Running in a new engine: how do you do it, and why does it matter?

New piston rings and freshly machined cylinder walls need time to bed in against each other so the rings seal well. How the engine is driven and what oil is in it during that time affects how well it seals and how much oil it uses later.

Running in is also when small problems show up: a weep from a gasket, a loose hose, a fluid level dropping. Catching them early is cheap. Missing them can cost an engine.

Our terms say to use Penrite running-in oil for the first 1,000 km, then change to the oil recommended for your engine.

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Running in can take up to 10,000 km, depending on how the vehicle is driven. Keep the invoices: they are your record if you ever need to make a warranty claim.

General guidance from oil makers and motoring bodies :

• Vary your speed. Long runs at one steady speed are not ideal early on.
• Avoid heavy loads, towing and full throttle until the engine has settled in.
• Don't let it idle for long periods.
• Let it warm up before working it hard.

• Coolant level. When the engine is cold. A low level means a leak somewhere.
• Oil level. A new engine can use a little oil while it beds in. Top up to the mark, and tell us if it keeps dropping.
• Under the vehicle. Look for fresh drips where you park.
• The temperature gauge. If it climbs, pull over and stop.

The vehicle leaves our workshop with the fluids at the right level. After that, keeping them right is up to you, and it is part of keeping the warranty.

Stop driving as soon as it is safe and call us on 02 9737 0105. Driving on after a warning light, a leak or a fault can turn a small problem into a failed engine, and damage from driving on is not covered by the warranty.

Email photos of the rego, the VIN and the odometer to info@recoservices.net.au so we can register your warranty.

Questions about your engine's running in? Use the enquiry form or call 02 9737 0105.