proper break in period
- Thread starter 93cobra12
- Start date
ECU5.0
Banned
also...use regular oil to break it in...dont use synthetic...my boss talked some guy into using synthetic in his brand new crate motor 350 for his first oil change and the guy has to come back every week for another quart because the rings didnt ever get to seat properly.
Just mix it up. Drive 50 or so miles on the highway and then get off on to a street. Some guys think they can just get the car running, and then run it 500 miles on the highway and call it good. Its like working out or warming up; you cant just do one exercise for hours on end at the exact same speed. You'll feel like crap.
I always thought a heavy load would be best like 5th gear pulls from 30 MPH or something. Isn't that what they do during break in on a dyno? They can break in a motor in like an hour or so by varying the load and so on. the bearings dont need a break in per say it has more to do with the rings and camshaft (if you have a flat tappet cam). So a load shouldn't hurt it... I may be wrong but I hear something different from everyone I ask. This seems to be the most consistant thing I hear. "Drive how your gonna drive it, just try to vary the speed for a while and change your oil after 500 miles or so"
65ShelbyClone
Founding Member
The instructions that came with my rings said to accelerate from 30 to 50mph at WOT without lugging or revving too high and to do it like around 5 times. The high load would supposedly seat the rings quickly. Then it was something to the effect of driving driving normally for 500 miles without keeping a steady rpm for too long. I dunno, I just kind of drive it and spend alot of time shifting thanks to the soft low-end and 2.73 gears(like 4th-5th-4th). We'll see how it is when 2000 miles roll over.
P.S. - If your bearings are "breaking in", you have other problems.
P.S. - If your bearings are "breaking in", you have other problems.
I've brought a few fresh motors to the dyno, the break in there consists of warming it up and putting a little load on it and varying the rpm's for about 20 mins (cam was broke in before we went to the dyno). Then we did 3-4 short pulls, then let it rip (574hp/509tq in case you were wondering). As some others have stated, don't take it on a long interstate cruise, or the rings will take a long time to seat. Give it some short WOT blasts, short drives on the highway and after 500 miles change the oil then have fun.
dvs bullet
New Member
IndyBlk5.0
New Member
my machine shop that just built my engine (is VERY reputatble it seems in indianapolis) said to start it up and run it at a high idle for 20 minutes at first before you drive it, then go have fun, but not to red line or anything , change oil at 500
5.0 HOtrain
Founding Member
Mine ran on the dyno with some load for about 15 minutes, then oil change, head re-torque and a valve lash double check. Then a few pulls at 6k, some at 6400, some at 6700 and some at 6800. Never skipped a beat or blew a puff of smoke. 
Will change the oil when it goes into the car, then about 300-500 miles later, will run a synthetic mix.
Will change the oil when it goes into the car, then about 300-500 miles later, will run a synthetic mix.
5.0 HOtrain
Founding Member
86Cobra
Founding Member
Roller cam motors don't need a break in period. Start it and run it for 10 minutes or so then change the oil. Now go beat the piss out of it.
ECU5.0
Banned
86Cobra said:
that makes no sense. i know what your saying about a roller cam not needing to be broken in....but what about an all new engine...piston rings dont need to seat properly?
86Cobra
Founding Member
Rings seat very quickly or they don't seat at all. The first wot throttle pull after the oil change will seat the rings.
the guys at my mechanic shop say to drive it aroudn like normal by going through all the rpm ranges 1-5, buy not going past half thorttle since i have a supercharger and they dont want me to see any boost.. My only concern is alot of people on this post say similiar things.. About running it for 10-20 mins at WOT then change the oil then beat it like a drum. Do i need to hit 500 miles for the first oil change? what happends if the rings dont seat?
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