"Running in" a diesel engine? (1 Viewer)

[jamie_scotland]

I know hardly anyone bothers with running in anymore but given it's the only brand new engine I'm ever likely to own I reckon I should at least make an effort...

I've had a quick search online and advice seems to vary hugely, from treat it gently to thrash it to bed everything in!

So any tips? It's a 5-cylinder 2.5 TDI if that makes any difference, will be keeping it until it dies so hopefully to at least 300k miles.

Jamie

 

[canucksafari]

My guess would be treat it nicely for 100 km and then load it up a bit. Loading it up does not mean reving the snot out of it. It means putting a heavier load on it to make the engine work. The break in of a diesel engine is to ensure that the rings mate well to the cylinder walls. Here's a good article which explains it in a lot more detail: TheDieselStop.Com - www.thedieselstop.com

All that said, I would go exactly by what the manufacturer or rebuild shop recommends to ensure the warranty.

 

[jamie_scotland]

Yeah that's what I was thinking, it's a new OEM engine and the only advice from them was to take it easy for the first 100 miles then drive normally.

It's a 6 speed manual and the roads round about here are fairly twisty and hilly, so even normal driving means it gets a reasonable workout throughout the rev range.

I questioned the need for an early initial oil change and the official service schedule is nothing until 18k miles

Jamie

 

[canucksafari]

I questioned the need for an early initial oil change and the official service schedule is nothing until 18k miles

18k miles is complete BS. My recommendation is to ensure that it has dino oil in the sump for at least the first two 5000 kilometer oil changes. That will take you through the normal 10,000 km break-in period. After that you can run synthetic and likely extend your oil changes. I recommend doing oil analysis to see how far you can go before needing an oil change.

 

[Dougal]

18k miles is complete BS.

No, 18k is completely normal for modern diesel engines running normal oils (not fully synthetic). Things have evolved a lot since the TD42.

The TD5 (one engine which fits that description) has a centrifuge oil filter which is why it can run that long. Other engines have similar features.

 

[1tontoy]

During a break-in period, the key is to vary the RPM's a.k.a don't put in cruise control on flat ground for an 8 hour drive, but otherwise normal driving. The most crucial break-in period is the first 2-3 oil changes.

I've been told by a Cummins mechanic that the Cummins 5.9L Turbo Diesel isn't truly 'broke in' until 80-100K miles of average commuter use! Don't know if that applies to a Toyota diesel.

 

[VTCDN]

centrifuge oil filter ?? New Buzz ..

Most important is to start , learn the habits of this and running of the engine. Warm up to temp before seeing any power or speed, let cool nicely also. first oil change @ 2000 , and get a hot running sample for doing a SOA check. next @ 4000- or so depends on first SOA. Dino / Synthetic is temp maximum absorption differences mostly. Think of the engine as a baby---to kid--teenager-- and then BE HAPPY.

VT

 

[Dougal]

centrifuge oil filter ?? New Buzz ..

The TD5 was in production vehicles in 1999. It's not new tech.

 

[BreckenridgeCruiser]

What kind of engine is this? I know that VW/Audi require syn oil for the life of the engine. Don't break it in with Dino if the mfg says otherwise. I don't know about 18k, but you can't lose more than a few bucks on changing it early if you are worried.

 

[Doug384]

Change the oil more frequently than specified by the manufacturer. Warm the engine up with gentle activity for a couple of minutes then put it to work, hard. Cylinder pressures are the determination for ring seating. This happens with load and you have a short time to make it happen correctly so don't baby it. Lots of variation in rpm and load is good too. Do you think that they give formula 1 cars a three month break in with easy laps totalling thousands of miles? I don't think so...........

Do you think that there is a break in routine for aircraft engines? Are they supposed to run on the ground static for hours without taking to the air?

The concept of easy break in as necessary is one that the product liability lawyers like. There is no real reason for it. In fact it will do harm as in bore glazing and failure of the rings to seat.

 

[blis]

Change the oil more frequently than specified by the manufacturer. Warm the engine up with gentle activity for a couple of minutes then put it to work, hard. Cylinder pressures are the determination for ring seating. This happens with load and you have a short time to make it happen correctly so don't baby it. Lots of variation in rpm and load is good too. Do you think that they give formula 1 cars a three month break in with easy laps totalling thousands of miles? I don't think so...........

Do you think that there is a break in routine for aircraft engines? Are they supposed to run on the ground static for hours without taking to the air?

The concept of easy break in as necessary is one that the product liability lawyers like. There is no real reason for it. In fact it will do harm as in bore glazing and failure of the rings to seat.

Agreed... Also it's important to not let it idle for extended periods since it also causes bore glazing which is no good,,,

 

[prairiecruiser1]

when I breal in an engine I always use breakin oil additive. Somthing with a high zinc content as enginr oil now does not have any. Change oil after about 1000kms.

 

[jamie_scotland]

It's a Volkswagen Transporter Bus with the 5 cylinder 180 bhp 2.5 TDI.

The recommended oil is Fully synthetic 0w-30 so I think I'll give the dino oil a miss. Think I'll do an oil change after a couple of thousand miles then every 10k should be fine. I couldn't afford to buy 10 litres of this stuff every 3k like I do with the 1-HDT in the 80!

Thats probably true about the Cummins, even the little 1.9Tdi VW's tend to get steadily more powerful and more economical up until around 75k miles.

Jamie

 

[crushers]

as stated, easy for the first 100 km
and then just drive it as you would any other vehicle.
i second the opinion of doing the oil change a bit more often than recommended, especially with a brand new engine. best way to see if anything is wearing strange is to change the oil at 5000 and send it in for examination.

but

your engine, your call.

 

[VTCDN]

send it in for examination = SOA as in Spectrographic Analysis of the oil.

Sorry , forgot the forum.

VT

 

[Red Rattler]

For the first 100klm take it nice and easy then slowly make it work and only use the oil as stated in the manual. Going easy for the first 100klm will allow you to pick up any faults.

At work after rebuilding a truck engine we have it on a dyno for 45min then we start to add load to make it work and bed the rings in. You can do an oil sample test but the first few services will have a high amount of metal in the oil which is standard.