Running in a new diesel

[drmvwgmad]

That seems to be true in my experience too, particularly in turbo d diesels.
I m curious about something I noticed not just on this blog, that you shouldnt idle the diesel to warm it up, but actually drive it, even under load when cold. this go s against pretty much all i ve learnt/ heard before. ??? opinions?
I've also heard that a good hard run, almost flat out, and under load, can fix glazing of the bore in a diesel.??? I definetly know that John deeres are a lot happier when worked hard.
I'm just about to buy a brand new 2.0 di golf, and not knowing anything about vw s, or there diesels in particular, am a little uneasy. I live in remote WA, so the parts availability, service costs, and reliability are a major. Is there any difference between the 2.0 litre in the 08 to the 2.0 in the 05/06?
big differences in trans, eng, or anything for that matter. Just makes me wonder if buying a second hand city diesel would be wiser over here, given the big distances/ running in scenario. Any help/ opinions would be much appreciated. Anything you can do to the 2.0 to make it go better as well?

[gerhard]

Mine is a petrol GTI, now with 1100ks. I found it quite hard to "load" the engine, since it's got so much grunt - a quick jab of the throttle off the lights and you're doing 90-100 with no effort I never revved it beyond 5000 in the first week, honest.....

I am assuming my rings are reasonably well sealed, though, because -

First 500ks, the engine used a bit of oil, half way between the full and add. I didn't check it on collection, so I'm assuming it was on the full mark. The fuel economy was 12l/100k using Mobil 8000 (scungy dealer didn't fill it - but I got a price I was happy with, so didn't care too much, and filled it with the Mobil)

At 500k I filled it with BP 98 and saw an immediate improvement in the fuel economy on the MFD, and the second tank returned 9.8l/100 and the oil level has not dropped any further. Seems like the BP fuel is a bit better - this second 590ks included all the very cold mornings we had in Melbourne, which always increases the consumption, so I'm happy with that.

Engine definitely feels as though it's freeing up

[mr_walker]

I've found the best way to load the TDI, and not break the speed limit *too* quickly is to get it on a good incline, drop the DSG into manual to make sure it doesn't kick down, and floor it from just over 2000rpm (but not labouring the donk). Wash, rinse, repeat.

I'm sure that whoever is behind me must think I'm a complete nutter when I do this, as I pull away and then fall back. We've got a huge hill just at the end of my trip home, just as the speed limit goes up to 100, so it works for me because the oil is also at normal operating temperature by that time.

About idling to warm up the engine - apparently it risks glazing the cylinders, and it won't warm up by idling anyway. The diesel burns very efficiently with much less energy loss through heat, so the best way to warm the engine is to start up, give it a chance for the oil to start circulating, and then drive ... but take it easy until it does warm up. Some mornings in sub zero temps my Jetta doesn't even get to full temperature by the time I'd driven the 15kms to work! Especially if the traffic was slow and I stayed under 80.

[bluey]

Found a few interesting views on running in:
Honest John on diesels

This small engine diesel mechanic site describes how to keep your VNT turbo alive, and sounds suspiciously like the description on running in.

Norton motorcycle onwers North Texas has some pretty pictures describing running in theory.

Motoman reckons the critical time is the first 20 miles! In which case the factory run in probably does a lot of it. Has interesting photos of pistons and some good stories.

[chisler]

Hi, I brought a new Skoda RS TDI last week, it has DSG auto.

I mostly only do highway driving, would I be better off just running it in "sports mode" to get the higher RPM's?

1 thing I liked about the car so far, is I can accelerate going up hills in 6th gear, with low RPM's, is this a bad thing to do?

cheers.

[Transporter]

Hi, I brought a new Skoda RS TDI last week, it has DSG auto.

I mostly only do highway driving, would I be better off just running it in "sports mode" to get the higher RPM's?

1 thing I liked about the car so far, is I can accelerate going up hills in 6th gear, with low RPM's, is this a bad thing to do?

cheers.

Yes it is, especialy during running in period.

[Brew]

Hi just to follow up with the question above. Running in in sports mode if you mainly to freeway kms. Any views?

[gregozedobe]

I'd have thought using manual mode will give you better control over revs. You want varying engine revs, not constantly higher revs.

[benno]

What exactly is wrong with labouring the engine at low RPM? I thought diesels thrived under such treatment.

I know petrols don't, and I'm suspicious that such opinion is just an old waves tale...

[gregozedobe]

I work on the principle that if it sounds like it is doing mechanical damage it just might be (bearings, big ends, DMF etc). Plus I think I read somewhere some turbos can get a dynamic surge thing going at big loads/low revs, and I've heard it can damage impellers.

Some diesels can (and will) produce good torque at low revs, but that doesn't mean they are designed to do it or that it is good for them. What is low revs for a particular engine (eg 1,600 for a TDI) may be very high revs for a different engine (eg a 16L highway truck engine).

I don't mind low revs on a run-in TDI engine, just so long as I'm not expecting it to produce much power while at low revs (eg cruising, coasting to slow down, going downhill). If I'm expecting my 2.5 TDI to do significant work (pull a load, go up a steep hill or accelerate hard I prefer to keep my revs above 1,800 rpm so the engine can work smoothly without unnecessary stress. If I had a 1.9L or 2.0L I would probably aim for a minimum of 2,000 rpm. I apply the exact same principle to all my engines, regardless of whether they are petrol or diesel, NA or force-fed.

Diesels do thrive on hard work, but it should always be within the design envelope, not outside.

It is your engine, drive it exactly the way you want (but be prepared for the consequences of your choices).