Running in your GTI

[R32UK]

Why do you lease boys care about running in?
I thought you took pleasure in making the car a nasty as possible for the next owner.

As Quintin Wilson says, " Rough owners, rough cars".

I might buy it afterwards.

I like quentin wilson.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

What amazes me is the number of people out there who will say 'you don't need to run in modern engines' or similar. If only they'd look to someone more educated in the subject of mechanical engineering than a salesman... Stupid is as stupid does, I guess.

I'm not suggesting any of you are stupid, by the way.

Ahh...but I'm not suggesting you mollycoddle it, or that you abuse it.
Modern manufacturing technology makes engines fit with tighter tolerances than ever before,

Agreed - but they still aint perfect.

modern oils lubricate better...

And therin lies the problem.  The modern high quality fully synthetic oils have virtually illiminated ALL engine wear - and this is one of the reasons why engines still DO need running in.

some engines are dyno tested in the factory to ensure they make the numbers...or they don't get fitted (Porsche flat 6s for example).

But NO VAG engine is 'run-in' on a bench test.  The bench test is just what it says on the tin - just a test.  And as for the factory running them before they leave the factory gates - there are only two VAG mainstream-marque factories who use a 'human' to run up the engines - and those two are Neckarsulm (home of 'quattro GmbH' who make Audi RS models and the R8) and Dresden (aka the 'Transparent Factory', where VW Phaetons are hand built).  All the other VAG factories, including Wolfsburg, simply use an automated test - but they are NOT 'dyno' tested, nor 'run in' in any way.

Now, tell me how wise it is to mollycoddle an engine that's done 2 hours flat out on an engine dyno?

In case you are forgetting, this is a GTI foum, not a Porsche forum! 

The car, you have to run in...make sure nothing falls off, bed in the brake friction material, let the dampers settle in etc...but the modern engine needs little by way of 'running in'.

Sorry, but strongly disagree!

I know what the insides of my tuned 2.0 16v ABF looks like - you can still see the honing marks on the bores, the bearings are like new, the oilways spotless etc...after 85000 miles and no running in.

And . . .  one swallow doesn't make a summer, and all that . . .

[matchboy]

just out of interest, how old are you TT?

[Teutonic_Tamer]

1/4 throttle for 300 miles! Really.... 

Erm . . . it is just a guideline.

If you personally don't want to bother running in your engine, then fine.  However, based on my own very valid experiences - the way the engine was run in can have long lasting issues.

But I also think it is vital to stress that an engine which is permanently 'mollycoddled' can actually be very problematic too.  At the end of the day, it is simply about taking it easy for the first 1,000 miles or so, ALWAYS taking it easy when the engine (coolant AND oil) isn't up to normal operating temps - but once the first 1000 miles are past, and the car is warm, then progressively let the engine rev upto the red line - for brief periods at first, and then progressively for longer periods.

[DWGTI]

TT how often would you recommend an oil change??

[R32UK]

TT how often would you recommend an oil change??

i know im not tt but 10k or every year at least

[DWGTI]

Cheers, I know thats what the manual says but surely after 10k the oils a mess? Would any sooner not be better?

[R32UK]

Cheers, I know thats what the manual says but surely after 10k the oils a mess? Would any sooner not be better?

the sooner the better obviously.. but if you use a high quality synthetic oil (e.g. longlife oil) then you will be just fine after 10k. I ran my R32 for 23k before it required its first service.. usually driven very hard from cold every day for short distances under sometimes heavy load.. and she was just fine

[DWGTI]

Cheers, does the mk6 come with long life oil or should I have to replace the existing oil? Just want the car to be running as smooth as can be.

[R32UK]

will most likely come with LL oil but check your service book to be sure