I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: Running in the engine - back in the day I qualified as a City & Guilds Automotive Technician and specialised in engine, gearbox, final drive overhauls completely stripping and re-building old units to as new condition. If I remember correctly when a new engine was re-fitted to a vehicle and driven there were limits on the maximum engine rpm the vehicle should be driven at, the engine should not be laboured excessively and the engine oil and filter should be changed after the running in period of between 1-2,000 miles driving. I’m not sure these days if this is still applicable ?…..Does anyone know and have experience of this and/or can offer some Mazda guidance on how i should treat my (the wifes really) new 2025 MX-5 ND3 with a 1.5 Petrol engine ….it only has 10 miles currently ?
The current line seems to be with modern tolerances it’s not necessary. However being sensible and not sitting in one part of the rev range for long is probably reasonable advice for the first 1,000 miles or so and then gradually increase the level of enthusiasm you apply.
I’m the biggest advocate of the 1.5 engine and in due course it does need to be enjoyed enthusiastically, they come alive when you’re ‘nippin on’ as we say up here. My current car is at about 4,700 miles and I’d say the engine is nicely loosening now.
I didn’t go over 3K revs for the first 1,000 miles, except for the odd blip. Probably overkill though. I’d apply nannying it etc if you’ve bought it/expect to keep it for years.
If it is a finance car, to be handed back after a few years, just drive it the heck you want to.
Just had the first change at first annual service and 4,700 miles. I see no reason not to follow the service schedule irrespective of whether it’s inside the dealer network (until the warranty expires) or on a DIY/Independent basis.
Thanks again Ian. With mine luckily I qualify for the new 6 year/100,000 Mazda UK warranty and was planning to buy a Mazda 6 year fixed cost service plan, that’s the reason I overspent on the budget …couldn’t resist it! …..
Yes, massive difference. It’s funny looking on Autorader at some '25 plate ‘our demonstrators’ going for silly money, which seem to have been on the site since Stegosauruses walked the earth, when someone (if they know) can pick a '75 plate on with the 6 years.
I kept my 2litre below 3000 for the first 300 miles and below 4000 until it got to 600 miles. Since then I’ve been letting the car tell me where it wants to change gear which is usually around 4200 anyway, it will cruise at 2800rpm no matter what speed I’m doing.
Giving it some fresh oil and a filter in the next sunny spell as it’s around a 1000 miles now.
This. Modern engines aren’t helped by old schood running in. Piston rings require varying loads and high cylinder pressures to “seat” or seal correctly against the cylinder walls. And you don’t want glazed shiny cylinder walls. A constantly low-RPM run-in can lead to poor ring sealing, resulting in long-term oil consumption and reduced compression. Just don’t thrash it or labour it.
Not quite the same thing, when did you see a F1 engine being run in? Ok they don’t last that long
