General Ordered mine today:)
- Thread starter Nuova500
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General Ordered mine today:)
OP
OP
60s eyes, great idea... had them on my Vespa for a while.... well maybe not right for the 500 but I now know what might be, thanks for inspiration, youve saved me £100
baldrick500
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Check this site out for an alternative view on running in.
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm
Admittedly aimed at motorcycle engines but the concept is the same.
OP
OP
read that before and its wrong you try running in a 2 stroke engine like that and it will seize in no time... I do however know someone whos had two puntos, an 8v and 16v and ran them up to red line straight away with no issues for years.
you try running in a 2 stroke engine like that and it will seize in no time... I do however know someone whos had two puntos, an 8v and 16v and ran them up to red line straight away with no issues for years.
So are you going to tell us...?
baldrick500
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It does state that it applies to 4 stroke engines only though...read that before and its wrong
Ignore that, just seen your other thread
OP
OP
true, but its just got to be wrong surely... nothings bedded in, just seems bad.
read that before and its wrong
I have had many 2 strokes (in my Superkarts) and yes, you need to accelerate flat out, but not redline them from new.
I'm just going to make sure the engine is nice and warm before it gets any stick, vary engine speeds and be progressive with the throttle. It worked with my Ka and that engine is really sweet and rev happy compared to my mum's Ka which feels a bit harsh and unwilling.
It worked with my Ka and that engine is really sweet and rev happy compared to my mum's Ka which feels a bit harsh and unwilling.
Simon Bell
New member
The engine on my Caterham was run in hard......
You basically make sure the oil is up to temp, at least 10 minutes driving, then you can begin to use the full rev range. You also need to make sure you are using mineral oil....NOT synthetic. You need a little wear for everything to bed in and synthetic will not let that happen leading to glazed bores.
No problems with my engine.
HOWEVER
Where you are wanting to take advantage of a manufacturers warranty then you must run it in according to the manufacturers instructions. I don't know how sophisticated the ecu's are but its quite possible for ecu's to have logging technology which might record maximum revs etc.
Some engines are pre run in anyway, not sure about small Fiat engines but certainly larger perofrmance engines would be run in on the dyno bench.
You basically make sure the oil is up to temp, at least 10 minutes driving, then you can begin to use the full rev range. You also need to make sure you are using mineral oil....NOT synthetic. You need a little wear for everything to bed in and synthetic will not let that happen leading to glazed bores.
No problems with my engine.
HOWEVER
Where you are wanting to take advantage of a manufacturers warranty then you must run it in according to the manufacturers instructions. I don't know how sophisticated the ecu's are but its quite possible for ecu's to have logging technology which might record maximum revs etc.
Some engines are pre run in anyway, not sure about small Fiat engines but certainly larger perofrmance engines would be run in on the dyno bench.
OP
OP
exactly right about mineral oil there, however I bet Fiat dont put mineral in when you get it I ran my new Panda 1.2 in carefully and then after 9000 miles it started rattling from cold badly, dealer said it was because I ran it in too carefully and to thrash it for a bit, did as he said and it worked, weird or what!
I ran my new Panda 1.2 in carefully and then after 9000 miles it started rattling from cold badly, dealer said it was because I ran it in too carefully and to thrash it for a bit, did as he said and it worked, weird or what!
OP
OP
the price is a big problem, I have nearly 10k in place for the car but need 11k now... going to have to stop eating for a while! I had to have the 1.3 though, I just know Id regret it after a few months. Dont forget I tried the 1.2 60bhp Panda as no 500 available. Im sure the extra 9bhp in the 500 will make it far nicer. For me the clattery diesel is closer to the original cars sound, or so Im kidding myself
I think it was definitely worth it (well I'll give you my answer for sure when I collect mine) I was wringing my hands about the extra £1400 for a long time but in my experience of these things going one up eliminates regrets rather than creates them!
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OP
OP
absolutely, I regreted having the Panda with the 1.2 instead of waiting for the diesel. Im more patient nowadays Roll on delivery time. I dont mind the wait though, still running in a new Vespa and plenty of things to be doing with the fleet of other cars
Roll on delivery time. I dont mind the wait though, still running in a new Vespa and plenty of things to be doing with the fleet of other cars
Simon Bell
New member
I suspect Fiat will use a semi synthetic which will probably be OK. Mineral oil is getting harder to obtain these days. When running in engines on Caterham builds we go to the local motor factors and buy budget mineral oil, run it for 1500 miles then switch over to proper fully synth. Those 1500 miles need to be hard miles to get it to bed in within that time period.
baldrick500
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9 bhp is a fair percentage increase though, and if other reviews are anything to go by the 1.2 sounds better in the 500. My daughter has the 1.2 in a Punto Grande and that feels as you describe, not much character and pretty gutless, although she is thrilled with it (she had a Ford Ka before).Went for a test drive today in the Panda 1.2, it was a Dynamic with climate and two years old with 13,000 miles so well run in... this was to see how I liked the addmitedly less powered 1.2. Within a couple of miles I was bored rigid, I was really having to drive it hard three up to get any sort of performance. The salesman said dont forget the 500 has 9 bhp more, got on the motorway and the poor little car was struggling to make 60 mph at the end of the slip road.
When we got back I said can I try the 500 1.3 again to compare it, he said of course so we did the same circuit three up again. This time I opened the 500 up more than before and boy she flew
Thing is, the 1.3 just sounds nice, it growls and the torque is brilliant. The 1.2 Panda was for me too quiet and souless. Of course the Panda does ride far better than the 500, although it had 13"s and the 500 16"s.
It sounds like you have found the perfect match in the 1.3 though. Judging from the reviews I have seen each of the three engines being selected by journalists as the pick of the bunch, which is quite unusual as normally there is more consensus. I think this is good news for 500 owners.
I drove the 1.4 and was suitably impressed. It felt right for the car, willing to rev and sounded good with it. Given the low mileage I would go for the more powerful petrol over the more torquey diesel - simple preference. It is not an easy choice though and I don't believe there is a bad engine in the range.
Cheers
baldrick
OP
OP
Think Im going to ring the ealer Monday and add the Climate and fogs, its only £350 after all and I really did want both options... thats now an £11300 tiny little shopping car, ouch!
