Break-in Period

[TornadoRed]

Remember that those are shift points, not cruising speed RPMs. This has been covered a few hundred times in this thread already.

 

[Wawa]

2015 Golf Sportwagon 2.0L TDI 6M EA288 fuel consumption 4.6L/100km (51MPG) after initial break-in

All three pictures were taken on 2015 April 27. Odo was at ~1440km on that morning, and at ~1600km at the end of the day. The morning commute to work was a 52km trip at temp 5C, 80% highway, 20% local, with side wind. Highway speed was 105-135km/h in 4th gear, only in 5th gear once or twice. Full throttle all the time when accelerating. The home trip after work was 55km (I had to take a different highway), with side wind, 70% highway, 30% local, at temp 13C. The 30% local traffic was pretty heavy. Highway speed was between 95-120km/h, 4th gear only. There is a very noticeable difference in fuel consumption between driving at 105km/h (65MPH) and 120km/h (75MPH). Since I have dropped my highway speed in the home trip, I have managed to get the same 4.6L/100km (about 51.1 miles per US gallon, or 61.4 miles per UK gallon) consumption as in my morning trip, even with the fact that I had to take 30% of this 55km commute in heavy local traffic. The third picture was taken at lunch time on highway in 6th gear (first time I put it in 6th gear), just to show the RPM while running at 120km/h (75MPH).

I'm glad I have found the TDI Club. Great site with vast amount of TDI information. Special thanks to Drivebiwire for providing the priceless TDI Break-in Instructions. I have followed his 0-1000 Miles instructions during my 0-1200km, upshifting at around 3300RPM most of the time with 70%-80% throttle travel (when engine is well warmed up), many times even at 3800RPM. I know 1000 Miles = 1600km. But 1) I'm impatient, and 2) with the new EA288 TDI engine design, there is a reduced pressure between the piston rings and the cylinder wall, so I think it's OK to be a little more aggressive during the Break-in Period of this engine. After 1200km, I have switched back to my normal driving, i.e., full throttle all the time during acceleration (with the exception of first gear). With this engine, I found I like to floor the pedal between 2200-4500RPM. I usually choose a sub-range of the above depending on which gear I'm in.

This is our sixth VW (first diesel), not counting the two Audi's. VW engines are durable by design, and, if put in the right hands, can be very reliable as well. They are not as maintenance free as older Toyota engines though (I'm thinking about gaskets, sensors, and other electrical parts etc). So far, I'm amazed by the fuel economy of this 2.0L EA288 TDI engine. And I believe Drivebiwire's break-in instructions have played an important role in the fuel economy I'm getting. My stock wheels (195/65R15 91H Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus tires on 15" Lyon alloy rims) are currently at factory recommended air pressure (230 kPa or 33 psi), and look seriously under-inflated. I can't wait to do a pure highway long distance trip with higher tire pressure, and at a time when our Canadian fuel suppliers have switched to summer fuel (less winter additives = more power).

Here is the link to Drivebiwire's break-in instructions:
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=252501&highlight=drivebiwire+break-in

Here is another cool guy whose engine break-in instructions are even more aggressive than Drivebiwire's:
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

 

[Wawa]

Remember that those are shift points, not cruising speed RPMs. This has been covered a few hundred times in this thread already.

Hi Tornado,

I know those numbers are up-shift points. However, I believe when Drivebiwire states "Rev the engine to no less than 3,000 rpms", he means that 3000 RPM is the bare minimum, in other words, 3100 would be better, and 3200 is even more better, etc. As long as we keep the RPM under 3800 we should be fine. It's like when my family doctor says "you need to spend at least 30 minutes on exercising every day". He doesn't mean I need exactly 30 minutes everyday, right?

