Running in a diesel engine

[oracle1]

Volkswagen would have something like this on an initial dyno break in0

[gregozedobe]

See this thread in the Fuels and Lubrication subforum

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newf...962#post410962

[Zano]

I am a newbie with a new TDi and running-in did cross my mind, with only 160km on the odometer. I have read these forums extensively and there are opinions ranging from it is already run in so drive as normal, to just warm it up and flog it or run it hard etc.

One thing that is worth mentioning that hasn't been so far (that I could find) is what the vehicle manual says on "Running-in". Here it is verbatim...

MY09 Golf TDI 2.0 DSG
Manual 3.2, pg 53
The engine needs to be run in during the first 1500km.
Up to 1000km:

• Do not drive faster than three quarters of top speed.
• Do not use full throttle
• Avoid high engine speeds
• Do not tow a trailer

1000-1500km:
Speeds can be gradually increased to the maximum road speed or engine speed (rpm)
If the engine is run in gently, the life of the engine will be increased and its oil consumption reduced.

VW's recommendation is gentler than some of the advice I have read, in particular "Do not use full throttle", for the first 1000km.

But I find VW's Runnning-in paragraph above rather simplistic and only considers the run in period up to 1500km, whereas many other posts talk about running in for tens of thousands of km's.

[bluey]

[...]

• Do not drive faster than three quarters of top speed.
• Do not use full throttle
• Avoid high engine speeds
• Do not tow a trailer

I assume that VW's recommendations are the same as provided for Germany and other places with unlimited speed limits (Northern Territory). I also assume that the VW official running in procedure has to be simple enough for anyone to comprehend.

I don't anticipate ever seeing 3/4 top speed.
My foot isn't heavy enough to use full throttle.
Diesel torque peak is low so there's no point in using high engine speeds except on autobahns.
I presume part of it is running in the turbo as well as the engine.

I think one can happily follow the more detailed recommendations about running in without exceeding the constraints mentioned in the manual.

And don't forget to use high cetane diesel (per VW specification) or a cetane improving additive.