Running-in - how serious?

[Gatsods]

Just a thought here following hearing about the cars needing 1,000 miles of running in below 3/3.5k RPM depending where you read it….. how seriously does this need to be kept to do people think, and what would the consequences be of breaking it?

I say that as I took a dealer car out for a test drive recently, their demonstrator. It had 84 miles on it when I took it, 170 when I returned it. The car, erm… explored the upper end of the rev range several times during that period.

Realistically - any harm done?

[johnnyreggae]

Now I know why some folk would never consider an ex-dealer demo car !

[worldwidewebs]

Personally, I do tend to take the first 5-700 miles more gently but that's not really borne out of any knowledge that it's the right thing to do, just that I tend to get those miles done with quickly anyway so the detriment, if there is one, is short lived. However, I'm pretty sure with modern engines and tolerances that just ensuring all fluids are up to operating temperature before giving it the beans would be fine - many people swear by this approach and have seen no ill effects

[Trevor555]

Good question OP, something I'd like to know the manufacturers view on.

Can't dealers get info on speeds/engine revs from ECU's nowadays on modern cars?

If so would they invalidate a warranty for exceeding recommended rev range in case of an engine failure?

It seems in the USA some of the GR86's have suffered engine failures.

[Whaleblue]

The manual is clear. Don’t exceed 3500rpm, nor 80mph (in 7th) for the first 620miles (1000km) Never put the accelerator to the floor either. Then avoid sporty driving (sic!) until 1864miles (3000km).

On page 90 of the owner’s manual. https://e-guide.alpinecars.com/sites/default/files...

Will it kill the car if you don’t? I’ve no idea. I can only imagine it will cause issues/lower performance further down the line though.

I’m going to stick to the guidance as I intend to keep the car long term. I would not buy an ex-demo that will have been ragged from day one.

[Miserablegit]

Trevor555 said:

Good question OP, something I'd like to know the manufacturers view on.

Can't dealers get info on speeds/engine revs from ECU's nowadays on modern cars?

If so would they invalidate a warranty for exceeding recommended rev range in case of an engine failure?

It seems in the USA some of the GR86's have suffered engine failures.

It seems those failures are due to sump gaskets disintegrating and blocking the oil pipe- Toyota are not honouring warranties on cars used on track from what I’ve read.

[NDA]

I've always thought any engine should be run in with a bit of mechanical sympathy. Despite many saying that the testing at the factory is not gentle and that you should 'drive it like ya stole it' from day one.

I have owned many brand new engines - from twin cylinders to V12's and, apart from my lawn mowers and Tesla (!), have always run them in up to a thousand or fifteen hundred miles... Not exceeding the rev range, never labouring the engine, using frequent speed and gear changes etc. Seems to work - although I don't really know what ignoring these things would result in.

[Matt_E_Mulsion]

I took a dealers demonstrator Yamaha R1 out some years ago. That had sub 100 miles on clock when I jumped on it. I rode it like I had stolen it!!!

[leglessAlex]

Whaleblue said:

Will it kill the car if you don’t? I’ve no idea. I can only imagine it will cause issues/lower performance further down the line though.

I wonder how much further down the line?

My car was ex demo, bought from Winchester with 1,750 on it and now it has over 27,000, which doing by the mileage some people drive each year, will be more than a decade of use for many.

No issues at all, no excess oil consumption or anything that really indicates the engine has been harmed or excessively worn in any way.

I’d think not redlining it from cold is far far more important than not being enthusiastic in the first few thousand miles.

Edited by leglessAlex on Sunday 28th May 13:00

[LE62NDE]

As others have found on here, the 'odd' requirements mentioned in the handbook seem to have some basis -I'm thinking of rear screens letting in water when pressure washed, which goes against the guidance. That said, these engines aren't exotic and apart from using a little oil, seem straightforward enough.
However, we had a minibus at work that one of the maintenance guys took care to run in properly and it always seemed 'sweeter', but I'm not sure how I would quantify that...

[Terminator X]

johnnyreggae said:

Now I know why some folk would never consider an ex-dealer demo car !

+1

TX.

[Colin P]

I’d stick by the 3500 and 80mph, engine print outs can be pulled. I’m 450 miles into mine, although think I did touch 4500 at one point as had to pull out quickly.

I think the more important thing (as advised by salesman who was quoting an Alpine factory tech) just make sure it’s warmed up and treat it with mechanical sympathy. To be fair, that’s my approach regardless of whether run in or not.

