ARTICLE: How to Run-In your new car

Jaggu · 17th February 2009, 12:43

@Narencar: please go through this thread you will get an idea, ideally change engine oil at 1000km so that any metal particle that get dislodged during run in is also removed from the system. You can use any oil with same specification as recommended in the manual. Do replace the oil filter also, for which you need a special tool.

You can definitely request the service center to replace the oil and oil filter at your cost, if its not part of regular free service package.

sparkguy · 17th February 2009, 16:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk1979

In the run in period, try to keep below 100kmph, and always drive with the rpm below 50% of the max rpm.
For example if your car redline is 5000rpm, drive max at 2500rpm, on occasionally go above that.
Do this for first 1500kms.
Also avoid driving at same rpm for long distance, so rpm should go varying across the range.

When you start the car first time in the morning, idle for 1-2 minutes(if you are at a cold place like Delhi).
Otherwise 15 second idle is enough.

I have recently bought spark base model which comes without rpm meter. How can I know if I am crossing the limit or not. I came across a similar thread in forum talking about engine sound to determine crossing the RPM. If that is the case I may need some more explanation on the same

.

Jaggu · 17th February 2009, 18:53

Check owners manual for gear change speed, you can safely keep 3/4 of the top speed mentioned there for each of the gears, during the running in period.

anupmathur · 17th February 2009, 20:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparkguy

I have recently bought spark base model which comes without rpm meter. How can I know if I am crossing the limit or not. I came across a similar thread in forum talking about engine sound to determine crossing the RPM.

Sparkguy, congrats on your new toy!
Just drive easy for the running in.
Don't push the car. You can very easily be pushing by being in too high a gear at too low a speed. Engine rpm will not help in this case as it will be well below 3/4 of rated.
Best will be to try and follow maker's recommendations for speed vs gear changes. This will be given in the owner's manual.

Don't worry too much, modern cars are not hyper-sensitive to running in!

hrag · 17th February 2009, 21:20

My method of running in has always been:

For the first 1000 km (or whatever the running in distance is), upshift at exactly the max. speed recommended by the manufacturer for the running in period. If you have a tacho, nothing like it to help upshifting at exactly the same rpm in each gear.

You can push a new car until the limits specified by the manufacturer for running in. Do not be in a hurry to upshift.

anupmathur · 17th February 2009, 21:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by hrag

If you have a tacho, nothing like it to help upshifting at exactly the same rpm in each gear.

Kindly note he does NOT have a tacho, as he has already said! Hence all these 'alternative' tips being given!

hrag · 17th February 2009, 21:52

'If' is not the same as 'since', is it?

anupmathur · 17th February 2009, 22:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by hrag

'If' is not the same as 'since', is it?

Alas!

Post no 212 on the same page!
And you getting aggressive!
Kindly acknowledge you had not read it! There is grace in that!

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparkguy

I have recently bought spark base model which comes without rpm meter.

SamuraiJack · 17th February 2009, 22:27

I got a Swift D- LDI on Dec 19 and have completed 7500KM already. This sums up to around 125 KM/Day. I went for a 500KM highway drive the next day I got (Sister's wedding, I had to!) and after that very regular highway drives to Chennai/Coimbatore/Madurai a mix of bad/good and great roads.

At the moment I feel the car has held up very well, There are absolutely no rattles; gives me good average (15-18 KMPL in city and around 20+ on highways). Has awesome initial pick up- I just cant find flaws except for the engine noise inside the cabin; compared to a petrol car the noise is quite evident, I do need to test drive another Diesel to know if my car makes more noise. I have shown it to the showroon guys (Kalyani) and they felt it was normal.

Since its a LDI- it was difficult to keep tab on the RPM, however I made sure I did not cross 100 before the first service (though there were times when we ended up at 120 without realising) and have kept the limit to 120 after the first service.

Do you think I may have issues as the car clocks more KMs?

hrag · 17th February 2009, 22:31

Swami, nobody is getting aggressive. My post was a general one about running in, not necessarily pertaining to a base Spark.

sps · 10th March 2009, 11:10

Toyota innova owners manual does not contain any run in instructions. The dealer also recommended that no run in was no needed.

But somewhere in the manual along with the driving tips it is mentioned that always change gears in correct rpm and don't rev the engine too hard.

DieselFan · 10th March 2009, 14:21

SamuraiJack - Diesel engine noise will definitely be more than petrol engine. IN addition DDIS has a chain drive for timing . Due to this chain we have additional noise generated. Nothing to worry about.

sanjoy50 · 1st April 2009, 12:49

Maruti Dezire VDI ,delivery recvd on Feb28,09. At present clocked 650km only. First Free Service reminder SMS recvd from Vendor. Seek advice from Forum : is it mandatory to do first service from the vendor from whom we hv purchased ? Engine oil and oil filter shd be replaced new during first service but which brand of engine oil shd be
preffered instead of standard oil supplied by Vendor. Shall we complete 1000kms then go for servicing? Shall be very grateful for advice from Senior BHP ians since this is my first Diesel Car.

Jaggu · 1st April 2009, 14:08

Have replied inline in BOLD

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanjoy50

Maruti Dezire VDI ,delivery recvd on Feb28,09. At present clocked 650km only. First Free Service reminder SMS recvd from Vendor. Seek advice from Forum :

is it mandatory to do first service from the vendor from whom we have purchased ?

