hi all

just arranged for a new engine to be dropped into my townie (2.0td, auto 4wd, 1991) by a company in stratford (london, parts plaza).

question is: do i need to run the engine in? fellow at the garage says just change the oil filter and oil after after 500 miles but that sounded a bit minimal to me and i would expect to baby it for a bit? thoughts anyone?

incidentally, i opted to drop a 3c-t, 2.2td lump in, in place of the original 2c-t - apparently it fits !! cost me just under a grand. seems reasonable given other anecdotes on the board (and other prices we were quoted).

cheers.

jim

- (#583) Jim Reynolds, 9 Apr 05 05:22

Contrary to what modern machining techniques might allow, any collection of automotive mechanical components, working together, do benefit from fairly gentle treatment during the first couple of thousand miles. Modern machining tolerances, modern materials, and modern oils, do make the "bedding down" of an engine, far simpler and easier than previously but, in my opinion, an unstressed first thousand miles, will result in many thousands of miles added to the useful life of the engine. You can ease the engine into it's comfortable working pattern, over the first thousand or so miles, by not allowing the engine to labour in any gear, by careful downward gearchanging, by never letting the revs get anywhere near to the red line and, especially, keeping a wary eye on the coolant temperature gauge. Yes, an oil & filter change at 500 miles and regular oil changes, with a premium oil, at every 3000 miles, will help to make the engine last much longer with, hopefully, another 150,000-200,000 on the clock before any major work is required

- (#583) John Davis (Leics), 9 Apr 05 08:46

I'll concur with what John has said and recommend being a touch more gentle than normal for the first tankful or so. After that, it is most worthwhile to load the engine up at higher revs- in the case of diesels especially, it's only under load that the rings will really get a chance to seat. We're really talking about an ocassional 3rd gear pull up to 60mph here.
There is some anecdotal evidence that engines that see higher revs during early life end up happier at high revs...

I'll temper this advice (as John did) by emphasising that watching the temp gauge is a *good idea*

- (#583) David Miller, 9 Apr 05 11:37

Excellent response as always. Thank you both.

- (#583) Jim Reynolds, 10 Apr 05 03:05