Red Lining the Engine at the Factory

[exbimmer]

Does anyone know if the engine is redlined at the factory before implementing to the car? Breaking an engine is important but just curious for trivial purposes.....

 

[PFWiz]

Does anyone know if the engine is redlined at the factory before implementing to the car? Breaking an engine is important but just curious for trivial purposes.....

Why in Gods name would they redline a brand spanking new engine? I worked in assorted auto plants for years and never saw (or heard) that done even once.

 

[Volfy]

I don't know where all these rumors come from, but I do know in motorcycle circles, some of them stem from mfr promo videos showcasing their production process, which happen to show glimpse of their motorcycles being run on the dyno prior to leaving the factory floor. What they don't tell you is that those "dyno runs" are typically not for benchmarking peak HP/torque, but for initial break-in. For example, every Ducati engine is said to be run-in for ten minutes or more on the dyno using a prescribed rpm and temperature sequence. Bang off the rev limiter they do not.

BTW, it isn't uncommon to hear some folks claim engines today do not require break-in. Nothing could be further from the truth. While mfg processes and materials engineering are more advanced compared to yester years, vehicles today run so buttery smooth right off the showroom floor because of all the sophisticated feedback control systems governing every aspect of the engine operation. The ECU can compensate for a wide latitude of operating conditions. If you were to strip away all that computerized control and just slap on a dumb carburetor, a brand new engine will still cough, splutter and generally run like s**t, until the engine is run-in properly.

 

[exbimmer]

I don't know where all these rumors come from, but I do know in motorcycle circles, some of them stem from mfr promo videos showcasing their production process, which happen to show glimpse of their motorcycles being run on the dyno prior to leaving the factory floor. What they don't tell you is that those "dyno runs" are typically not for benchmarking peak HP/torque, but for initial break-in. For example, every Ducati engine is said to be run-in for ten minutes or more on the dyno using a prescribed rpm and temperature sequence. Bang off the rev limiter they do not.

BTW, it isn't uncommon to hear some folks claim engines today do not require break-in. Nothing could be further from the truth. While mfg processes and materials engineering are more advanced compared to yester years, vehicles today run so buttery smooth right off the showroom floor because of all the sophisticated feedback control systems governing every aspect of the engine operation. The ECU can compensate for a wide latitude of operating conditions. If you were to strip away all that computerized control and just slap on a dumb carburetor, a brand new engine will still cough, splutter and generally run like s**t, until the engine is run-in properly.

Thanks Volfy. When I bought my Bimmer some time ago, the dealership said BMW would redline their engines before installing them in to the car. What you say makes sense.

 

[Aquineas]

I could have sworn I read an article once about a manufacturer which dyno-tested every engine. I'm going from memory though, and I admit I could be off.