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New car - running in ?

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  • Jimi.K.
    Jimi.K. Posts: 23 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    Car_54 wrote: »
    That is astonishingly detailed, and not (in my experience) typical. My Audi manual simply tells you not to exceed 2/3 of maximum engine speed, and not to tow a trailer, for the first 1,000 km.

    Others I've had have also mentioned "avoiding sustained engine speed for prolonged periods".

    The table of maximum speeds is an odd one I must admit. I suspect they all equate to the same engine rpm, so not sure why they don't just say "do not exceed 3500rpm and 130kph".
  • DoaM
    DoaM Posts: 11,863 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Fifth Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    Jimi.K. wrote: »
    The table of maximum speeds is an odd one I must admit. I suspect they all equate to the same engine rpm, so not sure why they don't just say "do not exceed 3500rpm and 130kph".
    Given the max speeds for 5th and 6th are the same then that doesn't quite track. ;)
  • Ebe_Scrooge
    Ebe_Scrooge Posts: 7,320 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I have to agree with pretty much all of what's been said above. These days, running in is nowhere near as laboured as it used to be, but basically you do need to take it steady for the first few hundred miles. Don't labour the engine, don't race the engine, just take it nice and gentle. This needn't mean driving everywhere at 30 mph, just make sure you're in the right gear at the right time, and drive like your travel-sick granny is in the passenger seat - i.e. smoothly :-)

    What is more important is the first service, as per the manufacturer's recommendation - at the very least, the first oil change. In the first few miles of an engine's life, there are all sorts of teeny-tiny bits and pieces of metal and rubber and what-not that wear off and end up in the oil. You need to replace that with fresh oil fairly early on in the engine's life. It's often said that regular oil changes are the single most effective thing you can do to prolong an engine's life, but it's even more important for the first couple of changes.
  • Car_54
    Car_54 Posts: 8,837 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    What is more important is the first service, as per the manufacturer's recommendation - at the very least, the first oil change. In the first few miles of an engine's life, there are all sorts of teeny-tiny bits and pieces of metal and rubber and what-not that wear off and end up in the oil. You need to replace that with fresh oil fairly early on in the engine's life. It's often said that regular oil changes are the single most effective thing you can do to prolong an engine's life, but it's even more important for the first couple of changes.


    In my lifetime, first services were at 3,000 miles or fewer. The car I've just traded in had its first service due at 21,000!



    What has changed?
  • castle96
    castle96 Posts: 2,978 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    True. 1st 3 services free. Registerd 6/18 now done 200 miles, service due "12500 or 1 yr", so 4 mths
    Will look after this one. Never had a 'service' before on any car, just change the oil myself ever 2-3 yrs !!! and bodged a few things up.
    Would have thought with included warranties, that first few services would be ? 5/6/7k
  • RichardD1970
    RichardD1970 Posts: 3,796 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    What is more important is the first service, as per the manufacturer's recommendation - at the very least, the first oil change. In the first few miles of an engine's life, there are all sorts of teeny-tiny bits and pieces of metal and rubber and what-not that wear off and end up in the oil. You need to replace that with fresh oil fairly early on in the engine's life. It's often said that regular oil changes are the single most effective thing you can do to prolong an engine's life, but it's even more important for the first couple of changes.

    RE first oil change. My brother, who is a design engineer for BMW, working on diesel engines, changes the oil in his new cars after the first 1000KM (he doesn't use the BMW recommended oil either ;)).
  • Jimi.K.
    Jimi.K. Posts: 23 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    DoaM wrote: »
    Given the max speeds for 5th and 6th are the same then that doesn't quite track. ;)

    Ok, I'll rephrase my point... I suspect the maximum recommended speed for all the gears where RPM is the limiting factor equate to the same engine RPM. In which case, I'm not sure why they don't just tell you the maximum RPM and overall maximum speed and forget about the table and expecting owners to remember what speed they shouldn't exceed in a particular gear.

    Perhaps I'm wrong though and they really do recommend different maximum engine speeds in different gears. "Do not exceed 3000rpm in 2nd, 3500rpm in 3rd and 4000rpm in 4th" seems a bit bizarre to me though!
  • Jimi.K. wrote: »
    Gosh, I hope some of roddydogs other 6000 posts are a bit more helpful than this one. Managed to belittle the OP and give completely incorrect information all in the space of 10 words.

    A running in period is still recommended by the majority of car manufacturers.

    This is straight from the 2019 Eclipse user manual (page 6-03):

    "During the running-in period for the first 1000 km, it is advisable to drive your new vehicle using the following precautions as a guideline to aid long life as well as future economy and performance.

    * Do not race the engine at high speeds.
    * Avoid rapid starting, accelerating, braking and prolonged high-speed running.
    * Do not race the engine at high speeds.
    * Keep to the running-in speed limit shown below.
    * Please note that the legal speed limits displayed must be adhered to.
    * Do not exceed loading limits.
    * Refrain from towing a trailer.

    Shift point

    Speed limit
    1st gear
    30 km/h (19 mph)
    2nd gear
    60 km/h (37 mph)
    3rd gear
    95 km/h (60 mph)
    4th gear
    125 km/h (78 mph)
    5th gear
    130 km/h (81 mph)
    6th gear
    130 km/h (81 mph)"

    If you're going on a long motorway journey I would also vary your speed and RPM a bit on the route (i.e. don't sit at exactly 70mph and 2000rpm for hours on end). My last 2 new cars (a 2014 Hyundai and a 2016 BMW) both recommended avoiding sustained engine speed for prolonged periods during the running in period.

    Hope this helps.

    that item was missing from my friends scania book
  • DUTR
    DUTR Posts: 12,958 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    castle96 wrote: »
    Just got new car a week ago. 200 miles now on clock. Never had a new car before and was wondering about 'running it in'. Is this 'necessary on new cars nowadays ? I have 300 miles on a motorway next week. What 'max' speed should I be doing ? Obviously don't intend t thrash it ever.
    1.5 Mitsubushi Eclipse petrol manual

    thanks for any advice

    What does the manual say?
    If the car is new as in brand new, then it's not just about the engine....tyres, brakes , suspension even.
  • SG27
    SG27 Posts: 2,773 Forumite
    My car says stay below 78mph and 3500 revs for the first 600 miles and that the car wont reach peak performance until 1500 miles!
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