Tips for breaking in a brand new engine?

[ConR]

Also note that the DSG also has oil in it, and it probably takes even longer then the engine oil temp to come up!

see, you all should have gotten the manual...I get to thrash it before you do =)~

[jj77]

Thanks, Maverick.
Me - back to owner's manual.

J

[brad]

Just a quick question (to WJ and others)...
I live about 2 minutes away from freeway and I use the freeway to go to work (and back home). I usually drive around inner streets a couple of minutes to warm up the car before entering the freeway. But cold winter morning isn't helpful warming up my car and the oil temp is usually about 51c (or less as the display does not show the temp) by the time when I entered the freeway and have to increase the speed to 100km almost soon after entering the freeway (due to merging lanes).

What kind of damage would my daily/regular driving regime (i.e. driving freeway before warming up the car) cause or do to my car?
J

If you are driving like the rest of the plebs in peak hour, using a light right foot, changing gears at less than 4000rpm, being mechanicaly sympathetic, etc then you'll be doing no damage at all.

And driving around the local area before hand is a waste of time. Just get onto the motorway, get into top gear & keep up with the traffic.

[jj77]

If you are driving like the rest of the plebs in peak hour, using a light right foot, changing gears at less than 4000rpm, being mechanicaly sympathetic, etc then you'll be doing no damage at all.

And driving around the local area before hand is a waste of time. Just get onto the motorway, get into top gear & keep up with the traffic.

Thanks, brad - very helpful information. Yeah! I don't have to wake up 10 minutes early anymore - I only started to drive around the local area recently to warm up the car as the owner's manual describes and read it somewhere here or another forum not to warm up the engine by running it with the car stationary. But as you and maveric mentioned, it's good to know that the cars warm up very quickly.

A couple of times I had to rav really quickly to merge and change lanes - won't do that anymore~

J

[REXman]

I have always been a guy, who warms up my car till normal temp, and takes off. After the annoying morning one, usually during the day they are much quicker to warm up. (due to the previous drive I guess).

I see the advantage as then you can flog it no worries. Also, Service on time.

And for run in, till the first 1500km's nothing past 4K rpms.

Till 3000 (I do 5000 KM's ) I try not to flat smash it anywhere. Just the odd redline to keep it on its toes.

Then go for gold.

Have not had a gearbox or engine problem in 11 years driving. And Ive been more than 'spirited in some of them.

Cheers.

EDIT:

I have heard though, for the first 150 km's, giving the car a flogging will help create a seal around the rings/and seat the valves or something. Apparently once they set, thats it.

[Maverick]

I have heard though, for the first 150 km's, giving the car a flogging will help create a seal around the rings/and seat the valves or something. Apparently once they set, thats it.

The wharfies take care of this for you.

[REXman]

The wharfies take care of this for you.

+1 That put a smile on my face!!

[Corey_R]

I have always been a guy, who warms up my car till normal temp, and takes off. After the annoying morning one, usually during the day they are much quicker to warm up. (due to the previous drive I guess).

You sit there an let the car idle for 15 minutes??

[brad]

I have always been a guy, who warms up my car till normal temp, and takes off. After the annoying morning one, usually during the day they are much quicker to warm up. (due to the previous drive I guess).

So how exactly does sitting in the driveway help warm up gearbox & diff oils, wheel bearings, brakes, etc?

To each their own but I just can't see the point. Possibly my attitude has been swayed slightly as many years back while still living at home, I had a string of very loud cars. My parking spot was outside Mum & Dads window. Dad told me in no uncertain terms where he'd be parking my car if I persisted in sitting outside his room at 6.00am idling the car for 10 minutes.

[G-rig]

So how exactly does sitting in the driveway help warm up gearbox & diff oils, wheel bearings, brakes, etc?

+1, it doesn't do anything and I think the manual actually says not to do that, but to drive off straight away.

[Idle]

Since I've no choice but to reverse up a long narrow drive, my cars idle for several minutes after starting.

It's never seemed to do them any harm.

[Corey_R]

And you're correct Idle, it doesn't really do them any harm*, but it just doesn't do anything useful either. Hence why for quite some time now, every manufacturer recommends just driving smoothly/lightly until the car has warmed up. This way you're warming up all the required components of the car, rather than just wasting fuel warming up the engine and nothing else.

*long periods of idling does cause some issues which then require more regular servicing, but ask someone else what those issues are cause I'm not a mechanic.

[REXman]

Hey Im comfortable in saying that I warm up my car. I believe that warming up the car and letting the engine oils warm up without any load is good enough an advantage. And then driving off slowly so that those other things can warm up is a must for long car life.

And yes I wait like 15 mins. Oh well its what I do and no one has successfully changed my mind. I could not drive off a cold start!!

I have been doing it (the warm) for years obviously, but my GF's car has a turbo on it and it actually has a blue light on it that dissappears when it the car is ready to go. Its an 09 model so Im pretty sure that its current logic..

[Corey_R]

I have been doing it (the warm) for years obviously, but my GF's car has a turbo on it and it actually has a blue light on it that dissappears when it the car is ready to go. Its an 09 model so Im pretty sure that its current logic..

Out of interest, what make & model is your girlfriends car? And how long does that blue light stay on for a typical cold start?

[Transporter]

And you're correct Idle, it doesn't really do them any harm*, but it just doesn't do anything useful either. Hence why for quite some time now, every manufacturer recommends just driving smoothly/lightly until the car has warmed up. This way you're warming up all the required components of the car, rather than just wasting fuel warming up the engine and nothing else.

*long periods of idling does cause some issues which then require more regular servicing, but ask someone else what those issues are cause I'm not a mechanic.

It is spot on.
It takes longer to warm up engine while idling on the spot and longer engine idles, more unburned fuel enters the sump and degrades the oil. I let the engine idle for 20-30s and then drive gently until the engine is at operating temperature.