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Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: charv94 on 25 February 2015, 02:05

Title: Running In
Post by: charv94 on 25 February 2015, 02:05
In terms of running in the car,

Is it advisable to keep off the motorways doing long stints.

Ie, i hope to pick the car up on the 1st april ish. But i also wish to go see my grandparents before i turn 21. its like 2 and a half hours down the motorway to hampshire.

Is shoving it into 6th and doing the normal relaxed drive bad for the engine, obviously it'll be constant revs??
In a method to reduce the effects could i just change gear down and up, and maybe vary speed a little?

or would it be bad news to take this journey?

Anyone just ignored the ruling of running in? or are there shock stories of people not running in and facing the consequences?
Title: Re: Running In
Post by: SRGTD on 25 February 2015, 05:59
There'll be differing opinions on whether it's necessary to run in a new car nowadays; some would advise driving it like you stole it  :evil:, while others would suggest driving it normally, varying your speed and engine revs frequently and don't over-rev the engine. I've always done the latter, and have never had any issues with high oil consumption or engine reliability. I'd try and avoid sitting on a motorway at a steady speed though.

Is there an alternative route you can take on A and B roads? If so, that'll enable you to enjoy your new car on a more interesting route with 'twisty bits', and enable you to appreciate the car's handling, rather than just sitting on a motorway.
Title: Re: Running In
Post by: Gnasher on 25 February 2015, 06:59
If I were you (and I did this to mine and it runs sweet as a nut and uses no oil) I'd keep the revs varied and not to rev over 4000rpm up to 500 miles and 5000rpm up to 1000 miles.

Also, don't use full throttle too much (and definitely not for the first 500 miles)

Basically nice and steady for 500 miles and then slowly increase the amount of revs/throttle you let yourself use for the next 1000 after that.
Title: Re: Running In
Post by: BigD on 25 February 2015, 07:05
From the manual

"Running-in

http://www.vw-manual.co.uk/img/content/book.pngFirst read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →http://www.vw-manual.co.uk/img/content/qv_warnung.pngIntroduction 

Please follow the regulations concerning running-in new parts.

Running in a new engine

Any new engine has to be run in during the first 1,500 kilometres. During its first few hours of running, the internal friction in the engine is greater than later on when all the moving parts have bedded down.

The style of driving during the first 1,500 kilometres will also affect the engine quality. Even after this time – and especially with a cold engine – drive the vehicle at moderate speeds in order to reduce engine wear and to increase the mileage that the engine can cover. Do not drive at engine speeds that are too low. Always shift down gear if the engine is not running smoothly. The following applies up to 1,000 kilometres:

·         Do not depress the accelerator fully.

·         Do not drive the vehicle at more than 2/3 of the top engine speed.

·         Do not drive with a trailer attached.

From 1,000 to 1,500 kilometres, gradually increase driving performance to top speed and highest engine speed."
Title: Re: Running In
Post by: fredgroves on 25 February 2015, 11:18
From 1,000 to 1,500 kilometres, gradually increase driving performance to top speed and highest engine speed."

I'm using this as evidence in my next court appearance..... VW told me to do it m'laud!
Title: Re: Running In
Post by: JB GTI on 25 February 2015, 14:14
From 1,000 to 1,500 kilometres, gradually increase driving performance to top speed and highest engine speed."

I'm using this as evidence in my next court appearance..... VW told me to do it m'laud!

 :grin:
Title: Re: Running In
Post by: charv94 on 25 February 2015, 14:44
There'll be differing opinions on whether it's necessary to run in a new car nowadays; some would advise driving it like you stole it  :evil:, while others would suggest driving it normally, varying your speed and engine revs frequently and don't over-rev the engine. I've always done the latter, and have never had any issues with high oil consumption or engine reliability. I'd try and avoid sitting on a motorway at a steady speed though.

Is there an alternative route you can take on A and B roads? If so, that'll enable you to enjoy your new car on a more interesting route with 'twisty bits', and enable you to appreciate the car's handling, rather than just sitting on a motorway.

Ill have a look but its about 150 miles on the motorway. i could just do lots of speed variations, convinced saw someone in a gti do it, i sat at 75, he'd overtake, 5 mins later, still sat at 75, id over take him. did it the whole journey!!

The one benefit of the trip is it quickly takes a chunk out of the running in mileage!!
Title: Re: Running In
Post by: charv94 on 25 February 2015, 14:45
AA says its an hour longer, same mileage. Not sure I'm prepared to do that.
Title: Re: Running In
Post by: p3asa on 25 February 2015, 19:39
I picked up my GTD and drove the 400 miles home all on motorway.
Going via A and B roads would have been too painful  :laugh:
I just varied the revs, up and down the gears 3rd, 4th, 5th start again.
It was a bit of a pain but the car hasn't used a bit of oil and feels fine.

