77TSI DSG running in methodology & first oil and filter change?

[MelbMan]

Hi Guys
Picking up a new 77TSI DSG late Jan/early Feb, just wondering what the current goss is on running in and the methodolgy.
With the first oil and filter change can see the supplementary service thread. What's the best approach here. Chances are I'll be doing a lot of short urban running during the week.

With my wifes Series 5 1.6L Golf I'm pretty sure the first service and change was at 15,000km. It's just about done 100,000 and running better than new. But the idea of having the same oil in a brand new car for 12 months... not really sure. The purists used to talk about an oil and filter change at the 500 mile mark in the old days.

Does the oil in the sump of a new car come from the factory and date back to it's build date and with current Polos is this a special running in oil?

We have some very good local independent VW specialists. I think they'd be up to doing any first supplementary change.

Thanks John

[Lucas_R]

Not a Polo, but I changed the oil and filter in my Golf at 5,000km/6 months. I wanted to do it at around 1,500-2,000km but several friends who are mechanics (one of them is a mechanic at Audi) told me to let it go until around 5,000.

Not sure if the engines are filled with oil straight after they are assembled or at the end of the production line - but either way the oil is still new when it arrives in Australia.

Tolerances in engines are so fine these days that the good old school oil change at 500miles (to remove all the loose bits of metal) is likely to not be necessary like it was 20 years ago.

[Diesel_vert]

Hi Guys
Picking up a new 77TSI DSG late Jan/early Feb, just wondering what the current goss is on running in and the methodolgy.
With the first oil and filter change can see the supplementary service thread. What's the best approach here. Chances are I'll be doing a lot of short urban running during the week.

Just drive it as one normally would - it's a Volkswagen, not the Space Shuttle.
When starting from cold, warm the engine up via gentle driving, not idling.
Don't approach the redline when cold.
Do accelerate vigorously when necessary (just limit the revs when cold) - this may help bed-in various engine components.
Don't baby the engine excessively, and don't be afraid to use the accelerator.
Use the above advice in conjunction with the information in the owner's manual (please read it ).

Mind you, if this is in regards to the excessive oil consumption problem, and if your particular engine develops this problem, then I'm afraid no running-in procedure will prevent it, if the accounts of forum members are anything to go by.

With my wifes Series 5 1.6L Golf I'm pretty sure the first service and change was at 15,000km. It's just about done 100,000 and running better than new. But the idea of having the same oil in a brand new car for 12 months... not really sure. The purists used to talk about an oil and filter change at the 500 mile mark in the old days.

I'm of the opinion that whilst it will do no great harm, neither will it prolong the life of the engine in a meaningful manner (do you envisage keeping the same car for 350 000 km?). Some drop it straight away, others wait until they reach some arbitrary mileage, and some wait until the first service. I would personally wait until 7 500 km OR 6 months (from vehicle build date, not vehicle sale date) but up to you really.

Does the oil in the sump of a new car come from the factory and date back to it's build date and with current Polos is this a special running in oil?

As for the special running-in oil, the VWwatercooled community have determined at one time or another it's either:

A - True
B - False
C - Something that's only told to Australian dealers to tell their customers, in order to placate overly anxious owners.

For the record I personally think it's B, but take your pick.

[RandomX]

i belted mine up the backside out of the dealers car park... nearly 17000k's and no issues...

just drive it like you would if it had 50000k's on it... it will live... (its not a hyundai after all )

cheers,

josh

[Greg Roles]

Always an interesting topic, with many opinions, personally in a petrol car I drop immediately whatever oil it comes with, put in a pure mineral oil / Penrite run in oil if suitable ( it's pretty viscous ) and go load it heavily in a hilly environment, where the engine has to labour, but not rev too much. Basically aim to max accelerate from low speed up a long climb in third, and back off at about 3/4 revs, repeat. It's the old trick of peak combustion pressure forcing rings onto the bore, and the first 100kms is the most imortant in my opinion. Using this method in my last few new cars I've always had zero oil use, and better than average figures on the dyno. And oh yes there's metal boys, its just that it all ends up in your filter by the time you usually swap it.

Just my opinion, but I side with the run it in hard, but not rev it stupidly, camp.

[MelbMan]

Thanks guys. First couple of trips I have in the first week of ownership include around the Western Ring Road down past Geelong and down to Gippsland. So in the Police state normally a lot of cruise control. As understand constant speed/rpm is a bit of a running in "no no" any suggestions on cruising at constant speed?

Thanks
John

[Greg Roles]

Avoid and spend time changing gears to vary revs / take a day off and go find a mountain!

After a few hundred kms your time is largely up....and it is the law of diminishing returns, the first 10 kms is far more important than the next 10kms etc etc.

[MelbMan]

Cheers Greg
So it sounds like I should either leave the new car at home. Or wend my way through the suburbs as much as possible and find some back roads to Geelong as opposed to ring road and freeway which most Melburnians set cruise control on as there are so many speed cameras on bridges, etc all the way. And vary the speed as much as you can on DSG with bursts from 80 to 100km/hr in either auto mode or sequential mode.

Pick her up tomorrow @ 9am!