Hi All

Had my 100 HP about 3 weeks now - done just over 1050 miles Great fun to drive!!

I've been trying to run it in and was following a compromise of dealer advice (to keep below 3000 rpm for the first 1000 miles) and advice from onehundredhp.com (to keep below 3500 rpm for the first 1000 miles) ie below 3000rpm for the first 500miles then below 3500rpm from 500 onwards to 1000 miles. Also been trying to drive it really gently which has been hard.

Occasionally I've gone beyond that up to 4500 if its been "impossible to avoid" ie having too much fun:devil:

Now that I've passed the 1000miles mark I'm pushing the car a little harder, but have noticed a flat spot around 4000 rpm when pulling hard in higher gears - I think 4th or 5th ? ie around 4000 it doestn't seem quite as willing.

Is this just part of the running in process? Anyone else noticed similar?

I've been using Shell V-Power exclusively to fill up, except for the very first 2 tank fulls.

Interesting, my dealership told me to keep it under 3750rpm for the first 600 miles :chin:

Currently have 450 on the clock, been over it once or twice, just not making a habit of it. I am using Greenergy 99 RON fuel.

Not really noticed any flat spots yet - although car does feel different to my old one.

I wasn't told anything specific about running in the car.
So far it has done just over 11.000 km and running just fine. I haven't noticed any flatspots as such, but there seems to be a very noticable "kick" around 2.000 rpm and then again at 4.000 rpm. I might be mistaken, but I seem to remember reading somewhere, that the engine has VVT (variable valve timing) which would explain the "kick" at 4.000 rpm. If someone knows differently please let me know
As for economy, it depends on how heavy my right foot is. Gentle acc. and driving no faster than 100-110 km/h on the motorway makes it able to do 16-16,5 km/l (the average according to Fiat is 15,4 km/l). Faster than 110 km/h is very bad for the fuel economy and so is heavy acc. I should problably mention that I drive with the SPORT button on at all times. My overall average over 11.000 km is 14,79 km/l with a high of 17,28 km/l and a low of 12,43 km/l.
At 7.000 km I checked the oil level and it had used 1/3 of litre so that seems ok.

And I can confirm that engine cut-off is at 7.000 rpm

The only thing I miss is the kick i got when acc. from 140 km/h in my old Stilo Multijet

Just been for a drive around again and have been experimenting with and without SPORT enabled - now I'm not so sure about the flat spot. I've been pushing at a lot harder - first time I really put my foot down, and its definately getting more willing. Maybe it was part of the running in ...

With SPORT mode enabled combined with the handling it feels like a rocket !

Well mines now done 1800 miles and i never ran in it all, ive given it a hard life since day dot.. and ive not had any troubles to date and only used 1/4 of a litre of oil, the one thing i will say is i never cain it from cold and i always let the engine run for a minute before and after any journey. as for fuel i use sainsbury's..

I have to say i'm not too sure about the running in of new engines.
Engines today are of a much higher engineering and manufacturing quality than before, so perhaps a modern engine doesn't actually need a dedicated run in period.
As long as you rememeber not to floor it when it's cold and check/change the oil at indicated intervals (and everything else stated by the service book), I don't think there will be any problems later on, at least that's my personal experience with my previous Punto JTD (bought from new and sold at 210.000 km) and my old Stilo Multijet (bought from new and sold/returned to dealer due to gearbox problems at 65.000 km) neither of these cars were "run in" and neither had any serious faults (except the Stilo, but that was a problem already at delivery).
I also floor it hard at least once a week in 2nd and 3rd gear (again only when the engine is at running temperature).

I was told that running-in wasn't necessary.It does seem that some days it goes better than others,the engine does seem a bit more highly-strung than most others cars more noticeble when in 'Sport',very difficult to drive it smoothly.Somebody has told me it has a 'learning' ECU so maybe that has something to do with it

Thanks for all your replies

I agree with your comments about not thrashing it when cold and giving it the weekly odd thrash to vary the rev range.

The last "sporty" car I had was 10 years ago - a Citroen Xsara VTS with the same 2 litre engine shared by the 306 GTI-6, but unfortunately a 5 speed gearbox. Also unfortunately it was a complete lemon and had about double the fuel consumption of the 100HP, but half as much fun !

By the way Andy Panda, I saw a new white 100HP awaiting collection at the Worthing PDH on Friday afternoon. It looked stunning. Given the amount of seagull cr*p thats landed on my roof where I work in Worthing since I bought it, perhaps white would have been a better choice instead of black lol

Glad to hear you are making good use of your Panda 100hp!

I too felt some small 'flat spots', or at least some 'dull spots' where the car would seem reluctant to accelerate during early running in. I was very careful with the running in and found that as it approached 2000kms, the spots had all but disappeared. I haven't noticed them at all since then, so I assume it was part of the engines tightness.

