Running in and towing
Submitted: Tuesday, Mar 30, 2021 at 21:40
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Member - Scratcher
Have just purchased a ford
ranger 3.2 Auto (new) and was wandering about when I could start towing a 3 tonne van. What is the recommended run in time before towing?
Scratcher.
Reply By: Member - rocco2010 - Tuesday, Mar 30, 2021 at 21:59
Tuesday, Mar 30, 2021 at 21:59
I bought a
Ranger new in 2009. There was a reference to towing in the owners manual.
Have a look there.
Enjoy the new car, it’s a great feeling.
Cheers.
AnswerID:
635796
Reply By: Member - shane r1 - Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 07:20
Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 07:20
Modern engines are built very
well compared to say 50 years ago . I had an engine rebuilt by a performance engine rebuilder back in the 80’s . I asked about the run in procedure, was told install engine fill oil and coolant run up to temperature at 1500 rpm . Shut down ,
check oil and coolant , then drive it how you’re going to drive it! “We build them properly “ was his comment.
I would be happy to tow straight away , just don’t labour it at low revs and don’t rev it over about 2/3’s of full revs for first say 1000 k’s.
We’re not dealing with old Holden red motors anymore!
AnswerID:
635798
Reply By: RMD - Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 08:33
Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 08:33
Same as Shane above. If it is an Auto, most likely is, then the auto will decide engine loading anyway as you have no control over that. No revving it highly until a few Km's under the belt. The machining of internals is far better than earlier engine as Shane mentioned.
Although a little different, Motorcycle engines are suddenly built out of parts, ie assembled, then fitted to frame and started immediately, and ridden to a DYNO. Less than two minutes after being installed, the engine is held at redline revs for 10 sec and Power readings taken. If it doesn't perform then rebuild. If it was going to hurt the engine it probably wouldn't be done that way.
AnswerID:
635799
Follow Up By: Member - shane r1 - Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 20:15
Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 20:15
G’day RMD and all
Another story
I’ve owned BMW1200gs’s motorcycle’s 2004 2006 and 2008
None have used significant oil, I wasn’t very gentle running any of them in. There had been reports of high oil usage back when I had the first one. I asked the service manager what BMW regarded as acceptable oil usage , he said 1 litre per 1000. When I commented mine used that little it didn’t need any top up for the 10,000 k service interval, he said a lot run them in too soft. The beemer 1200 holds 4 litres in engine only (seperate gearbox) in the 10,000 it would only get to the bottom of the eye level which is less than 300 ml. So was fine.
I also had an employee with a secondhand v8 commodore that used heaps , but after he’d had it a while and drove it hard , the oil consumption improved to an acceptable level
Cheers
Shane
FollowupID:
913501
Follow Up By: Member - Outback Gazz - Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 20:27
Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 20:27
Hey Shane
"I asked the service manager what BMW regarded as acceptable oil usage , he said 1 litre per 1000 "
Back in the 70's when I bought, owned and raced BSA's , Triumph's and Nortons I asked the service manager what is acceptable oil usage - he said you will probably leak about a litre a week !
Wasn't far wrong ..lol lol lol
Wish I still had all of them today !!
Cheers
Gazz
FollowupID:
913502
Follow Up By: Member - shane r1 - Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 21:03
Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 21:03
On the pommy bikes leaking oil.
One of my mates turned up at a party on a Suzuki 250 with a bit of an oil leak. There were a couple of triumph fans there , when they bagged him about the oil leak.
Quick a# a flash he replied, “yeah I’ve just had a triumph conversion kit put in”
That shut em up!!
FollowupID:
913503
Follow Up By: Member - Outback Gazz - Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 21:17
Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 21:17
Ha ha - but I would have an educated guess those triumph fan$ would be having the la$t laugh if they $till had their Triumph$ and your mate $till had his Suzuki - oil leaks or not !
Cheers
Gazz
FollowupID:
913504
Follow Up By: axle - Thursday, Apr 01, 2021 at 11:27
Thursday, Apr 01, 2021 at 11:27
Hi Gazz, I purchased 250 Suzuki Hustler When they first came out, Their performance stats were a big con, their 100mph claim was absolute B/S, unless you rode it down a mine shaft ..lol.
After 3mths of pain i traded it on a ex
police Triumph 650 Saint, ..What a difference !!!., at least i could pull out from the kerb with a cold motor.
If we had the sealants that we have now back then, oil leaks would not have been a problem
Cheers Axle.
FollowupID:
913514
Follow Up By: Member - Outback Gazz - Thursday, Apr 01, 2021 at 17:32
Thursday, Apr 01, 2021 at 17:32
G'day Axle
My ex missus had a 250 Hustler when we started dating - I had a Triumph Bonneville at the time.
