Team-BHP - ARTICLE: How to Run-In your new car

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Originally Posted by androdev (Post 596584)

RUNNING IN A DIESEL:
Honestjohn: Frequently Asked Questions

Have not tried tho.

This is similar to Italian tuneup description I had given earlier in this thread. I have tried this from 5000 KM onwards every week and seems to have improved engine performance (At least no performance degradation noticed over time).

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Originally Posted by anupmathur (Post 593963)

That's not what most manufacturers say!
More like:

Also good to bear in mind never to be in too high a gear at too low a speed - that really stresses the engine.

I believe its safer to remember the rpm rule and drive within the range. And if you are using all the gears, it is obvious that you would have a varying speed. You are right about the high gear at low speed and vice versa. That's bad driving.

I am currently running in my NHC. Keeping it below 2500 rpm in varying speeds in all gears. Did a highway trip too, but mostly in city traffic. Unfortunately I did have do a hard braking once on the highway because a stupid lorry driver decided to swerve to the right despite light and sound signals as I was about to pass him. Hopefully its okay since I was at 650kms of running then.

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Originally Posted by wheelsNsqueals (Post 610397)

Unfortunately I did have do a hard braking once on the highway

Hard braking really does not affect your running in of the engine. Please do not worry about this. As for brake shoes, they get 'sufficient' run-in during each of your normal braking operations, not that this is really required.

Run-ins..
Well, I have been driving Japanese cars - Mitsubishi, Toyota and Nissans in Gulf (Kuwait and Saudi Arabia) and in general all the dealers / service center specialists / suppliers told us that nowadays 'run-in' is done at factory and hence, you dont have to worry about it when you get the car. And I have been driving my Camry / Galant at more than 140-160 kmph right from the day-one, without any problem. (at around 4000 rpm max.)

And I have always watched the local boys driving brand-new Mercs and BMWs, Lexus and Infinitis and Hummers on free-ways at 200+ kmph and the show room guys tell us these as examples for not requiring "run-in".
However, for huge Diesel engines, of course, run-in is still required.
This is what I learnt from them.

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Originally Posted by RajaTaurus (Post 617416)

But in India most of the Car Manuals recommending Run-in, that means no factory run-in done here.:)

Well, I have a new Palio Stile 1.6 Sport which I took on 30th Oct. Till now it has clocked 576 kms. As delivery got delayed by a week, I will not get sufficient time to run it in for first 1000 kms properly and get it serviced, I have to take it for 1200 kms long drive on 8th Nov.

I am sure I will not be able to drive it on a constant speed for a long time on Delhi-Lucknow highway because of road and traffic conditions. It cruises at 80kmph @ 2000rpm, which is the safe speed for UP roads I believe.

Now, would it be wise to get the first service done at around 700kms - a day before I have to travel or shall I get it done after returning back? Fiat recommends first service between 1000 and 1500 kms.

Dear Marauder,
The running in period of your Palio 1.6 is mentioned in your owners manual on pg112 under the heading oil consumption. It extends for 5000km according to your manual at least it does say so in my GTX manual and we share the same engine. In my GTX the running in period extended for 9800km. As far as traveling 576+1200km means you will cross the service period limit and hence your warranty will go for a toss. If the destination has a service center then its better to get it done after its crossed 1000km or else you have no option but to service it prior to going for the trip.
Bye and wear your seat belts.

Hmmmm
I got my FIAT Adventure from Agra and drove it back to Gurgaon where i live, it was a very hectic day and the delivery got delayed from 12:00 noon to 6:30 in evening, due to some Fianancing issues.
So while coming back we were in real hurry, and our average speed was around 70-80 and at times the guy clocked 100+ too.
The initial odo reading was 100km on it, and the distance from Agra to my Home in Gurgaon is around 210 km. So the point is we had a rough drive for this stretch of 210 km, with a couple of times hard braking(but no AC).
I followed this thread from start, and more i read it, more i am worried about my Adventure.
Anyways now i am following the mentioned procedure for Runing in, like Rev from 1.5 to 2.5, max speed in 5th gear 60 km, no AC, and shifting the Gears after 2K rpm mark.
So is their something which can be done to recover the whatever damage being done on my car, or is it tolerable to drive 200km out of 1000 km of runing in into rough mode ?

I think there is nothing much can be done to recover, stick to the rpm from now on.
I do not expect anything to worry about for 210 KM.

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Originally Posted by hrsraghav (Post 624513)

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So while coming back we were in real hurry, and our average speed was around 70-80 and at times the guy clocked 100+ too.

That sounds okay, as long as your driver used the right gear. In 5th, a 100 kph would be around 2300 which is okay.

Just follow our guidelines for the next 1500 kms, and you should be all set.