Not sure what “sporty driving” means. Don’t trash the st out of it?

[ChocolateFrog]

Gatsods said:

Just a thought here following hearing about the cars needing 1,000 miles of running in below 3/3.5k RPM depending where you read it….. how seriously does this need to be kept to do people think, and what would the consequences be of breaking it?

I say that as I took a dealer car out for a test drive recently, their demonstrator. It had 84 miles on it when I took it, 170 when I returned it. The car, erm… explored the upper end of the rev range several times during that period.

Realistically - any harm done?

It's just to stop you binning it on the nearest roundabout to the dealership.

Get it warm and thrash it, the high cylinder pressures will seal the rings properly.

Your engine will thank you.

[Whaleblue]

leglessAlex said:

Whaleblue said:

Will it kill the car if you don’t? I’ve no idea. I can only imagine it will cause issues/lower performance further down the line though.

I wonder how much further down the line?

My car was ex demo, bought from Winchester with 1,750 on it and now it has over 27,000, which doing by the mileage some people drive each year, will be more than a decade of use for many.

No issues at all, no excess oil consumption or anything that really indicates the engine has been harmed or excessively worn in any way.

I’d think not redlining it from cold is far far more important than not being enthusiastic in the first few thousand miles.

Edited by leglessAlex on Sunday 28th May 13:00

Good to hear that Alex. Maybe there’s little in it either way, but as I took the car with nothing more than “factory miles” on it it seems sensible to follow the guidelines.

I’d agree too with what you and @Colin P mention above - always ensure that the engine is properly to temperature before pushing on - whether it has 10 miles or 10,000 miles plus on it.

[Colin P]

…. And not just the water temps.

[Whaleblue]

Colin P said:

…. And not just the water temps.

100% right. Oil temperature is the one to worry about. I bought the telematics pack primarily for the oil temp feature. Well, that’s what I kid myself

[Gatsods]

Glad this sparked a bit of a conversation!

I'm in a similar boat to the poster above, my car was on 1,900 miles when bought as an ex-demo/Marketing car they have had at the dealer since new. Very glad to hear you're at 27k with no problem!

Interesting mix of opinion. Of course regardless of mileage/newness the comments about temperatures always ring true, and to that end worth noting that the demo I took out was thoroughly warmed up before I had some fun.

Fingers crossed for nothing adverse to come! Loving it so far.

[erics]

Colin P said:

I think the more important thing (as advised by salesman who was quoting an Alpine factory tech) just make sure it’s warmed up and treat it with mechanical sympathy. To be fair, that’s my approach regardless of whether run in or not.

This!

I am 400 miles in and bought brand new to avoid ragged demo cars.

I let the car warm up before revving it the slightest.

I stuck to 3.5k rpm till now.

Now i do the occasional 4-4.5k rpm, only when car is warm.

ALSO, do NOT run the car at constant rpm for 620 miles! Ie, motorway miles. Engine needs diverse rev activity.

Dixit Gavin, Orpington.

[Whaleblue]

erics said:

Colin P said:

I think the more important thing (as advised by salesman who was quoting an Alpine factory tech) just make sure it’s warmed up and treat it with mechanical sympathy. To be fair, that’s my approach regardless of whether run in or not.

This!

I am 400 miles in and bought brand new to avoid ragged demo cars.

I let the car warm up before revving it the slightest.

I stuck to 3.5k rpm till now.

Now i do the occasional 4-4.5k rpm, only when car is warm.

ALSO, do NOT run the car at constant rpm for 620 miles! Ie, motorway miles. Engine needs diverse rev activity.

Dixit Gavin, Orpington.

Good point too about varying revs/loads.

Just to be clear though, you don’t mean you sit with the car stationary/engine idling while it warms up? That’s definitely not a good idea. I assume you mean you drive keeping the revs right down, say below 2000rpm, until properly warmed before going near 3500rpm (or eventually 6000+ once run in!)?

[Olivera]

There's an argument that says it's *better* for an engine to see a variety of rpms and eventually the red line within about 100 miles - it ensures the piston rings bed into the bores correctly, possibly resulting in lower oil consumption over the life of the vehicle.

I'd posit that any manufacturer's 'running in' period is mostly about preventing the new owner binning an unfamiliar vehicle. There's absolutely nothing in the car that could still possibly be bedding in at 1000 or 3000km.

Edit: exactly what ChocolateFrog says above!