Tips for breaking in a brand new engine?

**111** · 18-03-2010, 06:41 AM

Originally Posted by JordanNaumov

Not sure if i feel comfortable with slamming my new $45k car

thrash the crap out of it, if it breaks just get another one

**markwid** · 18-03-2010, 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by Coxy09

If you redline a new motor, you will damage it

That's fine if you believe that.

Personally, I don't subscribe to the concept of break-in period. Just drive it as you would normally and that includes redlining it at times. If there is any manufacturing issues, I would want it to surface while in warranty not afterwards.

What makes you think the "new" car hasn't been driven hard by handlers while being moved around "in-transit".

**Coxy09** · 18-03-2010, 06:59 AM

Originally Posted by markwid

That's fine if you believe that.

Personally, I don't subscribe to the concept of break-in period. Just drive it as you would normally and that includes redlining it at times. If there is any manufacturing issues, I would want it to surface while in warranty not afterwards.

What makes you think the "new" car hasn't been driven hard by handlers while being moved around "in-transit".

Look its fair enough if you dont believe in that concept, as I said each to their own. I mean look at police, I must be top of their list as a killer, the amounts of times I've found myself being say 1km/h over is amazing....but to others so what!

The handlers dont drive them hard, they move them about 30-40m off the truck. I know that as I used to be one before I moved into the workshop.

**pologti18t** · 18-03-2010, 08:40 AM

I have subscribed to driving my cars and bikes vigorously from new for the last 10 yrs or so... Guess what, they have been the best performing vehicles I have had with the lowest oil usage between services.

From new I:

1. Don't idle too much. Drive/ride away gentle from start up until warm
2. Don't run in a vehicle in heavy traffic!
3. Work your way up through gears. Don't hold a particular rev for any long period. Give it a bit of stick!
4. Give the engine some load. Don't be gentle with it. In gear acceleration is good.
5. Slow the vehicle under gears (load on engine while slowing down and no throttle)

**PassatB6** · 18-03-2010, 09:05 AM

There's lots of folklore around about this topic but the only answer is:

Do what VW says in the manual.

Its already been driven 50-100 km before you get it so its not as if you're the first one to turn the key.

**markwid** · 18-03-2010, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by VWweirdo

If you read the manual it says dont use full throttle for the first 5,000kms
If your hard on the engine in this 5,000km period your engine will be prone to excess oil use

This does not make any sense at all. Holding back or babying the car for 5000K. You gotta to be joking. To some people that is 6 months of driving. Just not realistic - most people will give it some stick in the first few weeks.

**Coxy09** · 18-03-2010, 09:46 AM

Originally Posted by markwid

This does not make any sense at all. Holding back or babying the car for 5000K. You gotta to be joking. To some people that is 6 months of driving. Just not realistic - most people will give it some stick in the first few weeks.

I suppose its up to them. You just gotta go with the manual on these things, I would assume that VW would know what they are on about by now....hopefully

**niulf** · 18-03-2010, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by gregozedobe

Plenty of existing threads on this (and plenty of opinions too !).

Here are my opinions:

Don't ever allow the engine to idle to warm up before driving (this is the absolute best way to glaze the bores), just drive gently until the engine is warmed up properly (this applies to ALL engines, new or old)

I like to vary the engine revs all the time (so no cruise control at all) for the first 2,000km, lots of mid range accelerator pedal under load (more pressure on piston rings to help them bed into the bores better), and increase max revs over the first 2,000km.

After that just vary the revs a bit if cruising for the next 2,000km, otherwise drive as normal once warm.

Check the engine oil level regularly, as some engines use a bit at first. If you need to add some make sure it is VW 504/507.

Don't switch the engine off straight away if you have been working the engine hard (the turbo will be red hot). Best is to drive gently for the last 5 minutes of any journey, but if you cant, let the engine idle for a couple of minutes before switching off.

Agreed. This is also what the manual says.