Type R Running in period
Discussion
Appologies for digging up previously raised subjects, but the more people I speak to about the recommended running in periods for Civics the more confusing it gets.
The running in period is pretty important to me because I'm a high mileage driver (around 38k miles a year) and the smooth breaking in of the engine usually means the engine holds together better as the car gets worn.
The Honda garage have told me that running in isn't necessary nowadays and it's probably better I go easy for the first 200 miles or so, but not esential. A mate of mine collected his new car around 3 weeks ago (from a different garage) and they told him to take it really easy for the first 500 miles, go a little quicker (but not hammer it) until you reach 1500, then get an oil change.
I read the post about what the handbook says, but that sounds pretty vague (kinda like, go easy while it's new).
I've sent an Email to Honda to ask what they recommend directly, I'll post any reply I receive.
Mark.
The running in period is pretty important to me because I'm a high mileage driver (around 38k miles a year) and the smooth breaking in of the engine usually means the engine holds together better as the car gets worn.
The Honda garage have told me that running in isn't necessary nowadays and it's probably better I go easy for the first 200 miles or so, but not esential. A mate of mine collected his new car around 3 weeks ago (from a different garage) and they told him to take it really easy for the first 500 miles, go a little quicker (but not hammer it) until you reach 1500, then get an oil change.
I read the post about what the handbook says, but that sounds pretty vague (kinda like, go easy while it's new).
I've sent an Email to Honda to ask what they recommend directly, I'll post any reply I receive.
Mark.
I'd be interested in that one, pick mine up on Saturday, will let you know what my dealer says about running in, not that I would believe him anyway, don't get me wrong, he's not one of those lieing type dealers, I just asked him some not particularly technical questions and he just stared at me as if I'd just asked him what the meaning of life was.
If the dealers are as knowledgeable about the CTR as they are about the S2000 I should just follow what it says in the manual.
My manual said 600 miles/1000kms - no vtec, so I didn't, every dealer I have spoken to has said different, mainly salesmen saying thrash from day 1, workshop guys 50/50.
I don't want a car that spends weeks in the garage as the miles increse so I took the 'sensible' route and did 600 miles (well, OK, 580 miles) under 6000rpm.
I don't trust Honda dealers to give me knowledgeable advice about the S2000, I got my courtesy call from the dealership that supplied my car the other day:-
I told her the only thing I found was that the tyres were at 40psi - the manual and everyone I've spoken to with an S2000 says 32 and the S2000 is sensitive to tyre pressures. She said she would speak to the technician who did the PDI check (the tyre pressure box was ticked).
20 Minutes later she called back and said that they couldn't have been 40psi, the technician told her so, he said it must be:-
Me measuring the pressure when the tyres were warm (no, it was the first thing I did on the morning I collected the car, it had been standing outside all night).
My tyre guage (no, I spent £25 on a tyre guage because of warnings on this board, I have since checked it against my father in law's super accurate engineers guage, they tally)
Have I read the sticker inside the door, am I sure it is supposed to be 32psi (yes, and it also says 32psi).
eventually....
Well, I'm only passing on what the technician told me.....
Well, i'm only telling you because 40psi is not safe on the S2000 and perhaps in future your technicians should write the pressures on the PDI document.
Yes, well, thanks for your comments, bye....
So read the manual, do what it says and then at least you're covered if anything breaks.....
My manual said 600 miles/1000kms - no vtec, so I didn't, every dealer I have spoken to has said different, mainly salesmen saying thrash from day 1, workshop guys 50/50.
I don't want a car that spends weeks in the garage as the miles increse so I took the 'sensible' route and did 600 miles (well, OK, 580 miles) under 6000rpm.
I don't trust Honda dealers to give me knowledgeable advice about the S2000, I got my courtesy call from the dealership that supplied my car the other day:-
I told her the only thing I found was that the tyres were at 40psi - the manual and everyone I've spoken to with an S2000 says 32 and the S2000 is sensitive to tyre pressures. She said she would speak to the technician who did the PDI check (the tyre pressure box was ticked).
