Best Run-In Procedure for M5 Engines (F10 oil usage)?
Poll: Best Run-In Procedure for M5 Engines (F10 oil usage)?
Total Members Polled: 30
Discussion
During the break-in period on a new engine the general advice appears to be that the user should vary the engine speed (rpm), vehicle speed, and gear selection as much as possible without exceeding the recommended maximum rpm of circa 5,000rpm.
What's more, this should be done at no more than half-throttle and the user should not exceed 100mph except for short overtakes.
While some users claim that their engines never use a drop of oil, other users appear to be experiencing heavy oil usage with their M5 engine, with top-ups required every 1,200 miles or so. It would be interesting to hear if there is a connection between oil usage, and how your vehicle was run-in.
For this poll, high oil usage would be top-ups required every 2,000 miles or so.
What's more, this should be done at no more than half-throttle and the user should not exceed 100mph except for short overtakes.
While some users claim that their engines never use a drop of oil, other users appear to be experiencing heavy oil usage with their M5 engine, with top-ups required every 1,200 miles or so. It would be interesting to hear if there is a connection between oil usage, and how your vehicle was run-in.
For this poll, high oil usage would be top-ups required every 2,000 miles or so.
I sincerely hope you guys are correct - I've followed both your recommendations 
JMBMWM5 said:
Running in:
Warm Oil fully then for the first 40 miles or so; work the RPM hard too 5.5K up and down using gears to slow you, after that just drive normally within the running in range, always use the gears to slow you down, and if you can find some hills this would be even better.
Mine has used NO Oil in 5K miles using this method.
Warm Oil fully then for the first 40 miles or so; work the RPM hard too 5.5K up and down using gears to slow you, after that just drive normally within the running in range, always use the gears to slow you down, and if you can find some hills this would be even better.
Mine has used NO Oil in 5K miles using this method.
RichardM5 said:
I voted 'Followed procedure - Low Oil Usage', which is true to the letter, I never exceeded 5,000 rpm and never applied too much throttle. Since the 1,200 mile service the car has used no oil at all in 3,000 miles.
HOWEVER, the first 50 miles or so are critical from what I know. It is very important to use the allowed revs and also to use engine braking as much as possible.
The reasoning behind this is that in the very early engine life the rings and bores need to be bedded in so there is no blow by. Engine braking causes a vacuum inside the cylinder that helps pull the rings into the bore and thus increases the rate of bedding in. Once the engine reaches 50-100 miles the bores become coated with varnish from the products of combustion which helps prevent wear, unfortunately if the rings and bores are not bedded in by the time the varnish accumulates they never will bed in fully, this will result in blow by which will increase oil consumption and reduce power slightly. If the varnish has accumulated and the rings/bores are not bedded in the only solution is to re-bore the cylinders and start the running in procedure again.
This is only my opinion based on a little experience and quite a lot of reading and discussion with knowledgeable people.
The best place to bed in an engine is on the track, not racing, just because you can accelerate in low gear using the full 5,000 rpm, then lift off back down to 2,000 rpm without the risk of someone running into the back of you because your brake lights did not come on.
HOWEVER, the first 50 miles or so are critical from what I know. It is very important to use the allowed revs and also to use engine braking as much as possible.
The reasoning behind this is that in the very early engine life the rings and bores need to be bedded in so there is no blow by. Engine braking causes a vacuum inside the cylinder that helps pull the rings into the bore and thus increases the rate of bedding in. Once the engine reaches 50-100 miles the bores become coated with varnish from the products of combustion which helps prevent wear, unfortunately if the rings and bores are not bedded in by the time the varnish accumulates they never will bed in fully, this will result in blow by which will increase oil consumption and reduce power slightly. If the varnish has accumulated and the rings/bores are not bedded in the only solution is to re-bore the cylinders and start the running in procedure again.
This is only my opinion based on a little experience and quite a lot of reading and discussion with knowledgeable people.
The best place to bed in an engine is on the track, not racing, just because you can accelerate in low gear using the full 5,000 rpm, then lift off back down to 2,000 rpm without the risk of someone running into the back of you because your brake lights did not come on.
Just thought I'd post an update to this, in time for those who may be collecting new cars in a couple of weeks.
I bought my car new in March and have covered just under 8,000 miles in it since (including a weeks holiday up on the Isle of Skye where the car was absolutely in its element).
In that time the car has required just a single top-up, and this was quite soon after the 1,200 mile service. Since then the oil usage (according to the car) has been zero.
The engine feels absolutely rock solid and pulls like no other car I've ever driven. I'm collecting a new Range Rover Sport (diesel) on September 1st and am going to follow the advice as stated above in this thread.
I bought my car new in March and have covered just under 8,000 miles in it since (including a weeks holiday up on the Isle of Skye where the car was absolutely in its element).
In that time the car has required just a single top-up, and this was quite soon after the 1,200 mile service. Since then the oil usage (according to the car) has been zero.
The engine feels absolutely rock solid and pulls like no other car I've ever driven. I'm collecting a new Range Rover Sport (diesel) on September 1st and am going to follow the advice as stated above in this thread.
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