Tips for breaking in a brand new engine?

[Finance_Analyst]

So I agree with Guy that 5000km is right, especially if you drive heaps of city kms, stop go etc.

What if, in the space of a year, you do only about 8000km (which is me as a catch the train to work and live near the city and all). Should I be doing it every 6 months?

[brad]

I know you did the UOA only to know if, the oil could last 15,000km in your engine the way you drive and you know that everyone drives differently and use the car differently. Even if you have your oil analyzed, unless you drive under the same condition all the time, you can't extend the oil changes without monitoring the oil on regular basis, the reason for that is that any changes in your driving (a few short trips for example) and your aged oil will not be able to protect your engine and any saving will be very short lived.

I don't think I'm the only person in the world that drives under similar conditions to me & I doubt a few short trips would cause a huge difference in oil quality.

Let's face it, it's easy to recomend 7500km oil changes for everyone. The only things that can be hurt is the wallet & the environment.

[Guy_H]

I have seen fuel dilution > 10% in 15,000kms from MK5 FSI's. I think (from memory) Castrol's recommendation was no more than 3%.

We do very regular oil changes in our cars (probably every 3,000kms - certainly after every track day), but the analysis helps pick up prematurely wearing parts.

[Transporter]

I don't think I'm the only person in the world that drives under similar conditions to me & I doubt a few short trips would cause a huge difference in oil quality.

The only things that can be hurt is the wallet & the environment.

Yes, the engine that is worn out more or sooner is more damaging to the environment. The manufacturers only care about the emissions when the car is new and not when is 6-10 years old.

[brad]

I have seen fuel dilution > 10% in 15,000kms from MK5 FSI's. I think (from memory) Castrol's recommendation was no more than 3%.

We do very regular oil changes in our cars (probably every 3,000kms - certainly after every track day), but the analysis helps pick up prematurely wearing parts.

3.5% max fuel dilution.
You wouldn't want the TBN below 5.
water max 300
soot max 2.5
viscosity of 5w-30 should be somewhere between 9.3-12.5
plus all the wear metals - mine was so far under....

IMO, if you are achieving greater than 50% of the maximums, you'd want to have a good think about the servicing regime.

[pologti18t]

Yes, the engine that is worn out more or sooner is more damaging to the environment. The manufacturers only care about the emissions when the car is new and not when is 6-10 years old.

Not quite the case in the USA.....

Specified major emission control components are covered for the
first 8 years or 80,000 miles of vehicle use.

[Corey_R]

How about you call my Service Manager, rather than have me do it for you. His name is Nick Lechowicz - Senior Advisor - McGrath Sutherland Volkswagen, 499 Princes Hwy, Sutherland - Direct Line: 9545 7186 or email: nlechowicz@mcgraths.com.au.
Cheers.
WJ

So I contacted Nick to try and get some information about this.
He has stated that he believes most of what WhiteJames has stated is correct. Since Nick is the source of that information, that's a given I guess. Nick states the vehicles are filled with a different oil at the factory, but can't tell me what the differences are because Volkswagen don't want the information released. This information didn't come from a tech bulletin though, so there is no associated index number for us to look it up in erWin or obtain from another dealer.

He did say that the vehicles warranty will not be void if you service it prior to 15,000km. This is good information, since it's illegal under Australian laws to "void a warranty" of a complete car. However, as WJ mentioned, Volkswagen may chose not to perform a warranty repair on a vehicle which is using too much oil if it's determined that the cylinders are too polished due to premature oil changes.

I asked if I could post his email so that there was no reinterpretation of the facts by me, but Nick declined and asked that I contact Volkswagen themselves if I wanted information which could be posted. That's fair enough, most large companies have a "media policy".

So there's the scoop, for what it's worth...

[Guy_H]

Good info above
.

Every mechanic & every engine builder will have a different view on this subject, there is probably some merit in all of them. Ours are based on what we have seen with the FSI & TSI motors over the past 6 years - and our interaction with our Dealers, our friends in VW dealerships & of course, the APR motorsport team who regularly have to run in new motors for race use.

On our new stage 4 engine, we will be running a synthetic oil with a break in additive (Red Line), run for ~ 500km's before changing to a regular full synthetic. Most of the running in will be on a dyno, so there will be lots of varied RPM's.

We were going to run a conventional mineral oil, but decided not to, mostly because the ball bearing turbo charger will be happier on the syn.

Plenty of assembly lube was used in the building, so we are confident of how it was screwed together & pre lubed.

