Running in engine

[Luke_m]

My 197 has done 3000 miles now, what would you say the running in mileage would be and the best way to run it in?
Hopefully the previous owner wasn't a complete a*se in it.

Also should i be changing the oil after a certain milage as its a new engine?

 

[Fred@BTM]

its good to thrash the f**k out of it, thats already run in (the first 20min from new is the important bit)

 

[gtruk]

:| surely the first 20mins DOES NOT give the oil enough time to warm up and prime its way around the engine...thrashing it in the first 20mins would surely cause engine wear from the offset. Maybe after an hour? 20mins seems LOWW

 

[Fred@BTM]

its all about giving a good pressure inside the engine to help get a good ring seal (i'm no engine builder btw) you don't have to thrash it (we do with the race cars, but they're preheated) high load and low rpm

 

[sideways danny]

its all about giving a good pressure inside the engine to help get a good ring seal

yeah, overrun and engine braking is a good way to induce pressure behind the rings and encourage them to bed in. Cruising at low RPM is a surefire way to not bedding the engine in and you wont bed it in properly until you start to open up the throttle a bit

 

[Luke_m]

Cheers guys, so basically i can start to have a little fun it then, just carefully.

 

[Jaws]

Your good to go for it properly, most companie say 600-1000 miles then your free to go. Has it had the service to check oil etc after running in?

 

[stan*]

Giving full load forces the rings into the bores as max cyl pressure is created here.
overrun and engine braking helps draw residual oil (and so micro-debris) from the ring lands....as a vacuum is created.

Its difficult to draw people away from guidlines in the owners manual of the brand new car they have just payed ££££££ for though lol

 

[DrR]

Thrash the f**k into it, it's got 3 years warranty.

 

[Inferno]

Its difficult to draw people away from guidlines in the owners manual of the brand new car they have just payed ££££££ for though lol

My question would be why do the manufacturers bother to specify a running in period then? After all they are responsible for the engine for the next 3 years!

I'm not saying that any of the above replys are wrong, but I can't see any logic in a manufacturer stating a running in period if it's not required.

 

[Luke_m]

Thrash the f**k into it, it's got 3 years warranty.

PMSL although it has warranty I don't really wana break it. Plus i don't want to be without it for no reason.

 

[BenR]

just paste it, if its going to break it will weather you paste it from day one or 1000miles later.

Engines arent built nowadays to 'bed in'.......far too much care is taken to ensure adequate working clearances, nothing really touches anything.

 

[stan*]

yup

better materials, manufacturing processes etc.

As for why do manufacturers give certain guidlines, well I think its a case of covering their arses, and perhaps not knowing the full involvment of a "running in" cycle.
its safer in their opinion to tell you to not labour an engine and not exceed 3000rpm, they therefore safeguard themselves against the innevatible individual who takes it too literally and hits the limiter in every gear (this poses obvious mechanical risks).

 

[Fred@BTM]

also the manufactures "bed in" should IMO also include items people never think about bedding in when buying a new car, brakes and tyres

 

[Kneel]

and your owners manual tells you to bed it in for 600 miles, then your free to go nuts.

 

[sean182cup]

when the cars first come of the production line there driven of the production line and onto a rolling road and thrashed for 2 mins to make sure the drive ok

 

[Fred@BTM]

you're free to go nuts when you leave the forecourt, i know a V6 255 (no names mentioned) that was "run in" at bedford autodrome!