 

[ChuckRainey]

OK so I have been following these guidelines and live in an urban area with lots of stops and starts. My question is - would it be best to just leave it in 3rd gear at city speeds (around 2200-2500 rpms)? Maybe using 4th only if above 45mph or so? It feels happiest at around 2000-2100 rpms but feel strange only using 1st through 3rd gear

Also, is there any temperature the oil should not be above? I know about not driving it hard when cold (under 165F) but what about when hot? I have reached 212f a few times already, and am not sure if that is normal or not. Any way to keep the engine cooler? Would leaving it in gear when slowing help any?

Thanks!

 

[Djstorm100]

Why wait 10k to change the oil?

 

[Roshermoore]

Search?

Why wait 10k to change the oil?

Why not do a search and find your answer?

 

[Djstorm100]

Why not do a search and find your answer?

Why be "that" guy, is a better question.

 

[mantisman]

qa
]['P;OLΩmnfbnbfc fcvpoiuytfrds][P-0O9R4E3W2Q1

 

[GreenLantern_TDI]

Manufacturer spec

 

[slycen]

Hey guys, just wanna say thanks. Just bought a new to me 2015 Jetta TDI (my first TDI) with 28,000 miles. The original owner babied it. Looks like I'm going for a drive to engage the turbo tomorrow!

Just to reiterate what I found in a search: Its not too late, just drive it like you should and it'll catch up.

Thanks everyone, I'm happy to join the club

 

[Drivbiwire]

Road trip, get it out on the highway and load it up.... Sustained speed, full throttle acceleration at highway speeds will clear the engine and catalysts out (DPF engines).

DSG owners, Use sport mode around town, it does a good job at keeping RPMs in a good range that promotes a good running engine.

If I'm on the highway, select the normal shift range and use the increased load on the motor to keep the engine loaded up... Great for the compression rings and keeping the turbo on boost when driving steady highway speeds.

 

[chessmyantidrug]

I saw this thread for the first time today. I only read through about the first 50 to 60 posts before I wanted to make a post.

I currently drive a 2006 Jetta TDI with a manual transmission. I've owned it since it had 58K and change and I just crossed 205K this morning. I have been babying my engine the entire time until today. I rarely ever let RPMs go above 2500 and would routinely shift between 2000 and 2200. The only time I went above 2500 RPM would be cruising at 75 mph on the highway. For what it's worth, I average around 45 mpg going that speed so I don't mind the reduced fuel economy on longer trips if it's saving me a bit of time.

I'm just curious how much "harm" I may have done to my turbo in the last ~150K miles? I know to drive my engine hard every so often to clear out carbon that may have built up, but I was doing this maybe once a month or so. I haven't noticed much variation in fuel economy over the period of my ownership. I have consistently gotten between 45 and 49 miles per gallon on road trips and roughly 42 miles per gallon driving around the Wichita Falls area. I know the vast majority of the break-in was done by the previous owner, but I feel like I would have been screwed since I had a preconceived notion for how my car should be driven before finding this thread. I plan on my next car being a new TDI whether it's a Jetta or Passat and I'm glad I will actually know how to break it in properly. I'm just wondering how important following those shift points guidelines at my engine's age.

 

[stephensbubble]

