New engine running-in?

[pologti18t]

Thanks. I am not so sure about the late night cruise - for a spirited drive, I would want to avoid the cops on night patrol. Prefer a day drive.

Also probably need a longer drive than Balgowlah. What would you suggest a bit further, northwards?

Look up Wollombi on Whereis.com and drive there.

[noone]

Either of the Syd boys breaking in a GTI? I'd love to come for a bit of a drive with you if you don't mind going an older brother raging along (9n3GTI)

If you have time, kuringai park to old Pacifc hwy is always fun

[markwid]

Either of the Syd boys breaking in a GTI? I'd love to come for a bit of a drive with you if you don't mind going an older brother raging along (9n3GTI)

If you have time, kuringai park to old Pacifc hwy is always fun

No problems, but it will be a while more. New car is still on the ship. Should have it in my grimy hands early Apr.

[Diesel_vert]

Hi all.

Just recently picked up a new polo. The dealer said there were no specific requirements in terms of breaking in the new engine.

My brother-in-law told me to drive it fairly hard, and constantly vary my speed for the first 1000 kms with no cruise control.

I have tried to find some documentation without success.
Any ideas?

Unless you can get in touch with the engineers at VW you'll never truly know. And "Break-In Secrets" make some valid points but don't treat it as gospel.

The main thing is not to stress about it, all you want to do is exercise the motor. Just go easy on the throttle before the engine is up to operating temperature. After that use the throttle as necessary, but avoid babying it excessively or using full throttle *all* the time.

And there's no need to change the oil at 1k or use mineral oil or whatever. Letting the factory fill (most likely to be a synthetic oil) run until the first scheduled service should allow the motor to wear in gradually and nicely. Just keep an eye on the oil level, top-up if necessary (with 504 oil) and be sure to follow the distance or time interval (whichever you reach first) to the letter.

Happy motoring.

[kaanage]

Thanks for the route. Looks promising. Is this a trip you have taken kaanage? Cheers, S.

We did a Polo 9N3 cruise a week before the Maroondah Dam cruise last year - it's basically the same route or you can extend by heading across from Healesville to Yarra Glen, then Kinglake via Yea then down to Whittlesea.

[markwid]

Look up Wollombi on Whereis.com and drive there.

Thanks for the suggestion. Had some spare time and tried the route to Wollombi today. Quite a few sections of road that entertains. On the return leg, I took the F3 instead from Calga and was yawning away.

So, which is more dangerous? Single lane, two way that keeps you entertained and alert or 3 lane freeway that puts you to sleep?

[tigtsi]

So has anyone gone to the trouble of using mineral oil for run in?

[tigtsi]

I see that Penrite do a mineral 5w30 oil.
Apparently the VW recommended oils have a low Sulphated Ash content.
Would it hurt using a non VW recommended oil like the mineral 5w30 for the first 1000km to run in?
Thanks

[Frostee]

Why would you choose not to follow manufacturer recommendation?

[Diesel_vert]

I see that Penrite do a mineral 5w30 oil.
Apparently the VW recommended oils have a low Sulphated Ash content.
Would it hurt using a non VW recommended oil like the mineral 5w30 for the first 1000km to run in?
Thanks

Not that I know for sure, but probably.

- Using mineral oil in an engine that calls for synthetic oil as a minimum (as implied by VW spec 502.00 or 504.00) would be unwise.
- VW warns of risk of engine damage otherwise (may or may not be mentioned in the owner's handbook).
- VW would not look kindly on engine-related warranty claims should they discover you replaced the factory fill oil with an unapproved oil (mineral or otherwise) for the first 1,000 km.
- Engine and lubricant technology is constantly evolving, though we sometimes struggle to keep up to date.

[Transporter]

I see that Penrite do a mineral 5w30 oil.
Apparently the VW recommended oils have a low Sulphated Ash content.
Would it hurt using a non VW recommended oil like the mineral 5w30 for the first 1000km to run in?
Thanks

I wouldn't use unapproved oil but, I've changed oil and oil filter in our new Tig at 1000km using the Mobil1 ESP 5W30.

[tigtsi]

Thanks Diesel_vert & Transporter, after reading the "run-in secrets" article that seems to be mentioned a bit on the forum, i thought i would see if anyone else had gone that step further and put mineral oil in.

Transporter, how did the oil look? is the filter easy to access on the Tig?(off topic I Know) still waiting on mine to arrive.

Might be an idea to use a magnetic oil pan nut after 1st oil change.

[brad]

I can't understand why anyone wouldn't take the easy road & follow the mfrs recomendations.
My run-in process was 45km of motorway on the way home from the dealer. 3rd gear - accelerate on half throttle up to about 110kmh then let it over-run back down to about 70kmh. Did that all the way home.
The next day I did a 400km round trip down the coast with the family on board. They would have spewed (both literally & figuratively) if I'd done the accelerate/decelerate process, so I just kept the revs between 2000-4000 and didn't bother with 6th gear. Changed the oil at 15,000km. Now at 70,000km - no oil usage, good power, good economy.

re: magnetic oil pan nut. What's the point if the car has an oil filter on it?