Break in on E85

[GSXvsTSI]

I have a built motor with Wiseco 1400HD evo pistons, gapped at .22 top and .26 bottom. I have been running the car on E85 for 500 miles and getting a ton of blow by. I do not think the rings are seated. What are your thoughts on this? I just found out E85 can wash out the cylinders to where they will not seat the rings. I can switch to 91 if that would do any good.

 

[GST with PSI]

Doubt E85 washed out the cylinders, unless the tune was jacked up or you cranked it excessively on startup. At that point, 91 would have done the same thing. Is the tune good?

What was your break in procedure?

 

[GSXvsTSI]

Tune was fine, I had been running that same set up before the engine build.

Primed oil pump and fuel pump. Started then held RPMs at 3k and let it warm up. Shut it off and let it cool down, then did the process again.

The pistons are gas ported. Everything should be sealed up and seated by now. What can I do to seat the rings now?

 

[donniekak]

If you didn't put any load on that engine within the first 10 minutes of run time the cylinder walls are probably glazed.

Lots of idle time, and low load steady rpm cruise are bad for a new engine.

I just did a build. It was doing pulls at 30psi before 5 miles on the odometer.


How do you know you are getting a lot of blowby?

 

[GSXvsTSI]

So i'll have to get the cylinders honed again? My catch can looks like a mini train. It wasn't smoking nearly this bad before this engine build. I've ran 22psi through it but that was after a few hundred miles of easy driving and multiple heat cycles.
However, my catch can has 2 10AN lines off the back of the VC to one catch can. I'll get a new filter but don't think that is the problem.

 

[donniekak]

Do you have baffles in the valve cover?

I'd do a leakdown test, and possibly look at the cylinders with a scope before tearing it back down.

 

[GSXvsTSI]

No I don't have baffles so I'm sure a lot of oil is getting flung into the lines. Okay will do, thank you.

 

[Dsmkauai]

Why would you not put baffles back in? That's only going to cause issues, and put oil everywhere in the intake system. Your better off with a stock VC and no catch can! Have fun cleaning all the oil out ;( You can get replacement baffles to Weld in. Look in the freelance section.

 

[GSXvsTSI]

Put oil everywhere in the intake system? It's not hooked back into the turbo inlet pipe. The only place it'll go is into the catch can. The other holes are welded shut. And the stock set up doesn't like making 800hp.
This is the valve cover and catch can set up(off the car I bought it from)

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[donniekak]

I've run 40+ psi of boost using only the stock valve cover vents. You're pushing most of the oil from not having baffles.

 

[GSXvsTSI]

Well, that's an easy fix.

 

[GSXvsTSI]

How did you keep your dip stick from blowing out without them?

 

[GST with PSI]

If you're in fact getting excessive blowby, at this point, there's probably little you can do to seat the rings.

Take it out and beat the shit out if it. If that doesn't work you're looking at new rings and a cylinder hone.

For break in, I bring the motor up to operating temp (at idle) and then shut it down immediately after it gets to temp. After I shut it down, I drain the oil and dump in fresh stuff. You can chop open the filter to inspect if you want.

Then, I let the car sit over night to completely cool. The next day, I start it up, let it get up to temp and immediately go drive it under various conditions, to include plenty of WOT. Boost seats rings. Period. Avoid steady cruising and excessive idle time like Donnie said.

If something catastrophic is going to happen in the first 500 miles, then it's going to happen. Taking it easy on the motor will only prolong the inevitable...And in most cases keep the motor from breaking in properly.