20 Minutes later she called back and said that they couldn't have been 40psi, the technician told her so, he said it must be:-
Me measuring the pressure when the tyres were warm (no, it was the first thing I did on the morning I collected the car, it had been standing outside all night).
My tyre guage (no, I spent £25 on a tyre guage because of warnings on this board, I have since checked it against my father in law's super accurate engineers guage, they tally)
Have I read the sticker inside the door, am I sure it is supposed to be 32psi (yes, and it also says 32psi).
eventually....
Well, I'm only passing on what the technician told me.....
Well, i'm only telling you because 40psi is not safe on the S2000 and perhaps in future your technicians should write the pressures on the PDI document.
Yes, well, thanks for your comments, bye....
So read the manual, do what it says and then at least you're covered if anything breaks.....
Thanks for the advice Mark I'll stick to the info in the manual for the running in period. I can't see it being too much of a chore, we are talking about 6000 rpm here!
Hardly as restrictive as the 3000 rpm limit on running in the Elise, also the Elise K-Series when run in was limited to 6500rpm anyway.
Roll on Monday and let the fun commence..
Hardly as restrictive as the 3000 rpm limit on running in the Elise, also the Elise K-Series when run in was limited to 6500rpm anyway.
Roll on Monday and let the fun commence..
Ok chaps, I have a response:
Dear Mr Woodyatt,
Thank you for taking the time to contact Honda (UK).
We would like to clarify our position on this matter; Honda do not specify
a run-in period for the Civic Type 'R' nor do we recommend that the oil be
changed at 1500 miles. I apologise if the differing opinions have caused
you some confusion. For further clarification please refer to page 276 of
the Owner's Manual which will confirm the above statement.
Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any further queries.
Yours sincerely,
Amber Jones
Honda (UK)
Still none really the wiser, I guess I'll be taking it easy for the first 1000 just for peace of mind.
Dear Mr Woodyatt,
Thank you for taking the time to contact Honda (UK).
We would like to clarify our position on this matter; Honda do not specify
a run-in period for the Civic Type 'R' nor do we recommend that the oil be
changed at 1500 miles. I apologise if the differing opinions have caused
you some confusion. For further clarification please refer to page 276 of
the Owner's Manual which will confirm the above statement.
Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any further queries.
Yours sincerely,
Amber Jones
Honda (UK)
Still none really the wiser, I guess I'll be taking it easy for the first 1000 just for peace of mind.After 5 minutes of waiting on hold 
I can finally settle the matter 
. I spoke to a very cheery girl who had apparently just e-mailed out an answer to the same question.
There is no running in period whatsoever on a CTR.
There may be confusion as S2000s are supposed to be run in & the oil changed at an early stage.
Unsurpisingly!??! these are different cars with different engines so should be treated differently.
Official Honda line!
I did complain that the dealers apparently have different song sheets, but told her the car was fab & I loved it.
I can finally settle the matter . I spoke to a very cheery girl who had apparently just e-mailed out an answer to the same question. There is no running in period whatsoever on a CTR.
There may be confusion as S2000s are supposed to be run in & the oil changed at an early stage.
Unsurpisingly!??! these are different cars with different engines so should be treated differently.
Official Honda line!
I did complain that the dealers apparently have different song sheets, but told her the car was fab & I loved it.
Well, mine should arrive in a fortnight, and i'll be keeping it below 5k for the first 100, and then redlines all the way.
I shall try and resist hard braking and cornering with an inside read in the air for the first 500 or so to give the brakes/tyres some run-in.
First oil change i'm not sure about, as i'll be tracking the car fairly quickly (700-3k miles) so wil probably change afterwards just incase.
I shall try and resist hard braking and cornering with an inside read in the air for the first 500 or so to give the brakes/tyres some run-in.
