pete1976

I know this is a controversial topic but I get my new MY05 WRX at the weekend and was wondering what the general consensus is with regards to running in. Take it easy for the first 1000 miles or drive the b0llox off it? Do they still use a different oil for the first 1000 miles?

Thanks.

mikepaul

Keep below 4000rpm for the 1st 1000 miles and yes their is an oil change at 1000 miles, suggest the use of fully synthetic oil.

Even after 1000 miles don't got mad until 4000 miles, otherwise you may get an oil burner, although contensous, there is signifigant evidence to suggest engines thrashed early in their life burn oil between services, also early thrashing effects the life of the engine especially with a boxer configuration (info from my car to scooby uk )

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

Follow the instructions in the manual. Below 4k revs, varying engine loads, no harsh acceleration. Don't think that the 1k mark means its open season on the redline, build it up slowly. Scooby engines often don't start to fully loosen up till 5k miles. I think 1k may be too early to use fully synth oil IIRC. Check with someone like David at API or Oilman on here.

NS04

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

Interestingly, a smarta*se called recently to enquire about our engines and the running in procedure after the rebuild.

We ask for 1000 miles at or below 4000rpm, oil and filter change to a semi synth at 1000 miles and then:
4500 rpm limit up to 1100 miles,
5000rpm from 1100 to 1200,
5500; 1200 - 1300,
6000; 1300 - 1400
etc etc. With all the usual stuff about warm up, cool down, light throttle and so-on.

We consider our engines run in fully at 15 - 1600 miles and we remap at about 1800 should they need it [ imports ]

Our friendly enquirer stated that; ' Subaru ' had told him that their cars didn't need any running in !!! And that he wasn't going to take any notice of us and would do what Subaru said. We politely advised that we weren't talking about a Subaru built engine - we were talking about an APi built engine that did need running in.

A few words of abuse about not knowing what we were talking about and he was gone. Just as well really.

Engine builders look out for him !!

David APi Engines / APi Impreza
www.apiengines.com

Dracoro

Remember it's not JUST the engine that you are running in. It's the gearbox, suspension, diffs, joints, driveshafts etc.

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

On a NEW car.

David APi

scoobynutta555

Hmmm after my first service on the P1 it was game on RPM wise. 4000 miles to run an engine in? No chance. My P1 didnt use oil and there's nothing wrong with the engine, 50,000 miles 49,000 of them decatted sans remap

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

so you like to live on the edge then??


LOL David APi

scoobynutta555

Proof is in the pudding.

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

Tell us at 60,000! Though I sincerely hope it doesn't Too many stories of P1 engine rebuilds on here!

Can't believe that someone would trust a company to rebuild an engine then not take their advice regarding running it in!! Funny though!

I don't think he'll be laughing when its time to shell out another 2.5k

NS04

pippyrips

nice one Dave

ru'

Someone I know got an 05 WRX, and (although making sure it was fully warmed up) drove it somewhat hard rev-wise from the delivery mileage onwards.


They did make sure the revs were varied and didn't slog the engine or keep it revved high for long periods.

They're currently at around 20k and it doesn't use any oil at all.

I'm 99% sure though that if it was my car I'd follow the handbook's instructions...

scooby222

my first impreza was treated as per instructions,kept below 4000 rpm, varied revs and warmed up and cooled down despite people from the garage saying it didnt need run in.

however after the 1000 mile service it was open season on the revs and it did 30000 miles without a hint of trouble,no oil use and it went like a train. in fact im so convinced it worked ive just done the same with my brand new sti.

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

A mate of mine was a contracted race driver for BMW in their world championship saloon car team.

He got free NEW BM's of his choice as often as he needed, I think contractually they were changed for another new one at either 10 or 15 thousand K's.

It's about 6 - 8 K's from BMW's place to the autobahn - that was running -in completed. Then it was as fast as it would go to the ferry and back home to the UK.

They seemed to take it OK and obviously the problem was no longer his as soon as it went back into the fleet - I did always wonder what the long term deal for the car would be, but can't answer which is sort of frustrating.