Your Triumph Saint is worth about ten grand at least today.
Had a couple ex SA
Police A65 BSA's - also restored a couple other A65's and as you say with improved sealants and an understanding of where and what caused the oil leaks I had NO leaks at all in most of my British bikes !
Had a few high powered Yamaha's and Kawasaki's etc but as I got on a bit in age I realized the brains reaction time didn't quite marry up with the speed of the bikes so I played it safe and stuck with 4wdriving.
Cheers
Gazz
FollowupID:
913529
Reply By: Member - Jim S1 - Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 08:57
Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 08:57
Look for a reference in the manual.
Give the dealer a phone call.
If you follow their instructions your warranty can't be affected.
Cheers
Jim
| "Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits." A fisherman.
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AnswerID:
635800
Follow Up By: RMD - Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 09:46
Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 09:46
Jim
If you followed their instructions to the letter, or not, how would they know? If a problem developed it is their claim against yours. Same old.
FollowupID:
913485
Reply By: OzzieCruiser - Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 10:29
Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 10:29
If in doubt - read the handbook.
Most engines are run in at the build factory these days so generally the advice is to simply drive the vehicle as you normally would.
AnswerID:
635802
Follow Up By: RMD - Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 16:36
Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 16:36
Started maybe, but run in?
FollowupID:
913496
Reply By: Hoyks - Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 13:59
Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 13:59
Read the manual.
I vaguely recall something about not towing anything until after the 1st 1000km, but not 100%.
AnswerID:
635804
Reply By: Frank P (NSW) - Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 15:02
Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 15:02
In the 2014 BT50 book there is a Running In section but are no specific instructions about running in apart from "don't drive too fast during the first 1500km" and "don't labour the engine". "Too fast" is not defined :-), and "don't labour the engine" is advice for manual transmissions, I would think.
Under Towing a Trailer:
[quote]
- Towing a trailer during the first 1000km of your new Mazda is not recommended. If you do you may damage the powertrain components.
- Do not exceed a speed of 100kph when towing with a laden weight greater than 3000kg.
[/quote]
AnswerID:
635805
Follow Up By: RMD - Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 16:34
Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 16:34
G'day Frank
I wonder what powertrain components are/might/maybe damaged by towing a trailer. Many tradies have done exactly that and towed their tandems heaped with gear. Some tandems with loads of screenings etc. so the tonnage was up there.
There are many people who retire, buy the LC 200 or other brand, hitch up the big new van and depart.
FollowupID:
913495
Follow Up By: Frank P (NSW) - Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 21:36
Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 21:36
Who knows, RMD. The book is full of vague warnings, like "it might drive differently" and such things.
It even said if the engine overheats you can continue to drive it safely because when it gets really bad it will go into limp mode to protect itself. So I suppose you keep limping and all will be good. Yeah, right!
As far as I could tell from the owners manual the most important thing about running in was the tyres. There was no mention of what happens when you get your second and subsequent sets.
FollowupID:
913505
Follow Up By: RMD - Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 22:03
Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 22:03
Frank
The only auto parts affected would be the clutch plates and since many drivers accelerate hard and often they will be bedded in soon I imagine. Sensible towing can't be worse than some I have seen.
That is pretty high tech for the manual to say you can keep driving because it will enter limp mode if too hot. Perhaps the lack of coolant isn't such an issue. Older vehicles had a RED light which came on and if continued to drive they certainly entered limp mode after a short time. My silly brother inlaw burnt a hole in three pistons in his Holden and it had developed a bad limp.
FollowupID:
913506
Follow Up By: axle - Thursday, Apr 01, 2021 at 10:53
Thursday, Apr 01, 2021 at 10:53
RMD, Must be something about B/inlaws!, mine ran his honda prelude with the oil light on for a hr or so. .
Very little oil flow happening due to sludge in oil gallerys, hence he did not get to his destination......lol.
Cheers
FollowupID:
913512
Follow Up By: RMD - Thursday, Apr 01, 2021 at 11:07
Thursday, Apr 01, 2021 at 11:07
Axle
You are right again, I never had the chance to choose a smart brother inlaw either.
FollowupID:
913513
Reply By: Phil G - Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 19:09
Wednesday, Mar 31, 2021 at 19:09
If your owners manual hasn't got a recommendation, then just to let you know the Toyota manuals say no towing for first 800km.
AnswerID:
635809
Reply By: Batt's - Thursday, Apr 01, 2021 at 14:51
Thursday, Apr 01, 2021 at 14:51
While your running it in that will give you time to calcuate how much overweight your whole set up will be when loaded up for a trip.
AnswerID:
635821