First oil change i'm not sure about, as i'll be tracking the car fairly quickly (700-3k miles) so wil probably change afterwards just incase.
I'm glad I found this because it was one of the questions I had. The last demo I took out had 5 miles on the clock when I jumped in it - the engine was really tight compared to the other higher mileage example I borrowed.
I wouldve thought 500 miles would be the norm - and making sure the engine was well and truly warm before taking it over 6k.
Mines on contract so it doesnt matter so much if i knacker it but i would still like the best from the motor.
Looking at the lower mileage CTRs on the rolling road www.ex-s.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi they provide some disappointing results. I doubt they come on some pre 3k anyway whayever you do.
I wouldve thought 500 miles would be the norm - and making sure the engine was well and truly warm before taking it over 6k.
Mines on contract so it doesnt matter so much if i knacker it but i would still like the best from the motor.
Looking at the lower mileage CTRs on the rolling road www.ex-s.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi they provide some disappointing results. I doubt they come on some pre 3k anyway whayever you do.
Broccoli, I would say 500 miles is more than enough to get these Honda engines run in. I'm surprised how eager the engine was in my car, considering when I picked it up it only had 8 miles on the clock! As long as you make sure the engine is nice and warm I'm sure it would not have any negative effects on it.
I think one of things that shocked me most was how I had to adjust to having such a wide range of revs to use. In my Elise if I had been wizzing around at 5500rpm I would have been accused of caning it. Not in the CTR you aren't, you are barely pushing it! I have got into the habit of short shifting it to keep the revs down : usually 1st - 3rd - 5th when I around town.
Broccoli, let me assure you, you are going to have some serious fun in this car.
I think one of things that shocked me most was how I had to adjust to having such a wide range of revs to use. In my Elise if I had been wizzing around at 5500rpm I would have been accused of caning it. Not in the CTR you aren't, you are barely pushing it! I have got into the habit of short shifting it to keep the revs down : usually 1st - 3rd - 5th when I around town.
Broccoli, let me assure you, you are going to have some serious fun in this car.
Adeewuff, I'm pleased that you're chuffed with your CTR but gonae no say 'Vtech' as they are a company that make electronic toys. Drop the 'h' for VTEC.
WTF are you dropping gears on a motorway for simple overtaking?
Running in? just thrash em from zero miles, they'll be fine ;-) They car won't VTEC util it is happy about temperature and oil pressuree anyway.
WTF are you dropping gears on a motorway for simple overtaking?
Running in? just thrash em from zero miles, they'll be fine ;-) They car won't VTEC util it is happy about temperature and oil pressuree anyway.
Sorry Dave, I kept thinking it looked wrong every time I typed it.. VTEC it is then.. thanks! 
You can make rapid progress without thrashing the engine of course, which is what I'm doing most of the time anyway. Although I can see that staying out of the VTEC zone is going to be a problem, the sound of the induction is amazing!
You can make rapid progress without thrashing the engine of course, which is what I'm doing most of the time anyway. Although I can see that staying out of the VTEC zone is going to be a problem, the sound of the induction is amazing!
Just re-read my last post - I'm transforming into Campbell, help!
Without reading the whole thread again I can't be sure if this has been mentioned but.......
Those of you with VTEC and Type-R Hondas especially with induction kits, have a quick glance at the look of drivers you overtake when you hit the loud VTEC zone on the way by their window. Makes me laugh everytime. Had an old woman in a Focus near snapping her neck looking round saying something along the lines of What the FFFFu...
Without reading the whole thread again I can't be sure if this has been mentioned but.......
Those of you with VTEC and Type-R Hondas especially with induction kits, have a quick glance at the look of drivers you overtake when you hit the loud VTEC zone on the way by their window. Makes me laugh everytime. Had an old woman in a Focus near snapping her neck looking round saying something along the lines of What the FFFFu...
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