Honest John's Motoring Agony Column 19-01-2019 Part 1

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Fri 18 Jan 2019 17:06
- Scot5
Oil consumption problems - HJ cites engines "that have been too gently driven during their break-in period" and "low revs" as a cause for the piston oil rings not bedding in.

But I always thought it good practice to limit the revs during break-in period, moreover that's the advice manufacturers give - do not use high revs in first 1000 miles.

Can HJ possibly expand on this as I'm sure his advice will confuse many - me included.
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Fri 18 Jan 2019 19:58
Honest John's Motoring Agony Column 19-01-2019 Part 1 - glidermania

'Modern' engines do not need 'gentle' running in. In fact apart from not being over revved or laboured, during the first couple of hundred miles, they dont need any running in. Ive never run a car engine in on any new car Ive owned since 1978. My 2001 BMW 320 had done over 217,000 when I sold it after 13 years and is still on the road.

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Sat 19 Jan 2019 13:10
Honest John's Motoring Agony Column 19-01-2019 Part 1 - Engineer Andy

It's not that car need gentle running in or not, but that (in the case of my 2005 build petrol-engined Mazda3) the owner use all the gears and revs ranges up to about 3k revs, don't labour the engine and don't stick at one speed/revs/gear for long periods, essentially using a wide variation of the car's capabilities without thrashing it, especially when it's warming up.

Normally this is for the first 500-1000 miles tops.

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Fri 18 Jan 2019 20:02
Honest John's Motoring Agony Column 19-01-2019 Part 1 - mmmmm

The answer is to drive in the "middle" of that range of advice. By using the gearbox and varying the engine speed, without overly engine braking, everything will be used reasonably and bed in well. So no high revs and no pottering at 1K RPM. Gradually increase rev range from 500 miles and finish running in say around 1250 miles. Some will say, modern engines leave the factory prepared for the road and already "run-in". Go with your trusted opinions and instinct.

Edited by mmmmm on 18/01/2019 at 20:03

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Fri 18 Jan 2019 23:31
- Jezza Car Fanatic
In the first question the writer says “not a large suv” then HJ recommends Mazda CX -5 or Honda CRV which are both large SUV’s ?
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Sat 19 Jan 2019 00:55
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You can repair tyres with the sound reduction foam strip inside. You simply cut a bit of foam out! Had 2 puncture repairs via KwikFit. Here’s an official link from Continental about their ContiSilents on my Volvo: blobs.continental-tires.com/www8/servlet/blob/1081...f
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Sun 20 Jan 2019 18:25
Honest John's Motoring Agony Column 19-01-2019 Part 1 - Eudo H.

Conti Foam

Awesome info, thank you.

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Sat 19 Jan 2019 08:33
- Furrybiker
A friend had a Skoda with the EA888 engine that was also using large amounts of oil.
The dealer denied that there was a problem the car was then referred to Skoda UK.
They also denied the problem, however when my friend was looking at a replacement he was offered a very poor price by the dealer as the car had a fault!
He now has a Mazda.
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Sat 19 Jan 2019 20:26
- SP1Viffer
Wiper issue could simply be a faulty / sticky relay. had similar on my BMW mini. Replaced both relays fixed it. Cheap & easy.
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Sat 19 Jan 2019 22:51
Honest John's Motoring Agony Column 19-01-2019 Part 1 - nrm1969

In early 2014 I bought a 2011 Audi A3 1.8 tfsi which was 30 months old. I thought that the oil level was underfilled but turned out it used a litre every 2000 miles. Not a concern according to Audi but enough for me to get rid of it after 15 months and 5 litres of oil!

It was an ex-Hertz car that had done 30,000 miles in first 2 years. Not sure what that says about the high oil consumption being due to being driven too gently to bed in and how badly hire cars are treated?

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Sun 20 Jan 2019 14:04
Honest John's Motoring Agony Column 19-01-2019 Part 1 - Engineer Andy

That Audi (as per my earlier post) could've been, in the main as a hire car, been driven up and down the motorways and dual carriageways of the UK and thus been only at a relatively narrow rev and speed range, and mostly in top gear. Running in requires a decent amount of usage across all suring the first 1000 miles or so.

The VAG 1.8TSI was renouned for heavy oil use anyway - have a look on reviews for cars with that engine (and all its variants) on this site - the 'Good and Bad' sections show up all the faults and recalls.

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Sun 20 Jan 2019 12:55
- IrishNeil
Slippery Slope
"But if you want the Kudos of an Audi...."
Check out the memes about Awwdee drivers, if Kudos equates to banker!
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Mon 21 Jan 2019 08:39
- GingerTom
PCP: As John says HC would have taken a contract out for 'up to' 40,000 miles. People seem to forget the meaning of a contract and happily agree to them as long as it all goes their way. I wonder if HC would have accepted an excess mileage charge with the same enthusiasm as the refund he thinks he deserves?
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