194 miles into break-in

[XiKeiyaZI]

So I've got 192 miles in on my rebuilt engine. I've noticed a few things which I detail below along with the way I've been driving it.

Miles 1-50 : I started off easy... and slowly eased into it. Per the Motoman break-in method I accelerated and allowed the car to engine brake from 35-55-35. I did this for about 5 miles total. The Rest was driving with complete cool-down every 10-15 miles.

Oil Change

Miles 50-100 : I drove the car easy and steady, varying between 3rd and 4th.

Miles 100-192 : I continued to drive steadily. I would ease into boost every now and then, and ran 2nd to 4.5K going up a hill. I'm still getting used to boost and wasn't quite expecting it to start pulling heading up from a stoplight like that.

So far it's still burning a bit of oil. I get a little mist of smoke, which the manual says will happen for a bit until the rings seat. =/ Wish they'd hurry up and seat...

I have noticed there is a little oil dripping somewhere and falling onto my exhaust which only ADDS to the blue smoke. I'm pretty sure it's the return line from my Turbo where it meets my oil pan. I'll be checking that today.

There are also a few noises that I'll be checking on when I get home today. I drove the car straight for 2 hours last night with absolutely no issues. I'm quite proud of her. I had to have at least assembled it half right for it to not have blown up by now, correct?

Any comments or suggestions? Any oil recommendations?

 

[90dsmboy]

Ams oil 20/50... The best worth buying

So I've got 192 miles in on my rebuilt engine. I've noticed a few things which I detail below along with the way I've been driving it.

Miles 1-50 : I started off easy... and slowly eased into it. Per the Motoman break-in method I accelerated and allowed the car to engine brake from 35-55-35. I did this for about 5 miles total. The Rest was driving with complete cool-down every 10-15 miles.

Oil Change

Miles 50-100 : I drove the car easy and steady, varying between 3rd and 4th.

Miles 100-192 : I continued to drive steadily. I would ease into boost every now and then, and ran 2nd to 4.5K going up a hill. I'm still getting used to boost and wasn't quite expecting it to start pulling heading up from a stoplight like that.

So far it's still burning a bit of oil. I get a little mist of smoke, which the manual says will happen for a bit until the rings seat. =/ Wish they'd hurry up and seat...

I have noticed there is a little oil dripping somewhere and falling onto my exhaust which only ADDS to the blue smoke. I'm pretty sure it's the return line from my Turbo where it meets my oil pan. I'll be checking that today.

There are also a few noises that I'll be checking on when I get home today. I drove the car straight for 2 hours last night with absolutely no issues. I'm quite proud of her. I had to have at least assembled it half right for it to not have blown up by now, correct?

Any comments or suggestions? Any oil recommendations?

 

[604CruisinCroat]

Oil pressure isn't high when in low rpms, once you get going, it rises. You can't expect it to be up there all the time.

 

[DSMified92]

hahahhaha ams oil runied my buddys motor. i run a oil that yal probably havnt heard about "shaffers".

 

[99gst_racer]

I have a Schaeffer's Oil t-shirt.

 

[XiKeiyaZI]

o_o... So it's normal for the oil pressure to be low? Such as... not in the 'recommended' bracket on the stock gauge?

Remember guys... a little over a year ago, I had no idea how a piston functioned. ;P I've got the bigger stuff down now... but the little things that I didn't bother researching never even came to mind.

What is the AVERAGE oil pressure.. via the stock gauge?

 

[99gst_racer]

The stock gauge really does suck. If you've got $60 laying around, pick up an aftermarket gauge. With my Autometer gauge, I read as low as 15 psi at idle with hot oil.

 

[XiKeiyaZI]

So, in theory... as long as there is oil flowing through the engine, all should be well?

Actually... I just realized that I have a mechanical oil pressure gauge at home. Came out of my parts talon. =/ But it's white faced.....Oh well.. time to crack the face off and fix that little issue.

On a side note, I'm reading over your setup... the entire layout of how to fabbed your compound turbo setup together. I love it.

If I had access to tools like that, or people around locally who were into these cars or knew what they were doing, I'd love to work on projects like these. I've got tons of little neat ideas, but no way to pursue their completion.

