Does Honda hold back performance on new engines?

[guest2865]

When my new 1.4 ES Jazz passed through approx 3000 miles I imagined that there was a noticeable increase in power and response.  I wonder if manufacturers constrain performance on new engines to facilitate bedding in and longer life - the way we used to observe 'running in' recommendations in the past?  It would be easy to do so in the Firmware of the ECU.

Any views on this?

[guest869]

I will ask at work. I do not work for Honda but do work for a manufacturer of cars.

[chrisc]

This is quite noticable and occurs between 5000 and 10000km.  The fuel economy increases too.  My sister in law has a 1995 Jazz auto but she lives in Johannesburg (elevation 2000 metres) where small engines have less power (about 17%) and remarked on this.

Mine has only done 6600km so it has a way to go

[guest2865]

This is quite noticable and occurs between 5000 and 10000km.  The fuel economy increases too.  My sister in law has a 1995 Jazz auto but she lives in Johannesburg (elevation 2000 metres) where small engines have less power (about 17%) and remarked on this.

Mine has only done 6600km so it has a way to go

I don't mean the increase we all get in performance as the mileage increases and the mechanics bed in. 

I mean a new set of engine management parameters being switched in around 3000 miles (5000km) as part of Honda's strategy in looking after a new engine.

I have also had much better fuel consumption - a holiday trip resulted in 56 mpg which is WAY more than I have ever had - granted it was a long drive rather than local commuting - but 56 mpg !!!

[guest3250]

I got mine 2nd hand at 14750miles.
I have had cause to do a reasonable amount of 'Holiday driving'
(usually don't do too many miles in a year) and as such I have
been crusing the car at or around 3000rpm for hundreds of miles
The engine seems to have improved all round to a small degree - something
much like an engine running in or loosening up - could be mine has not
been stretched much before I got it.
Anyway - in my experience most cars carry on improving gradually right up
into the 20's 30s of thousands of miles and often even beyond if treated well.
As to the question of building it into the program - it is not impossible and I would suggest
it would make a lot of sense.

[chrisc]

Probably because you are driving it regularly.  Cars that stand for days on end need quite a lot of driving to get them back to normal.

Neighbour spends 6 months of the year in UK and 6 months here.  He leaves me his car (Audi A8) to drive around once a month as first time he came back car was dreadful for a week.  Only problem car is heavy on petrol (18 litres/100km).  His housekeeper won't drive his car as she thinks it is too big