Member Since: 23 Dec 2008
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 366
Run it in or Thrash it in??
Age old conundrum this, particularly diesels. What does everyone reckon I should do with the new D4? Run it gently, or just drive it like I stole it? There is a train of thought amongst truckers, that if you just drive it normally (ie, not changing up at a maximum, restricted level) then the engine will remain 'tight' and not give up very good MPG or performance.
Anyone got experience of driving it hard from brand new and had positive results?If in doot, flat oot!!
5th Sep 2009 6:19 pm
microplantltd
Member Since: 13 Aug 2009
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 79
Back in the days of brand new 200TDI the advice given to me was first 1,000 miles gently and then thrash it!Honestly Marge, I wouldn't have done it if I thought you would find out!
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127 ex ambulance camper 300TDI White
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Not had a D3 or D4 from new but from diesels I have had from new, then advice which worked for me was gently and try and vary revs i.e. DON'T stick cruise control on or maintain a static right foot!
5th Sep 2009 6:33 pm
MartinR
Member Since: 27 Jan 2008
Location: Oxon
Posts: 708
There's some advice at Honest John which broadly amounts to drive it gently for a few thousand, and keep varying the revs. Followed this in outline for the last 3 diesels, and certainly can't complain about the results so far
5th Sep 2009 7:17 pm
Bogblaster
Member Since: 17 Nov 2005
Location: Glawstershire
Posts: 539
Sorry guys, I believe that the best way to treat a diesel is not to lull it into a false sense of security.
I run all my work vehicles for at least 150,000 miles before we sell them on and from experience the ones that are by far the most reliable, engine wise, are the ones that had a hard life from day one. For example my first new 90 was a 300 Tdi and I treated it with kid gloves for the first 2000 miles, it was terribly un-reliable, I traded it in for a 300tdi Disco commercial, turned up to collect it with a trailer and digger on the back of the 90, swapped the trailer on to the Disco and took it 400 miles over the next 2 days. It is still going strong at 200,000 + miles!
An old mechanic friend of mine always reckoned, and I quote "give em death from day one" and my experience is the same!
Not looking for an argument, but I buy 2 new vans every year and have done for the last 10 years.
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Last edited by Bogblaster on 6th Sep 2009 8:31 am. Edited 1 time in total
5th Sep 2009 7:58 pm
Landylad
Member Since: 23 Dec 2008
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 366
Will this confirms what I heard from a mate of mine Bogblaster. He owns a haulage company and many of his new units are ran hard from 0 miles on the clock. The majority of the drivers say they get better performance and MPG out of the ones ran in harder.
I think the engines loosen off faster and are allowed to 'breathe'. I had a series of new or nearly new Audi's (2.0TDi's, 3.0TDi V6) and they were all pants on performance and mpg as I was running them in canny.
I think I'll just run this one hard... heck, it's got a 3 year warranty, by which time, I'll have traded it in or sold it for something else, knowing my track record of keeping (or not as the case may be) them for an extended period of time.If in doot, flat oot!!
5th Sep 2009 8:30 pm
Disco_Mikey
Member Since: 29 May 2007
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Posts: 20841
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50978
I'd thrash it. Those LR techs with their plug in computers that read everything the machine has ever done will never know 21 year LR veteran > D2 GS 2003 > D3 S 2006 > D3 HSE 2009 > D4 HSE 2013 > D4 HSE 2015 > D5 HSE 2018 > DS HSE R-Dynamic P300e 2021
5th Sep 2009 9:45 pm
Landylad
Member Since: 23 Dec 2008
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 366
Member Since: 23 Dec 2008
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 366
Disco_Mikey wrote:
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm
For all you need to know about running a new engine in
Very interesting read, and from my very minimal engineering skills, I'd say there may be some truth to it, especially the new honing techniques.
I have always been skeptical about tolerances etc. within new engines. They are so well built now, that you really shouldn't need a running in process. My extended family run a bike dealership and they suggest treating bikes with little respect from new (and that's the guys that sell them).
Incidentally, how long is a Disco engine ran in on the test bench at LR factory? Anyone hazard a guess?
Also wondering on the merits of changing the oil after the first 50 miles or so... is it worth it?If in doot, flat oot!!
5th Sep 2009 9:54 pm
Landylad
Member Since: 23 Dec 2008
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 366
NeilD wrote:
Landylad, I would listen to anything DG says..........
Deffo not a LR employee............I'd panic if he'd built my car!!!!!
Still confused.com
Perhaps being a relative newcomer to this forum makes it harder to appreciate any cnyacism on offer If in doot, flat oot!!
5th Sep 2009 9:56 pm
Bogblaster
Member Since: 17 Nov 2005
Location: Glawstershire
Posts: 539
I also omitted to say that I am a religous oil changer, double what the service manual says, but to be fair any oil change is good news.
Perhaps my plagarism of an old, and sadly now deceased friend, is not quite what I adhere to, I dont belive in thrashing the t1ts of an engine in every gear, but working it hard; load it up, or make it pull hard by chucking a heavy trailer on its ar$e.
I frequently use my D3 to tow a 3.5 tonne tipping trailer and that seems to free an engine up pretty quick!
DG, of course they can look at the data, but I am not convinced about how much data these things can store, no doubt TFC, BBS Spy or BAS will be along to put us right.
BUT, you can't thrash a modern diesel engine due to electronic rev limiting and in the case of an automatic it won't allow it.
I think we are also forgetting one crucial thing, aren't most engines these days "bench ran in" before we even get our grubby mits on them?
BBD4 HSE Luxury SDV6,
Cameras, tow assist
Defender 90 Adventure
A4 Avant 3.0l TDI
CLUB MTR
CLUB BLACK ALLOY
CLUB FFRR RIMS
CLUB VREDESTEIN WINTRAC 4 EXTREME
5th Sep 2009 9:59 pm
SN
Member Since: 03 Jan 2006
Location: Romiley
Posts: 13710
for those that saw the TDV6/TDV8 engines being made at Dagenham (DDC) last year - I think we were all surprised about how they 'tested' each engine on the bench so to speak before being shipped out to Solihull - I've forgotten the absolute details but weren't they 'thrashed' for a short period right from the first second?Steve N | 21MY Defender | 08MY Discovery 3 (history) | 06MY Discovery 3 (ancient history)
5th Sep 2009 10:04 pm
DG Site Moderator
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50978
Just thrash it ...what do I care
I do wonder what the point of this thread is though .............is it to encourage others to do the same ??...or just a bit of ICNGAF bravado 21 year LR veteran > D2 GS 2003 > D3 S 2006 > D3 HSE 2009 > D4 HSE 2013 > D4 HSE 2015 > D5 HSE 2018 > DS HSE R-Dynamic P300e 2021
Last edited by DG on 6th Sep 2009 8:43 am. Edited 1 time in total
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