Running in advice

[nickd]

Hi All,

I have a conundrum.

The car in my sig arrived at the beginning of May, minus the Comfort Pack. At the time, the dealer offered me a few options, one of which was a cancelled order with the same spec as I ordered (plus a bonus sunroof), and promised that if it didn't arrive in time for my driving holiday (Adelaide -> Mt Buller) he would lend me a new Scout.

Now, the replacement car arrives in Melbourne on 26/6, and I head off on 10/7, so while there is probably only a small chance it will arrive before I head off, knowing my luck, this is what will happen (and it will be the day before).

My question is... is a road trip like this a bad way to run in a car?

The Owners' Manual just says not to avoid exceed 75% of the maximum speed for the first 1000k. I've read elsewhere here different opinions on how to run the engine in which involve not babying it...

Should I even be considering taking my brand new baby on a trip like this?

Nick

[Gerrycan]

I think you will find the owners manual says something like don't run out to maximum rpm for the first thousand k. Big difference.
You will be able to run at the speed limit and the engine will only be doing a 2000 rpm or so.
The thing to avoid is same revs for long periods so mix it up a bit and occasionally change down and run at higher revs for a bit and use the gears on hills even if you don't really need to.

To be honest you probably do not have to do it with modern cars as the manufacturing tolerances are so good, but it is just the manufacturers covering themselves as there are some stupid people out there.

[woofy]

What he said ^

Dont use the cruise control and don't tow anything. If it is DSG chuck it in manual mode and mix up the revs on the highway every 10min or so. There is usually instructions for when you hit the 2000km mark, usually something like rev it out to nearly redline....easier to do that at 100km/hr....

[gadget007a]

What they both have said.
sounds like you are getting the same spec as me and mine is on the same ship due in on the 26th.
looks like there will be two identical rs's getting around adelaide

[Umai Naa!!]

Two days after I bought our last new car, we took it on a 1400km round trip, via the Putty Rd in NSW.

166,000kms later, it still doesn't use a drop of oil.

[nickd]

Thanks for the comments guys. gadget007a... I sure hope there are 2!


2007 Golf 2.0 TDI Comfortline DSG/ESP
MY15 Octavia RS Wagon 135TDI, Race Blue, 18" Black Pack, Tech Pack, Comfort Pack, Auto Tailgate (on order)

[Gerrycan]

Imagine that, so many new Octavia in Adelaide. I welcome the company even if I won't feel quite so special.
Welcome to the club boys.

[TheScout]

I drove my Scout out of the dealer in Sydney and straight down the Hume to Canberra. As others have said, no cruise and downshifts every five to ten minutes will see you through fine.

Only other advice I would give is:
- load the engine and gearbox up a few times (once it's warm) the first time you drive it. Best way to do that is in second or third, around 2,000rpm, apply a good hit of throttle (but don't rev it out);
- in general driving, don't flog it, but don't baby it either;
- try to get the oil up to a decent operating temp whenever you drive it. This is more of a general tip, but especially important imo during the first couple of hundred kays. Things in there will still be tight, warm oil helps.

Enjoy!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[brad]

Just go for it.

Don't use cruise control

Ignore 5th & 6th gear

vary revs

get some pressure behind the rings.

75% of max revs is still ~3000-3500rpm

If you run it in slow it will be slow forever

check oil at every fuel stop. Ask the dealer for a litre of top-up oil

[Ozsko]

Take it put somewhere and flog it to seat the rings and after that drive it normally and do not pander it at all and it won't chew oil. Motors these days do not need slow running in and some manufacturers pull them off the line straight onto a dyno for power runs.