Modern cars are different to the old tried and tested drive it at 30mph stuff but I still think his way was extreme.

David APi

Scooby-Monster

Have run in 03 and 05 STi's from new.

First couple of hundred keep below 4,000rpm, after that try to keep it below 4000 almost all of the time especially for sustained periods, but I couldn't resist the odd excursion up to about 6500 for a few seconds to feel the pull. I did this every 50 or so miles up to the first service.

I always warmed up and cooled the car down.

Semi Synth went into the 03 and Fully Synth into the 05 (Dealer's choice).

My cars have never had to be topped up for oil and had no running problems.

Just wait till the 10k service! I felt a massive difference in performance (well quite noticable ) That's when I realised my car had been run in.

Just my experince mate.

D

MattW

Drive it like you stole it

Anyone got one of my old cars?

scoobynutta555

My P1 was serviced on time every time, run on Optimax. No oil top ups/changes between services. Warmed up and warmed down. It'll still be ok at 60k (touching wood ). Ive heard of standard cars blowing up at a much lower mileage. 4k running in period is IMHO way too excessive and unnecessary. 1k was sufficient for me.

MickeyWRX

well i have just completed my running in period currently got 1700 miles on it and wnet for 1000 mile £38 (free suposedly) service oil change etc

by the way if anyone has a my05 does your air con come on automatically when you switch the vents to windsscreen and floor coz mine does????????/

cheers

Mickey

bush360

yes mate AC has a de humidifying effect so most cars do this as standard

jimmy boo

MY03STi here.....Ive noticed a couple of times recently my aircon's on when i've not presed the button..........how come

Jolley

What really bugs me is when you have a warranty rebuild (2 on a MY03 WRX!) that Subaru will not stump up the money for the oil change they recommend 1000miles later!!! .... go figure!

By the way, mine was run in as per the manual (3 times!!)

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Climate control
Kicks in when the cabin temp reaches the temp you set the dial on.

Tony

wrc350bhp

i wondered same thing, cheers

jimmy boo

Dont have climate control Tony or the ability to dial in a selected temparature....when moving the blower selector from the floor say to either windscreen setting,the aircon comes on,i'm guessing it's to aid demisting

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Probably, though the subaru website for 05/06 cars state that it has automatic aircon

Tony

bigknd

Yes

What if ?

That is spot on for what I did for my MY05 STI PPP (and other performance cars I have had from new) the only difference was I went Fully Synthetic at 1000 miles with the Subaru. Used a little oil for about 5000miles and has not used a drop since (now 9700 miles with service next week). I agree the 1000 miles oil change should have been to semi (in hindsight), hence the prolonged "slight" oil use as it took longer to polish the bores fully.

It goes like a trooper now and I even have torque off turbo. I noticed with my other cars too run in this way, that when compare to other methods of harsh running in my car has always been a fast example and far better low down torque.

SVVG

iTrader: (1)

As a brief aside - surely there's no harm in running the engine in, rather than thrashing it - just in case? Can't see what the fuss is about and why people are too impatient to build up the first 1,000 miles, on the basis that they could be doing some dmaage if they don't.... 1,000 miles wont take that long to do and is surely worth taking it easy to avoid problems - or was the initial point of the thread that the engines need to be thrashed early on to help them wear in? (which would seem to fly in the face of convention!!!?)

SC008Y_MAD

iTrader: (5)

This forum NEEDS a FAQ for questions lile this.

ru'

Warm it up properly, then give it plenty. Just don't drive at the same revs constantly, don't drive at high revs for a long time, definitely don't slog it.

Mate did this, their scooby doesn't drink any oil at all and makes Prodrive's PPP power figures on a RR.

Of course, not sure I'd do it if it was my car though.

Problem with a thread like this is unless someone really tests it (by that I mean lots of engines and some form of controlled running in for all of them, each group being run in differently) and then strips and analyses, it's all mainly hearsay.