Got a m8 of mine who's got a brand spanking new Clio 182 arriving in a few weeks, he's been looking around different message boards for cars and hes come to the conclusion that the best way to run it in from new is to......1. first time u take the car out from the showroom, to take it onto a nice quiet road and continually redline it in the first 3 gears then slow and repeat for around 50 miles!!!! WTF's all that about ??? He recons summin to do wiv making valve seals and piston rings fit properly!!

Help him before he blows it up!

 

I have also heard the same.

 

My mate has a Clio Cup (03 Reg) and he did the first 500miles up to 3000 revs and then for every 100 miles after added another 1000 revs until up to red line. Not saying this is Gospel but can see the sense in it. Have you explained the Scooby run in process as this does seem to be good as am just finishing the run in of mine with the 1000 mile service in 10 days and it feels smoother already.

 

i have a 182 and run it in pretty much by the book, most of the time . 500 miles below 3000 and thereafter just increase gradually. i was redlining it before 1k miles though.
not saying thats right but thats how i did it. i did get told to avoid constant speeds (i.e. motorway) for a while.
Car before this (323 sport) was told that the engines are run to the redline in the factory and therefore run in is kinda pointless.

i think to be fair with engineering tolerances these days the run in is not so important. that said taking it easy can't do any harm can it?

 

I ran my Clio Cup in as per the guidlines in the handbook and I'd do it again...

Made good power & torque on the rollers, which quite a few don't, and it also ran quick 1/4 mile times, so didn't harm the performance by running it in gently, and it will last too!


Screwing the @rse off it from new may well bed it in quicker, but it won't last...

 

Ah! this theory. It may be O.K, but if he does that it is vitally, vitally important that the same day, as soon as he gets home he changes the oil and filter, and then preferably in about another week to make sure that any wear debris created is out of the engine, and then runs it in the normal gentle way to let gears and so on bed in a bit gently.

Might still blow up of course, but it'll help if he's dead set on doing it that way.

 

Yes I have heard the same....drive it like you stole it.

Personally I'd do 1000miles fairly varied and sedate, avoiding anything above 4500rpm, Which gives time for the bearings and bores to bed in and not glaze

Change the oil and filter - so all the swarf and metal particles from manufacture are removed.

Then go Mad!! Takes about 6000miles for it to get to it's peak

I can't remember the clios service schedule now, but IIRC its something like 8000 miles to it's first service/oil change - personally if you love your car and want to do large mileages and keep it for any amount of time, I always do a change the oil at the first 1000 miles. I don't care what manufacturers say.

 

EVERY car that leaves the Honda factory here in Swindon is ragged within an inch of its life around a track before being parked up ready for transportation, everything from the 1.4's to the Type R's.

Some have been crashed on track, others have disappeared off the end. The drivers then walk back to the gates for the next drive.

Sounds like a great job, but have been told it is mind numbingly boring.

 

mind numbingly boring? I can think of worse jobs!

I have no experience of any of the redlining on run in, but it doesn't sound healthy to me, I would be likely to do the gentle route myself....

I wish cars came pre-run in, I can't imagine anything worse than having a powerful car and babying it around, when you just want to ring it's neck!

 

18,000 miles or two years for servicing on the 182

 

I know that all Honda's are partially run in at the factory b4 shipping....

I also believe if you thrash an engine from new, you may not notice any difference in performance compared to a engine treated more carefully during its running in, but the thrashed engine will have a shorter service life, and be a more noisey unit.

But you can treat them too gently as pointed out above and glaze pistons 'n rings

Sympathy, not letting it labour or bog down is my prefered method, ocassional excursion higher up the tacho now and again......

 

Yup I asked about the running in period of my CTR - dealer said that there was no official Honda recommendation. However he said it would be sensible to keep it @ less than 6000rpm for first 500 miles

 

A collegaue of mine thrashed his clio from new (company car) and in 2 years has had new alternators, bearings, massive oil consumption, rattley exhaust, ocassional overheating and of course bald tyres and a new clutch.

He thinks it is all down to the fact that he didn't run it in as recommended. I will also add that although he thrashed his car it is not treated like a rental car and is always warmed up and cooled down etc.

Make your own decision!

 

Whichever approach he takes, the MOST important thing is to get the engine up to good operating temperature before thrashing it. continuously thrashing it from cold WILL destroy the engine.

Indeed on the S2000 there is a rev limiter that cuts in before 7000rpm while the injun is cold. Once warm, then you can go up to 9000rpm.

 

Nope, it's 12,000 miles or 2 years (whichever comes first) for the Sport Clio's

 

There is... it's in the handbook, same for the Clio...

 

Who give a toss about caring for the engine? I spend a lot buying a car and Imake sure I enjoy it to the full.

You'll sell the car long before the thrashing ripens, and the next owner or perhaps even the one after will reap the harvest of worn rings, leaking valve stems, and plumes of foul smelling bluey-white smoke.