Like I said before... Last year Before I got my N/T running.. I had NO idea what a piston was or even how a Turbo worked. I thought Turbo was just a word. My learning experience? The guy 'working' on doing the 1.8-2.0 swap in my N/T flaked out on me so I decided to get it done myself. Now I own a GSX, have ripped into it after researching as much as I could, and put it back together... and drive it DAILY. I have to say that I'm quite proud.

I mention this... because it's actually people who take the time like yourself to help out. Hell, I enjoy reading the write-ups and how-to's. It's all a learning experience and a challenge, and I admire people who go out of their way to show how They do it, better ways to do it, and what not to do.

So in an awkward way; Thanks.

..... Now if only I can find a damned piece of info on 2ND Gear launching...

 

[99gst_racer]

Yup, as long as you have some oil pressure, you're OK. Naturally, you want oil pressure to increase with Load and RPM. So, in a extremely low load situation such as idle, it's OK for the oil pressure to drop low. And as you increase RPM and engine load, the oil pressure should rise to help maintain the film on all friction surfaces.

I started out the same way you did. I never had parents, relatives, or friends that were automotive gurus, so I learned by reading alot, and by slowly doing as much as I could on my own. After several years, I've got to the point where very few things are beyond my capabilities. It just take alot of time, patience, and the desire to learn. You more you do on your own, the more capable confident you become. Just that fact that you're here and learning, shows that you're on the right track.


What's with wanting to launch with 2nd gear? Are you using a manual trans or an automatic?

 

[XiKeiyaZI]

Haha. ;P I appreciate the confidence boost.

As far as the 2nd gear launching... I'm just curious as 1st is veeerrrryyy iffy...although the trans was recently rebuilt. Probably just user-error in shift linkage adjustments.

I, of course, am driving a manual. I know that Automatic is apparently the best for strip due to the lack of user-lag shifting. I just find automatic very boring.. and you can't control the car as well as you can with a manual.

However, even if the car is not up to par of doing this yet, I'd still like to know.

Alright...

I have gotten the Over heating issue fixed.
Gotten the leak at my oil-pan resolved
Set my MBC to 14-15PSI which seems to be good.
Kept an eye on my oil Level
Rings seem to be seating slowly. Higher Oil pressure and less oil being burnt.

Now I have a few things to do, and a few things to question.

I need to check all of my Driveline fluids. (Transmission, Transfer Case, and Rear Diff). I haven't really even messed with the rear Diff. As far as the transmission I'm using Synchromesh. For the Transfer case and Rear Diff, should I be using something thicker? Also, how hard is it to change fluids on the rear Diff?

Next, I've been reading over the free mods. I'm going to do everythig in order per the tech guide. save for the MBC and the boost gauge. Now, when it comes to following all of the steps in the free mods/upgrades list... how much of a difference should those along make in the car? More HP? Better response? Better Gas Milage? What?

Last, I REALLY hate that damned noise because my oil-pump is out of phase. It's so damned loud from 2k-2.5k....So this weekend I'm jacking up the front end, removing all of the damned belts and pulleys, zip-tying my timing belt in place... loosening the t-belt a little.. and making sure my oil pump is in phase.

Any other suggestions? It's running good, but not great. =/ It seems to miss a little bit under load... but there are no Boost Leaks. I think my ignition timing is off...

 

[XiKeiyaZI]

Oh, by the way... is there a way to check the timing mark on the crank pully without taking off the timing cover? =/ Cause that's just a PITA.

Note : I added more to this, but it merged it with the post above.

Should really think about dropping that 24 hours Posting thing to like... 12 Hours..

 

[ramsack]

Should really think about dropping that 24 hours Posting thing to like... 12 Hours..

i think it is stupid and it should be gone totally!

if you're positive that your crank pulley has never slipped in the damper then you can line the timing notch up with the 0-degree mark on the timing cover.

 

[XiKeiyaZI]

i think it is stupid and it should be gone totally!

if you're positive that your crank pulley has never slipped in the damper then you can line the timing notch up with the 0-degree mark on the timing cover.

Not sure that really answers my question. I apologize for my ignorance.

>> But I was only aware of the V shaped cut on the bottom of the crank pully that lined up with the arrow shaped timing mark on the block. All of this is hidden under the belt cover. @__@