UK Gov fails TDI owners 98-04 in new MOT Legislation

My car's registration is RV02 URJ which is a 1.9 Tdi Diesel Engine.
My car was taken for an MOT by Roger the owner of Glemsford Motors to the local Mot station.
The car failed The Mot by reason of new legislation and inspection rules.
The rule was that the Engine Management Light should illuminate on ignition with all of the other warning lights and then go out on ignition.
Because the tester had specific instructions regarding the type and style of the EML which did not appear the car failed.
My car has a standard dash layout which is fitted to the whole range of VWs and as such is supplied with an LED light and signature EML logo in the round of warning lights appearing.
Roger duly ran a diagnostic test on the electrical system and found to his surprise no error codes, not even one which could explain why the circuit to the ERM light wasn't working.
The problem was that the car was roadworthy in every respect having had it's emissions physically checked and confirmed that emissions were within statutory limits. The engine was working perfectly but the failure of The MOT meant that it couldn't be used on the road.
Roger referred to an VW electrical specialist who electrically diagnosed the cars system and confirmed that it was working perfectly. The fault wasn't present and as such the specialist offered no explanation.
At this point as the owner of the car I received the bad news that Glemsford Motors had pursued the matter at considerable expense only to be unable to resolve the issue.
I was devastated as the car was my pride and joy as well as my independence in a rural location. It seemed that the car was to be scrapped for the sake of a light. I understood the new guidelines was to protect The Environment and penalize polluting cars which were suffering from age or a lack of maintenance. I was resigned, however Roger asked me to leave it with him and he'd see what he could do.
Roger refused to accept that a perfectly roadworthy car could fail the MOT and as such sought to reason with the MOT Station who were adamant that nothing could be done. It was at this point that Roger contacted VW and explained the situation and pursued the question until a VW Electrical diagnostic engineer referred to the wiring diagrams for the model of golf in question.
The results were stunning. VW confirmed that this model of VW diesel engines has all of the components that petrol engines have of the same year but the components aren't connected electrically. The driver is to rely on the Glow Plug Light which illuminates on ignition as a warning of the Engine Management Sensors identifying a fault during normal engine operation.
With this information confirmed by the manufacturer Roger duly appealed once again to the mot station to pass the car as the car's design and operation were correctly functioning as intended. The MOT Station once again refused and stated that The Law and inspection regime were the only points of reference which were relevant.
Armed with the manufacturer's information Roger confronted The Ministry and the Chief Inspector responsible for operating the new Mot regime. After being confronted with Roger's argument and evidence The Chief Inspector decided to intervene directly and instruct the MOT Station to pass RV02 URJ.
The MOT was issued by the Mot station on the 28th of June. I was informed the day after by Roger and was stunned at the time and effort which he'd devoted to salvaging a very old car and my lifeline which I couldn't afford to replace. I expressed my gratitude knowing that both Roger and I understood the time and effort expended by Glemsford Motors was beyond my means.
It is estimated that there are over 200,000 VW deisel engines of the above type which operate without the now familiar Engine Management Warning Light . These are failing the MOT even as we speak and for no other reason than The Ministry has failed to accommodate the design in it's new regime of testing. These cars are not failing the emissions test, they are being failed by Government. Roger has made a start to stopping this injustice and his commitment to his profession and business should be recognized for what it is - Outstanding Professionalism

 

[TornadoRed]

Have you shared your findings with the Mk4 Golf Forum on Facebook?

https://www.facebook.com/groups/796085483781814/

We didn't get the PD130 engine in the US or Canada, so I'm not sure if the ones we got have the same dash layout.

 

[Sleeping_Bag]

Thanks for the break-in instructions!!! I had to get my long block replaced because i f#@ked up and didn't change timing belt in time, 125,053 on the odo at time of death (I bought the car at 61,920 in 2019 after the first owner sold it back to vw for the dieselgate). 2 months later the cars back up and running and I'm now 40 miles until 1k on the new long block. Car feels so much happier then it ever did. My question would be at the 1k miles is there any harm in using the DSG in Sport mode only? I did modify the car so I'm at around 200 hp, 400 torque but ive been keeping it under 3800rpm and 75% throttle for ~99% of the time except for one time that i had to go over otherwise the car wouldve been back at the shop (wouldve been just my luck haha) Running a cr190v2 turbo instead of the cr170 that came stock. Any help or questions are welcome

 

[Sleeping_Bag]

Probably beneficial to run it in that mode to reduce lugging the engine during that period.

Oh sweet, I was driving in it yesterday like that (did a couple pulls up to 4600) and its still so mind boggling just how fast it shifts to stay in the perfect rpm range. Though sometimes it feels like the turbo cant keep up if it does it too many times in a row.