[WhiteJames]

Another point to note is that if you require an oil top-up prior to 15,000km first service; it's worthwhile having your local dealer add the oil as I am lead to believe that they have a certain type of oil available for top-ups. Service Manager Nick has tells me not to add any other type of oil myself (not that I need too) within the first 15,000km, but bring in the GTI for a free top-up with the type of oil that is recommended by Volkswagen. I guess its a similar thing with high risk users and vehicles - better have your oil changed by the dealer within the first 15,000km if required or desired, rather than change the oil yourself for peace of mind.
Cheers
WJ

[Diesel_vert]

Another point to note is that if you require an oil top-up prior to 15,000km first service; it's worthwhile having your local dealer add the oil as I am lead to believe that they have a certain type of oil available for top-ups. Service Manager Nick has tells me not to add any other type of oil myself (not that I need too) within the first 15,000km, but bring in the GTI for a free top-up with the type of oil that is recommended by Volkswagen. I guess its a similar thing with high risk users and vehicles - better have your oil changed by the dealer within the first 15,000km if required or desired, rather than change the oil yourself for peace of mind.
Cheers
WJ

I wonder if that certain type of oil is Castrol SLX Professional Powerflow LongLife III 5W-30...


"Majority of all new VW cars are first-filled with Castrol SLX Professional Powerflow Longlife III" - check.

"Exclusively available from franchised dealers" - check.

"Fully-synthetic 5W-30 formulation is specifically designed for Volkswagen TSI and TDI engine technology" - check.

"Manufacturer approvals - VW 504 00, 507 00" - check.

"Pack sizes - 208 Litre barrel, 60 Litre drum and 1 Litre Top Up" - check.


Now, if that is indeed the case, then it stands to reason that since SLX PP LIII is a 504/507 approved oil, one may therefore use any 504/507 approved oil.

[Corey_R]

Well, that's the thing Diesel_vert, if you are to believe WhiteJames' service manager Nick, then either:
1) The cars are NOT filled with Castrol SLX at the factory, or
2) The cars are filled with an additive in addition to the Castrol SLX at the factory.

Of course, as been mentioned, the assumption is then that all the dealers have this "special oil" and/or "additive". Considering we already know that some VW dealers are not even using 504 approved oils, let alone Castrol SLX, during servicing, it makes this whole situation seem rather suss (I mean, either WhiteJames/Nick are incorrect, or these other dealers are incorrect - either way, there is a problem somewhere).

[Diesel_vert]

or...

3) I'm wrong and Castrol is full of crap.

[WhiteJames]

Going back to my old 2006 MKV GTI, I found the initial factory oil was fairer again in colour than the new MK6 GTI with factory oil. I had my local dealer change the oil at 5,000km and 10,000km (plus filter in both cases) - the oil was the same fair colour for both unscheduled services at 5k and 10k and the MKV GTI didn't use any oil in the first 15,000km. Once 15,000km service was complete, I found the new post break-in oil a little darker in colour to begin with - as time rolled on the oil darkened quite quickly, unlike the break-in oil. The old MKV GTI began to use a bit of oil after 15,000km service - about 150ml per 1,000km. I formed the impression that break-in oil was used in the first two unscheduled services at 5,000km and 10,000km and that this oil may have been thicker and/or less slippery due to the old MKV GTI not consuming any oil in the first 15,000km. My observations are consistent with what Service Manager Nick had been telling me about a different type of oil being used for the initial 15,000km break in period.
Cheers
WJ

[Diesel_vert]

Going back to my old 2006 MKV GTI, I found the initial factory oil was fairer again in colour than the new MK6 GTI with factory oil. I had my local dealer change the oil at 5,000km and 10,000km (plus filter in both cases) - the oil was the same fair colour for both unscheduled services at 5k and 10k and the MKV GTI didn't use any oil in the first 15,000km. Once 15,000km service was complete, I found the new post break-in oil a little darker in colour to begin with - as time rolled on the oil darkened quite quickly, unlike the break-in oil. The old MKV GTI began to use a bit of oil after 15,000km service - about 150ml per 1,000km. I formed the impression that break-in oil was used in the first two unscheduled services at 5,000km and 10,000km and that this oil may have been thicker and/or less slippery due to the old MKV GTI not consuming any oil in the first 15,000km. My observations are consistent with what Service Manager Nick had been telling me about a different type of oil being used for the initial 15,000km break in period.
Cheers
WJ

Not doubting your observations and experiences, but they can be interpreted as somewhat subjective or coincidental. If you wanted a truly definitive answer, you really needed to get the oil analysed, and even then, you'd only able to know things like viscosity, additives, wear metals, etc. If you wanted to find out the actual makeup of base oils, you'd need to get a spectroscopic analysis done and compare it to a reference oil (which isn't easy or cheap).

In any case, the subject of breaking-in is way overblown IMO. A combination of common sense, literature from the owner's manual, and just utilising the car as needed and servicing accordingly, is more than sufficient for 99% of stock road-going engines.

Here are the running-in instructions for a Mercedes SLS - I imagine that something very similar is also mentioned in one's handbook (if some of you can be bothered to check).

[dave_r]

The only reason I understand that Volkswagen say 15,000km's is to keep service costs down - nothing more, nothing less. If you only keep it 3 years, who cares - out of warranty, some one else's problem.

That probably sums it up pretty well.

Did a track day around 8k and just nearing 9k now, should probably drop the oil given I don't conform to the "normal" usage at the best of times but really can't be stuffed doing it myself and not paying VW ~$200-250 to drop the oil especially given I doubt I'll have the car past 3 years anyway