Running-in Basics

When you bought your new motorcycle or scooter, your dealer might have told you to use caution for the first few hundred kilometers. He would have advised you against riding fast, taking a pillion along, blipping the throttle etc. It will be mentioned in your user manual as well. This is called running-in.

Running-in (or breaking-in) is a procedure by which a new piece of machinery is made to run under reduced load to ensure proper meshing of moving parts and in turn ensure longevity of the equipment. This procedure is commonly done in new engines. The goal is to make sure there is tight and even setting of the piston rings in to the cylinder walls. Every bit of size and shape adjustment must be done so that it can settle into a stable bond for the rest of their working life. In simpler words, imagine you’re given some clay and ask to make something useful with it before it hardens.

Some of the common precautions that help are:

Keep the revs low
As tempting as it might be to open the throttle and enjoy quick sudden bursts of acceleration, it's advisable to keep the revs moderately low and avoid sudden bursts of acceleration. Avoid taking a heavy pillion or climbing steep slopes as they too stress the engine.

Vary the revs
Do not keep the revs constant for any length of time. Keep accelerating and deceleration alternately, while changing gears often. Also means don’t let the vehicle idle.

Don’t let it get hot
If you’re riding long, take constant breaks as new engines tend to get hot quite soon.

First service is very important
Don’t neglect your first service. This is when the engine oil is changed for the first time. This first oil change must be done well within the time period prescribed by your dealer. Tiny metal silvers get removed with the first oil change.

There are no official guidelines to run-in a vehicle. There are many theories related as to how to properly run-in your vehicle. Some experts believe in stressing your engine hard to obtain a good run-in; however, it's best to stick to the proven guidelines given in the owner’s manual.

This procedure applies mainly to motorcycle and scooters. Cars have bigger engines and they don’t really require a run-in as most of it is done by the manufacturers before delivery.

Happy motoring… :)

This is an article I had written for my college magazine. Just thought I'd share it here too. :)