil is always out after first 1000km and never had an issue with the engine using oil.

Also the gear/transmission oils should be drained and replaced as soon as they are run in, which is anything between 10,000km to 20,000km.

[Umai Naa!!]

Each to his or her own on this one, I guess.

Above all else, if you're really unsure what to do, go with what's in the owner's manual, and service the car according to the manufacturer's recommendations. If something does go wrong, it's there in writing, you've followed it, and the ball is in their court.

[Transporter]

Yeah, I would agree with that but very often that "something wrong" happens outside of the warranty. But of course, if you keep your car only for the warranty period, do as they say in the owner's manual, and you're covered.

[Volkswagen]

Anyone tried the MotoMan break in procedure? Interesting article anyway. His other articles are also interesting although most of it is motorbike related.

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

[Lucas_R]

^ yes ive read that article before.

The whole "don't exceed 3,000rpm" and "don't go over 80kph" for the first 1,000km's is rubbish. They are like old wifes tales or urban myth's.

My brother works for Audi/Skoda (combined dealership) here in Newcastle, and also advised me to run the engine in hard - not only to ensure a strong engine, but to help eliminate the oil usage issues that alot of the VW/Audi/Skoda engines have.

I ran my car in reasonably hard, loading the engine up as much as possible in the first 100-200km after picking it up from the dealer. It had 20km on it (new car) when i collected it.

Once oil was up to temp, i gave the car many medium and high throttle applications to bed the rings in. Pretty much any chance i had to open the throttle up i took. Although i didn't exceed about 5,000rpm for the first 1,000km - it got plenty of revs and full throttle applications up until that point.

My car runs like a dream (11,000km on it now), made really good power at the dyno day earlier this year, and doesn't use a drop of oil.

[Candyman]

The engine is already run in from factory (have a chat to Guy). However, other compnents need time and often forgotten about (tyres, gearbox, suspension, steering)

The general consensus has been to not excessively labour the engine or drivetrain, don't maintain constant revs, don't redline the engine, especially when cold. Common sense.

Best advice is to follow the user manual, it is there for a reason. If something goes wrong, you have followed the manufacturers advice

My R is almost due for its 30,000 km service, doesn't burn oil, runs "like a dream" and I followed the manual (plus common sense) on the run-in procedure.

[Machine]

I don't understand these "doesn't use a drop of oil" statements. I've heard it before, not just from Lucas. These engines are DESIGNED to use oil. Oil gets burned. The service intervals are what they are because of the tight tolerances of the engine. Come oil change time, you should have about a quarter left of oil, just before needing a top-up. If you run your engine particularly hard, you might need to top-up BEFORE your scheduled oil change. My car has been run-in hard from day 1. Tuned at 1000km. At 3000km, the oil level read 3/4 full. It's now at 4000km with slightly less oil. I have no issues with an engine losing/using/burning oil. What does one think catch cans and PCV's are for?

[Candyman]

I don't understand these "doesn't use a drop of oil" statements. I've heard it before, not just from Lucas. These engines are DESIGNED to use oil. Oil gets burned.

Mine doesn't. Actually, the GTI we owned rarely used oil either, all the way through to 80,000 km.

My two cars must have been poorly designed outside VW spec

[Umai Naa!!]

Yeah, they are designed to burn a bit of oil, but if you're doing your best to minimise it, you're not going to damage the engine in anyway. Unless you get a bit carried away, of course...

When we picked up our new car (Not worth mentioning Japanese small sedan), within two weeks, we'd done just over 2,000klms including a run down MacQuarie Pass to Wollongong and back, and a 700klm trip to Tamworth via the Putty Road.

While the manufacturer may have a different take on all of this, the driving in those first few weeks has certainly had a positive effect on fuel consumption, performance, and oil consumption. It'll get 750klms to a tank on a good run, whereas similar examples struggle to get anywhere near 650, it revs cleanly into the red zone making the most of it's MIVEC sorcery (Whoops, there's a clue), and still reads right on the full mark on the dipstick prior to servicing. Others I've driven, don't seem to feel as willing.

[Machine]

My two cars must have been poorly designed outside VW spec

Must've. Or else you drive like a nana

[Candyman]

I rarely exceed the speed limit but I don't waste time getting to it

Should have little to no impact on oil consumption in reality

Most of my commute is a mix of 50-90 kph driving, 100-150 km/day

[Machine]

I drive a similar daily distance but twice as fast. I do believe that these factors play a role in oil consumption.

[brad]

My engine was run in "under load". It use about 100ml every 15,000km (you can barely discern the level drop on the dipstick). I actually thought I was getting fuel dilution but my commute is too long & I had an oil test done & hydrocarbons were minimal

According to the MFD, my average speed(2) is 45kmh. My daily 90km commute sees speeds up to 110ish. My kids found out how to read the peak speed on my GPS & kacked themselves laughing at the look on my wife's face when she found out what I occasionally give the car a squirt to

[Lucas_R]

Speaking of oil consumption......

A girl i work with has a current shape Audi A4 with the 2.0TSI engine (same engine as current Golf GTI and Skoda Octy RS etc). Anyway i asked her yesterday why she had a different car as i had seen her driving a silver A4 instead of her actual car, which is a black A4.

She told me that it had been in to Audi to have the pistons replaced because she was using 1L (approx) of oil every 1,000km's. She is quite the "princess" so you can imagine that she isnt too happy having to pop the bonnet and check the oil on her car all the time.

Anyway, she had the pistons replaced, was told that this should be the end of the oil consumption issues. She went away last weekend up the coast and ding, the oil light came on again. She had to buy a container of oil while on her weekend away to top the car up.

So the car is back in at Audi again now being assesed. They have said that her timing is out aswell which probably explains the "roughness" that she was explaining to me. (roughness is in addition to the oil consumption issues).

My brother works at this dealership so ill try and suss out what the go is.

[Candyman]

Holy crap Lucas, that sounds pretty scary

Be interested to hear the outcome !