Head vs block break in ???

[Slippi84]

I am going to be breaking in the block per motoman where is the first 20 miles are the most important and your supposed to open it up and not beat on it but not baby. Anyway my problem is my head is new also including valve seals and cams. I'm pretty sure your just supposed to raise idle to like 2500 or something and let the car idle for a while with a new head or cams but this contradicts motoman's break in. So which should i prioritize? Do I just break in the block and let the head break in during those 20 miles or break in the head then drive the car and do the block?

 

[tqmx1]

Just go out and drive it. The 2500rpm game is for flat tappet cams. With our roller rocker arangement there is no hard metal on metal parts to where in.

 

[SBR Joe]

I am going to be breaking in the block per motoman where is the first 20 miles are the most important and your suposed to open it up and not beat on it but not babby. Anyway my problem is my head is new also inclusing valve seals and cams. I'm pretty sure your just suposed to raise idle to like 2500 or something and let the car idle for a while with a new head or cams but this contradicts motoman's break in. So which should i prioritise? Do I just break in the block and let the head break in during those 20 miles or break in the head then drive the car and do the block?

For the engine break in, pull the MPI fuse and crank the engine over 10 or so times to circulate the oil. Put fuse back in and start the car, immediately hold it at 3000 rpms, do it until its at normal opertaing temp, then continue to do it for 15-20 minutes. Afther that immediately change the oil and filter. Thats the most important part to break in, the first heat cycle, it will also break the cams in with that method. Then drive the car, change the oil again at 100 miles, then 500, then 1000. Oil changes are GOOOOD. I have broke in over 30 engines this way with flawless results.


Joe

 

[blcknspo0ln]

Yup, I do belive i'm on my 5th oil/filter change to date. I only have 67 miles

 

[Slippi84]

For the engine break in, pull the MPI fuse and crank the engine over 10 or so times to circulate the oil. Put fuse back in and start the car, immediately hold it at 3000 rpms, do it until its at normal opertaing temp, then continue to do it for 15-20 minutes. Afther that immediately change the oil and filter. Thats the most important part to break in, the first heat cycle, it will also break the cams in with that method. Then drive the car, change the oil again at 100 miles, then 500, then 1000. Oil changes are GOOOOD. I have broke in over 30 engines this way with flawless results.


Joe

I am pretty sold on the motoman breakin tech though and it says the first 20 miles you want to open it up what do you think about that? Can I do your tech till it warms up then open it up to like 5k for 10minutes or so??

 

[SBR Joe]

I am pretty sold on the motoman breakin tech though and it says the first 20 miles you want to open it up what do you think about that? Can I do your tech till it warms up then open it up to like 5k for 10minutes or so??

Thats up to you, im just telling you how i have done it and the incredible success i had with it. I did a lot of research before actually sticking with this method but its what i have used and what i will advise for others. I would say 90% of the engine break in is achieved within that first heatcycle. Afte rthat you could honestly go beat the balls out of it and it would probably be fine, but for safe measures i wait an oil change or two to open her up.


Joe

 

[Slippi84]

Thats up to you, im just telling you how i have done it and the incredible success i had with it. I did a lot of research before actually sticking with this method but its what i have used and what i will advise for others. I would say 90% of the engine break in is achieved within that first heatcycle. Afte rthat you could honestly go beat the balls out of it and it would probably be fine, but for safe measures i wait an oil change or two to open her up.


Joe

Ok so just to confirm yoru saying start it and hold it at 3k for 15 20 min not including warm up time? Or hold it at 3k let it warm up then drive?

 

[SBR Joe]

Ok so just to confirm yoru saying start it and hold it at 3k for 15 20 min not including warm up time? Or hold it at 3k let it warm up then drive?

Hold it at 3k immediately upon the first startup, keep it there till it reaches normal operating temps, from that point on hold 3k for 15-20 more minutes. After that as soon as the car is shut down change the oil/filter. I usually let it cool down overnight and re torque all the fasteners, but you would be ok to drive after the first heat cycle. Remember to use 20w 50 regular oil for the break in, NO SYNTHETIC.


Joe

 

[Slippi84]

Hold it at 3k immediately upon the first startup, keep it there till it reaches normal operating temps, from that point on hold 3k for 15-20 more minutes. After that as soon as the car is shut down change the oil/filter. I usually let it cool down overnight and re torque all the fasteners, but you would be ok to drive after the first heat cycle. Remember to use 20w 50 regular oil for the break in, NO SYNTHETIC.


Joe

I already put regular 10W30 in non synthetic is that to light?

I keep reading what your posting and kinda confused cause you keep seperating the warm up time and the 15-20 minutes ofr 3k time but in reality you just saying hold it at 3k for say 25-30 minutes(including warm up time)

 

[SBR Joe]

I already put regular 10W30 in non synthetic is that to light?

I keep reading what your posting and kinda confused cause you keep seperating the warm up time and the 15-20 minutes ofr 3k time but in reality you just saying hold it at 3k for say 25-30 minutes(including warm up time)

10w30 wil probably be ok.

Yes well say 25-30 min of 3k upon startup.


Joe

 

[Slippi84]

10w30 wil probably be ok.

Yes well say 25-30 min of 3k upon startup.


Joe

Thanks for the input

 

[99gst_racer]

I'm getting ready to do the same thing. I have a fresh block and head (and tranny and clutch). I will be doing the motoman break-in as well. I bought some cheap Meijer brand 10w30 for break-in. I plan to fire it up, and let it sit for a couple minutes while I check for leaks and such. Then it's 20 miles of boost, followed by an immediate oil change.

.....just as soon as the snow clears.......

 

[brute]

It's all subjective anyway. There's a lot of literature on the matter, and as many opinions to match. Ask anyone and they'll all have their own 'special' way of breaking in a motor. It all boils down to how you choose to do it. No way is better than another, per say, as long as the preferred method isn't babying the engine. But I digress...

 

[Kevin Jewer]

From personal experience I can say that taking it easy on the motor is bad. I've had motors take 10k miles to come up to full compression after taking it easy on the breakin. Since then I started putting boost to the rings before the crosshatch gets knocked off and reach full compression immediately. I generally keep the RPM down at first but get in the boost to seat the rings, gradually raising RPM over the first 50-100 miles to let everything else get comfortable. Works very well. Naturally the most important thing is the oil changes, I've seen some bad damage from not doing frequent oil changes during the breakin process.

 

[Defiant]

Break-in stories and methods are a thing of the past. Just drive.