Running in an Atom

[AlanP]

I'm expecting my car in July, 3.5R with Sadev. I want to plan the running in to be done quickly, because i want as much of the summer as possible with the car fully usable. So I have some questions.
For Henry, what is the factory's recommendation?
For all experienced, knowledgeable users, what do you suggest? Push it hard? Take it easy? Bring it in early? Leave it a little later? Easy on the throttle? Hard on the revs? You know the sort of thing.

I'm sure that the way the car is run in has a long term affect and I'd like to get it right. I'm so very, very old that I doubt I'll get another one.

Thanks

Alan

[Hedge]

With my newbies, I was always advised by the factory to rag the tits off it. Although you smile (weakly) back, this really does seem to be Ariel's advice, when you ask em.

More specifically, I was told not to drive it back on the A303 etc, holding it for long periods in any one gear. Must say, it made the initial journey(s) a little bit more interesting; I was constantly changing down a gear or two & pinning it. So, whatever you do, don't just whack it in sixth & cruise at 70/ 80 for hundreds of miles. That is defo not the way to run it in...

As for the trick box you've got, though, I don't know. You really need to ask them about that.

Cheers,
Hedge

[AlanP]

Thanks Hedge,

I'd forgotten about the non constant throttle thing. A long time ago I had a Laverda Jota and the advice was similar.

When do you pick up your Nomad?

A

[AlanP]

Hedge

Was it 1000 miles? I'm sure you'll remember.

A

[Hedge]

I think it's only 500 - bearing in mind that's when the first service is due - but please check.

The Nomad arrives in July(ish).

Cheers,
Hedge

[wasp]

What Hedge said.

I'm pretty sure Paul Yarsley's 3.5R with Sadev was run for a hundred or so miles around the lanes at Crewkerne before an oil change then straight to Spa.

Cheers,
Stu

[AlanP]

Wasp

Now THAT is an idea.

A

[Trigger]

Tom always said 'drive it like you stole it' for running in purposes ! The factory does a fast blast around the lanes prior to pick up.

On the Nomad I have been advised with the heavier car to not put too much stress on it out of the box. But maybe that's just Henry compared to Tom !!

New Nomad 1st week of June.....woo hoo !

[AlanP]

Thanks Chaps,

A few old hands with new cars due soon I see.

A

[Trigger]

Yup - I had 3 Atoms 2007 to 2012 then walked away - but I was always coming back !!

[HenryJS]

For Henry, what is the factory's recommendation?

Alan - We will take you through everything you need to know when you collect

But for the record:

I would personally advise this - Drive the car like you would any other car. Do 10 trips, each of 100 miles, 50 in town, 50 on the bigger roads.
Its not really the engine that needs settling in, its the clutch and the brakes.
However what Hedge says is correct - don't have it on constant throttle everywhere.

This doesn't mean you cant drive it fast - just don't be bouncing it off the limiter or bogging it down in 6th at 20mph, doing burnouts and doughnuts or big launches away from the lights are also ill advised. After the first service - feel free to treat it how you like! Burnouts and doughnuts are fun - but they do add wear to tyres and the clutch

So essentially in summary - dont treat it with kid gloves, but dont rag on it either - find a nice middle ground to play in

[AlanP]

Thanks Henry,

So is the first service 1000 miles?

Alan

[HenryJS]

Alan,

Between 500-1000 is fine. We say 500, but it isnt strict.

[AlanP]

All i need to know in a few helpful posts. Thanks everybody.

Alan

[Bruce Fielding]

From the AAOC Handbook:

The factory suggests that you drive the car normally for the
first 1000 miles. The club offers an alternative view.
We feel that you don’t need to rev engines too hard but you
do need to make them work early on. The power difference
can be VERY noticeable for machines that aren’t babied
through the first hours of their run in.

The reason why you have to ‘thrash it’ out of the box is
difficult to accept for people who remember the good old
days. Machining standards are so much better and hence the
tolerances are much tighter, that there simply aren’t “rough
edges” to smooth off, which used to be the case. Metallurgy
and casting techniques have also improved, so the wear
resistance and consistency of the metal is much, much better.
Couple that with the quality of modern synthetic oils, which
coat the surface more thoroughly, degrade less and bond much
better with the metal, particularly over time, and you can get
a modern engine with 20,000 miles or more on the clock that
hasn’t loosened up - and may never do so fully.

So you need to CAUSE a high wear rate in the engine’s early
days before surfaces become too polished (as opposed to
“bedded in”) to loosen the engine. This is why the bores in
new engines have a light cross-hatched surfaced honed onto
them. If they do become too polished, the oils can’t bond
properly, the engine will remain tight and seal badly. The
initial high wear rate declines quickly as the surfaces polish,
so the period you have available to get the engine bedded
in is very short. There’s virtually no effect on longevity, and
remember, internal friction is the enemy of power and torque.
It’s vital to use varying load conditions, whatever the load
level. Different throttle positions, revs, gears and loads will
prevent pattern-related wear in the early stages.

Letting the engine run down (engine braking) is also good, as
this encourages oil up the sides of the pistons to sweep out
debris, though it’s not ideal to drop down through the gears.
Don’t labour the engine (low revs, wide open throttle). Don’t
use the full rev range initially with only an occasional blip
to the red line. Change the oil early (at 500 miles, and again
at 1000 miles) to clear all the microscopic bits of metal, and
harmful chemicals produced during combustion, out of the
system. After the initial change you’re OK to use the full
extent of the rev range.

CAUTION: Don’t forget to change the oil filter
after 500-1,000 miles.

A suggested running in regime:

First 200 miles
60% rev’s max and never full throttle.
Basic semi-synthetic oil

200-600 miles
75% rev max, full throttle further up the rev range.
Basic semi-synthetic oil

600-1000miles
85% rev’s max, full throttle further up the rev range.
Basic semi-synthetic oil

1000 miles on
Nail it!
Castrol Magnatec 10w/40

All the way through this, warm it up first, never let
the engine labour, use the gear box up and down as
often as you can, and try and avoid motorway use.

Recommended Oils AFTER running in:
Engine: Castrol Magnatec 10w/40
Gearbox: Honda MTF

TIP: The unofficial advice for running the car
in from those that know is 'drive it like you stole it' from day one