Not really, you can approach and reputed maruiti dealer workshop

Engine oil and oil filter should be replaced new during first service but which brand of engine oil should be preffered instead of standard oil supplied by Vendor.

This is upto you, if you want to pamper go ahead and replace the oil and filter. This will be charged since its not recommended by maruti.

Shall we complete 1000kms then go for servicing? Shall be very grateful for advice from Senior BHP ians since this is my first Diesel Car.

If your workshop can accept the free service coupon after one month prescribed by Maruti. Yes its better to wait. Otherwise you will land up paying from the pocket

sanjoy50 · 6th April 2009, 17:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaggu

Have replied inline in BOLD

many thanks for your guidance . Did the first service through the most noted vendor"Machino Techno"in Kolkata. With 866km clocking in 38 days,did not wait to complete 1000kms as you wisely warned not to miss the one month free service dateline.

Though we did not insist on Engine oil change,the service person himself recommended and poured 2.9 ltrs "Delvac Super 1300" engine oil but he refused to change oil filter which he certified for 5000kms.Total charges for first free service came to Rs.479/- only. Kindly let us know Fuel tank capacity for Dezire VDI as we are having some doubts about 40 ltrs tank capacity claim. Also pl guide how to get the best effects of TURBO.

17th February 2009, 12:43	#211
Jaggu Team-BHP Support Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 20,215 Thanked: 15,907 Times	@Narencar: please go through this thread you will get an idea, ideally change engine oil at 1000km so that any metal particle that get dislodged during run in is also removed from the system. You can use any oil with same specification as recommended in the manual. Do replace the oil filter also, for which you need a special tool. You can definitely request the service center to replace the oil and oil filter at your cost, if its not part of regular free service package.
	() Thanks

17th February 2009, 18:53	#213
Jaggu Team-BHP Support Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 20,215 Thanked: 15,907 Times	Check owners manual for gear change speed, you can safely keep 3/4 of the top speed mentioned there for each of the gears, during the running in period.
	() Thanks

17th February 2009, 21:20	#215
hrag BANNED Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bangalore / Madras Posts: 1,982 Thanked: 31 Times	My method of running in has always been: For the first 1000 km (or whatever the running in distance is), upshift at exactly the max. speed recommended by the manufacturer for the running in period. If you have a tacho, nothing like it to help upshifting at exactly the same rpm in each gear. You can push a new car until the limits specified by the manufacturer for running in. Do not be in a hurry to upshift. Last edited by hrag : 17th February 2009 at 21:22.
	() Thanks

17th February 2009, 21:52	#217
hrag BANNED Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bangalore / Madras Posts: 1,982 Thanked: 31 Times	'If' is not the same as 'since', is it?
	() Thanks

17th February 2009, 22:27	#219
SamuraiJack BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 175 Thanked: 145 Times	I got a Swift D- LDI on Dec 19 and have completed 7500KM already. This sums up to around 125 KM/Day. I went for a 500KM highway drive the next day I got (Sister's wedding, I had to!) and after that very regular highway drives to Chennai/Coimbatore/Madurai a mix of bad/good and great roads. At the moment I feel the car has held up very well, There are absolutely no rattles; gives me good average (15-18 KMPL in city and around 20+ on highways). Has awesome initial pick up- I just cant find flaws except for the engine noise inside the cabin; compared to a petrol car the noise is quite evident, I do need to test drive another Diesel to know if my car makes more noise. I have shown it to the showroon guys (Kalyani) and they felt it was normal. Since its a LDI- it was difficult to keep tab on the RPM, however I made sure I did not cross 100 before the first service (though there were times when we ended up at 120 without realising) and have kept the limit to 120 after the first service. Do you think I may have issues as the car clocks more KMs?
	() Thanks

17th February 2009, 22:31	#220
hrag BANNED Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bangalore / Madras Posts: 1,982 Thanked: 31 Times	Swami, nobody is getting aggressive. My post was a general one about running in, not necessarily pertaining to a base Spark.
	() Thanks

10th March 2009, 11:10	#221
sps BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 206 Thanked: 30 Times View My Garage	Toyota innova owners manual does not contain any run in instructions. The dealer also recommended that no run in was no needed. But somewhere in the manual along with the driving tips it is mentioned that always change gears in correct rpm and don't rev the engine too hard.
	() Thanks

10th March 2009, 14:21	#222
DieselFan Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,584 Thanked: 259 Times	SamuraiJack - Diesel engine noise will definitely be more than petrol engine. IN addition DDIS has a chain drive for timing . Due to this chain we have additional noise generated. Nothing to worry about.
	() Thanks

1st April 2009, 12:49	#223
sanjoy50 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: kolkata Posts: 17 Thanked: 10 Times	Maruti Dezire VDI ,delivery recvd on Feb28,09. At present clocked 650km only. First Free Service reminder SMS recvd from Vendor. Seek advice from Forum : is it mandatory to do first service from the vendor from whom we hv purchased ? Engine oil and oil filter shd be replaced new during first service but which brand of engine oil shd be preffered instead of standard oil supplied by Vendor. Shall we complete 1000kms then go for servicing? Shall be very grateful for advice from Senior BHP ians since this is my first Diesel Car.
	() Thanks