Tips for breaking in a brand new engine?

[tonymy01]

Drive it like you stole it. Worked fine for my old WRX, so far seems to not have had any detrimental effects on the Golf (6.5K kms so far).
In fact, the past two weeks it has been really hammering, must have finally worn in and/or the air density and temp is perfect.

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[OttoJon]

Some quite different feedback there! I think I may just keep it steady for another 500kms and then the fun can really begin.

[John Deere]

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

Anyone know where Nick Lechowicz is working now? Hopefully another VW dealer! I had my MkV GTI serviced at McGrath last two times and didn't see him....last time was particularly disappointing and prompted me to ask where he was, they said he had moved on, a great loss to that dealership IMO.

[popeclement]

I still have my Bora which when I asked the question about breaking in was told to drive it like you normally would. So yes before 1,000kms there were a few red lines met and anything but a steady speed maintained. Engine now 200,000kms old and does not use a drop of oil etc.

[Machine]

Just to add to this whole oil thing, I've been told by Glenn at Eurotune, who also owns a Golf R and has serviced many a Golf R, that the factory oil is indeed a semi-synthetic "neutral" oil and one should not top up his/her oil before the first change, unless it's done by a qualified workshop who has the correct oil. He also notes that you should get as close as you can to 15,000km in the first year to allow this run-in oil to do its job before the engine oil goes fully synthetic.

[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.