Enjoy it!

The engine is very tight when new compared to most modern engines and I found it self restricted itself while running in.

I went up to 4000 for the first 800 miles, if you tried to go over it felt strained and wouldn't pull, up to about 1200 miles the brick wall moved to 5000 rpm and it wasn't 'til 1600 miles it would happily rev to 6000. Now at 2400 and it will rev happily to the redline and beyond though there's not a lot of point as all the grunt is between 4000 and 5500.

There are no flat spots so it's probably just that tighness you're feeling.

Mines used no oil at all and I thrash it everywhere now.

ive managed 125mph on a motorway, no probs, tis the most fun car i hav ever driven, keeps up wiv alot of cars, had a few looks wen i hav gone past at 100mph, bmw drivers are the best reactions

Omad said:

Well mines now done 1800 miles and i never ran in it all, ive given it a hard life since day dot.. and ive not had any troubles to date and only used 1/4 of a litre of oil, the one thing i will say is i never cain it from cold and i always let the engine run for a minute before and after any journey. as for fuel i use sainsbury's..

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Where did you get your top up oil from and what did you use?

Mine has done 1000 miles and I haven't checked the oil since doing the first few hundred. I think I should check it now and top up if necessary?

Just make sure you use a decent brand such as Shell Helix or Fiats own and make sure its 10W/40 for top-ups although the 1.4 16V StarJet engine seems rather good on not burning oil!

I am now sitting on 4400 Miles and the car goes at the end of the week but I have to say I had no flat spots at all when running in the car (1200 miles) and certainly not now! The car really pulls from 4400rpm on to 6500rpm where I get the impression taking it upto 7000 is pointless as the engine is making that sound that says nothing more to give!

I have a guess what the flat spot may be and my guess is lack of torque and the enjoyment of being thrashed! If you put your foot down in 3rd gear or above below 3000rpm you wont see any action until the revs build to around a healthy 4400rpm... My advice :slayer: keep it on the boil and your sure to have many thrills!

Cheers

gran_turismo4 said:

ive managed 125mph on a motorway, no probs, tis the most fun car i hav ever driven, keeps up wiv alot of cars, had a few looks wen i hav gone past at 100mph, bmw drivers are the best reactions

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Hi Gran turismo Driving on british roads at 90 mph+ and caught doing it, you will lose your licence and you may lose more than that.Driving for real is not a game.Leave fast driving to Alonso and his crowd who drive fast in a very safe and controled enviroment.If you want to drive fast go to a local race track and get an expert to show how its done.10 people died today on uk roads alot of the deaths were caused by inapropiate speed.So Gran Turismo dont be number 11.Stay safe

:yeahthat: 70 MPH is the motorway limit give or take abit but 125 is abit quick... Also openly saying that on a forum may land you in trouble.

I also have doubts to the Panda 100HP reaching 125 MPH as an HGT Punto 1.8 16V can only just do over that (on a private track), either your speedo is out or your flying down a hill

Cheers

The police will be tolerant up to around 80mph if they feel like it.Anything above and you will usually atract their attension.They will then follow and gather evidence by use of recording equipment before they pull you.The result would probably be a six month ban or more depending on speed.This would be the case even if you didn't have any points.

gran_turismo4 said:

ive managed 125mph on a motorway, no probs, tis the most fun car i hav ever driven, keeps up wiv alot of cars, had a few looks wen i hav gone past at 100mph, bmw drivers are the best reactions

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LOL I pass 100 mph in 1.2 panda and the audis and bmws drivers don't seem to be impressed, but then it was at Frankfurt, and those guys are jaded big time, man... they would not wink even if they were passed by naked Margaret Thatcher riding a bicycle ...

Shouldn't be reading the forum so carefully A couple of days ago I read the threads on 100 HPs crunchy gearbox... from that moment on I've been listening to the sounds my gearbox is making (in fact there are none).. The same with this thread on flat spots - today, two or three times, I had the feeling that during hard acceleration (in 2nd gear, sport mode ON) the car lost its power (around 4k rpm). Didn't get that feeling with "sport" switched off... What do You think - is it just my imagination or the fact that the engine has VVT... or maybe I'm reading the forum too carefully

I find to run a new engine in the best policy is to not thrash or labour the engine from new. Try to vary your road speeds ie dont do 100 miles at 70mph constantly, the engine needs variation to run itself in. Once you have done 600 miles or so drop the oil and then slowly start to increase the revs until you have got it totally run in. It takes a while for any new engine to loosen up thats why economy gets better as the miles go up.

Thrashing from cold is always a big no no.

Mine has been driven normally from day 1. No flat spots or oil usage so far and the brakes don't even squeal in reverse

Chris