New Engine Pre Run In--- How is this so??

[insatiable]

I have just had a new engine put in my '03 under Extended Warranty. I asked for running in instructions and was advised that new engines are pre run in. I'm maybe old fashioned but I thought that at least 2or 3000ks. gentle treatment would be desirable before some lead was applied to the right foot!
Please could somebody bring me up to speed on this issue.
Thanks ,
Glenn

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by insatiable

I have just had a new engine put in my '03 under Extended Warranty. I asked for running in instructions and was advised that new engines are pre run in. I'm maybe old fashioned but I thought that at least 2or 3000ks. gentle treatment would be desirable before some lead was applied to the right foot!
Please could somebody bring me up to speed on this issue.
Thanks ,
Glenn

Hi,

I'm sure they're bench run, besides, all the internals are probably not new, just checked and found to be in spec, as new. Hope this helps...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[Brucelee]

There is a great debate on how best to "break-in" an engine.

Hopefully, this thread will not start another.

Personally, I take it a bit easy on new engines.

That is just me.

Good luck with the new engine.

PS-what happened to the old engine? Cause of failure?

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by Brucelee

There is a great debate on how best to "break-in" an engine.

Hopefully, this thread will not start another.

Personally, I take it a bit easy on new engines.

That is just me.

Good luck with the new engine.

PS-what happened to the old engine? Cause of failure?

Hi,

I agree, it's best to take it easy with any New engine. But, I think you need to make a distinction here between a New engine and what Porsche refers to in all it's internal literature and TSBs as a Replacement Engine, not a new engine. I think we'd find there to be a distinct difference.

I have a good friend who is South African, but lives in California. He came to this country 20 years ago as a Factory Trained Lotus Mechanic, working for Lotus USA, whose job it was to take failed warranty engines and rebuild them for Lotus.

These were stripped and any faulty parts replaced, while all others were measured and if found within spec were reintroduced into the new engine. The reassembled engines were then shelved as certified replacement engines.

I suspect Porsche operates under much the same procedures, albeit perhaps not located in the US. This would explain why the replacement engines don't require the standard break-in that a truly new engine would require. If you read the Dealer TSBs on replacement engines, you'll find that many of the ancillaries, such as waterpumps, alternators, intakes, etc. are not supplied with the replacement engines and must be exchanged with the failed warranty engine. This says, to me at least, that Porsche is using replacement cores and not total engines...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[FIG]

Hi Glenn,

What part of Oz are you from....I'm in Melb.

I too had my boxster engine replaced under factory warranty, I too asked the same question about "run-in". I was told it was pre-run-in as well. I've put about 1500K's on it, and the service tech suggested to "Drive it like you stole it" Everthing feels nice and tight......all good!!

He suggested that the engine needs to cop a bit now!

Porsche Centre Melb. have been awsome (to say the least), I dont mind paying a bit more for the service....it's worth it!!!!

Cheers
Roni

[denverpete]

Pre-run my a$$! Who in the world is going to run an uninstalled engine, at varying speeds, for approximately 25 - 25 hours to get the 1500 miles? It wouldn't be under load and it wouldn't have any cool down. Sure it's been pre-run to the point that they made sure it actually works - but pre-run to the point that everything is seated properly and ready for all out revs? I don't think so.
I have this picture in my head of all these engines in a warehouse being pre-run with guys in white labcoats and clipboards walking around taking measurements.

Skipping the whole "how to break in an engine" thread (which I also could do without) - I agree with Jim and BruceLee to treat any new engine as a new engine. It can't hurt while running it "like you stole it" definately could.

[insatiable]

Originally Posted by FIG

Hi Glenn,

What part of Oz are you from....I'm in Melb.

I too had my boxster engine replaced under factory warranty, I too asked the same question about "run-in". I was told it was pre-run-in as well. I've put about 1500K's on it, and the service tech suggested to "Drive it like you stole it" Everthing feels nice and tight......all good!!

He suggested that the engine needs to cop a bit now!

Porsche Centre Melb. have been awsome (to say the least), I dont mind paying a bit more for the service....it's worth it!!!!

Cheers
Roni

Thanks for contact. I'm at Laurieton just south of Port Macquarie.
Like you I am all praise for Porsche Aust. and their Insurance people Mondial. My work was done under the Extended Warranty.
However, why do they have an engine fail at 27000kms.in this day and age? In my case the "jack shaft" bearing failed and cracked the casing dumping about 8 L. of oil.
Reading these responses their seems to be opinions as to whether the new engine is really new or a rebuild. Do you have any info. on this?

[Brucelee]

Originally Posted by MNBoxster

Hi,

I agree, it's best to take it easy with any New engine. But, I think you need to make a distinction here between a New engine and what Porsche refers to in all it's internal literature and TSBs as a Replacement Engine, not a new engine. I think we'd find there to be a distinct difference.

I have a good friend who is South African, but lives in California. He came to this country 20 years ago as a Factory Trained Lotus Mechanic, working for Lotus USA, whose job it was to take failed warranty engines and rebuild them for Lotus.

These were stripped and any faulty parts replaced, while all others were measured and if found within spec were reintroduced into the new engine. The reassembled engines were then shelved as certified replacement engines.

I suspect Porsche operates under much the same procedures, albeit perhaps not located in the US. This would explain why the replacement engines don't require the standard break-in that a truly new engine would require. If you read the Dealer TSBs on replacement engines, you'll find that many of the ancillaries, such as waterpumps, alternators, intakes, etc. are not supplied with the replacement engines and must be exchanged with the failed warranty engine. This says, to me at least, that Porsche is using replacement cores and not total engines...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

According to my service manager, the replacement engines that Porsche uses are actually new motors. However, they do reuse certain external parts, such as fuel injection units, pulleys etc.

In that sense, they cannot claim that the engine in "new" but I have been assured that the block and all internals are all brand new.

For what it is worth1

If it were mine, I would keep it under 4,200 RPM for the first 2,000 miles. I would also change the oil at the 1,000 mile mark. This is exactly how I did the break-in for my car this spring.