IMHO that will be fine, but for optimum running-in I would suggest that you :Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluerex
1 Take it easy until the engine is properly warm (90 degrees C on my gauge).
2 Constantly vary the engine revs on the hwy (hence no cruise control). I tended to maintain a sort-of constant road speed on the flat bits (which you will see lots of on the way to Adelaide), but regularly shuffle through 4th, 5th and 6th gears to change the engine revs.
3 Use lower gears up hills (with that load I'd be aiming to keep the revs above 2200 on any decent hill). Just because the engine will pull hard at 1600 on a hill with a load doesn't mean you should let it. With over 2000kg of total load I'd be inclined to only use 6th on the flat bits if there was no head-wind, otherwise use 5th. If you want to get an idea of the current load on your motor, look at the instantaneous Fuel Consumption reading on the trip computer (if you have it). For me anything much above 12l/100km on the open road means the engine is starting to do some serious work, but with your load you'd probably be happy to see that on the flat :?:
4 Check the oil level every 500Km to start with (the odd TDI engine can use a bit of oil at first, and you can go a long way on a tankfull of fuel). General consensus is that a "firmly" run-in motor is less likely to consume oil (mine doesn't use any at all, and that is common).
5 Don't be too gentle on the accelerator all the time. Regular full pedal-to-the-metal from 1800 through to 3000rpm actually helps the running-in process as it increases the pressure on the rings which helps them and the cylinder walls wear in to each other and get a better seal. It also helps keep the moveable vanes on the VNT turbo free (they are known to stick on TDIs that are ALWAYS driven at low revs and gentle accelerator.
6 For the first 2000Km I would try not to go over 3500rpm, after that 4000 would be fine (not much point going above 4000 anyway as you get better power by changing up a gear)
7 Chasing around at the rally should be fine, as you will probably be doing a fair bit of 5 above :D Just try not to get booked for speeding.
8 Enjoy the drive. I find my T5 is just a wonderful highway cruiser :) By the time you get back it will be mostly run-in. I started using my cruise control after 4000Km, but still varied the revs every 15 mins or so until after 5000km.
I'm sure lots of people couldn't be bothered with all this mucking about and their vans have turned out fine anyway, but I pay for everything out of my own pocket and I tend to keep my vehicles for 10 years or more, so I wanted it to be as right as I could make it.
Hope that helps.
Greg C