Title: Re: Running In
Post by: mcmaddy on 27 February 2015, 06:57
AA says its an hour longer, same mileage. Not sure I'm prepared to do that.
So why bother asking the question? People have advised the best course of action from personal experiences.
Title: Re: Running In
Post by: Gnasher on 27 February 2015, 07:00
AA says its an hour longer, same mileage. Not sure I'm prepared to do that.

It's only an hour of your life to get more enjoyment/reliability from your car for all the time you own it. If it were me, I would get off the motorway and probably have a more enjoyable drive there in my new car!
Title: Re: Running In
Post by: charv94 on 27 February 2015, 13:59
AA says its an hour longer, same mileage. Not sure I'm prepared to do that.
So why bother asking the question? People have advised the best course of action from personal experiences.

I was asking whether the journey on the motorway was advisable. I'm entitled to not wish to undertake their suggestions. I am happy with the response of changing gear, varying speed rather than a and b roads. So i got an answer thank you very much
Title: Re: Running In
Post by: mcmaddy on 27 February 2015, 18:58
The fact you said you weren't sure if you were prepared to take an hour longer to run your car in suggests you aren't too bothered about your new car. As gnasher has said the extra hour will only help improve the reliability long term of your nice new car. I wasn't being critical in my previous post but I think it will definitely be worth your while.
Title: Re: Running In
Post by: charv94 on 28 February 2015, 03:05
The fact you said you weren't sure if you were prepared to take an hour longer to run your car in suggests you aren't too bothered about your new car. As gnasher has said the extra hour will only help improve the reliability long term of your nice new car. I wasn't being critical in my previous post but I think it will definitely be worth your while.

I appreciate the help and do apologise if i was at all sharp in that post. I will decide on what i want to do in the coming days. i must admit i prefer the motorway idea of slowing and speeding up and changing gear as i go but i see how it might be best at the time but not for the longevity of the car and may be better to take the extra hour to do the journey on a and b road. I would like to clarify that i am really bothered about the wellbeing of my new car, i don't want it to become some sort of dog plagued with troubles hence posting and asking the question.
Title: Re: Running In
Post by: mcmaddy on 28 February 2015, 08:29
I would go a and b roads and you might be surprised it's shorter than an hour once you start and it'll be much more fun on twisty roads than on a motorway  :wink:
Title: Re: Running In
Post by: monkeyhanger on 28 February 2015, 11:06
You're not going to get much variety on a motorway unless you experience some serious congestion. If you value that one hour so much, you're more likely to just crack on and sit at 80 in 6th. How much are you going to vary your speed on a well flowing motorway? Drop to 40 and 4th gear on a road that is flowing at 70/80, briefly then speed up again? That'll annoy even the truckers and won't do as much to help your "variance" cause as a varied A and B road journey. Good piston ring seal and avoiding bore glaze is the aim here. 7 VW TDIs in a row and only 1 had any oil use between services, the one that spent the first 700 miles of its life on the motorway, using 2 litres of oil in its first 700 miles and a litre per 1000 miles thereafter.
Title: Re: Running In
Post by: p3asa on 28 February 2015, 12:10
^^^ Thats how I drove back and because you are conscious you have to do it, its no problem. Just sit in the slow lane behind a lorry and and go up down the gears.

Going via A and B roads is no guarantee that you will vary the revs. More so some A roads. You are more likely to annoy those behind you changing speed on a single track road. At least with the motorway you can do your own thing and others have another 2 lanes to go past you :laugh:

I suppose it depends when the OP is travelling. We went from Gillingham to Glasgow on a Saturday afternoon and it was reasonably quiet.
Title: Re: Running In
Post by: charv94 on 28 February 2015, 14:51
^^^ Thats how I drove back and because you are conscious you have to do it, its no problem. Just sit in the slow lane behind a lorry and and go up down the gears.

Going via A and B roads is no guarantee that you will vary the revs. More so some A roads. You are more likely to annoy those behind you changing speed on a single track road. At least with the motorway you can do your own thing and others have another 2 lanes to go past you :laugh:

I suppose it depends when the OP is travelling. We went from Gillingham to Glasgow on a Saturday afternoon and it was reasonably quiet.

Im going from solihull, to Liphook in hampshire. So it would be m42, m40, m25 then a3 basically. Quite busy. Id be travelling mid week, but it would be in half term, the week before the easter weekend...Im not sure i think if i take the journey ill do the motorway, i can nearly guarantee the m25 will be slow traffic so that might break the journey up a bit? I don't know really. Id be picking the car in the morning then doing the journey at lunchtime.
Title: Re: Running In
Post by: Vedubber on 28 February 2015, 15:13
Just get out there and give it thrashing. Who cares if you A or B roads!!
Title: Re: Running In
Post by: dubber36 on 28 February 2015, 16:25
Motorways do have junctions. You could always come off now and again, do a lap of the roundabout and get back on.
Title: Re: Running In
Post by: charlie on 28 February 2015, 18:54
When I used to pick vw's up from sheerness I used to run them in getting them on the back of the transporter  :evil: