Re: New engine break-in etiquette

[16v Jason <jason@scirocco.org>]

I haven't had the pleasure of breaking in a VW engine from new.  However, I 
did for my previous car (a Corolla) and had wonderful results.  0-60 times 
a full second quicker than the magazines reported, and city/highway mileage 
of 33/40 when the EPA said 27/34.  The engine didn't use a drop of oil in 
60,000 miles.  Here's what _I_ did.

First 300 miles:

Start the car and drive.  I did a 300-mile trip right off the 
bat.  Absolutely no more than 1/3 throttle or 2500rpm.  Varying engine 
speed constantly, no downshifting, and no lugging.


300 - 500 miles:

No trips less than 20 miles.  No full-throttle, but 1/2 throttle 
applications up to 4000rpm once the engine and oil were warm (after 10 
miles of driving). Vary engine speed constantly.  Oil change.


500-600 miles:

Gradually change from above technique to hard driving.  I consecutively 
raised the "redline" from 4000 to 6000.  Again, refrain from short trips, 
and *no* more than 1/3 throttle or 3000rpm for first 10 miles. Again, vary 
engine speed constantly.


600-1000 miles:

Absolute, positive engine abuse.  Once oil & water were hot, repeated idle 
to redline part-throttle runs, including throttle liftoff at redline, 
graduating to full-throttle redline shifts.  I can't stress how mean I was 
to this engine.  Again, vary engine speed constantly.  Oil change.


YMMV, of course, but this engine responded very well to this method... 
which I derived by combining all of what I had heard in the past.

Enjoy,
Jason




----------
1987 Scirocco 16v
1989 Mercedes 190E Sport Euro


http://members.aol.com/rocco16v  

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