My engine builder told me to run break in oil for 40 hours before putting normal oil back in, and to vary the throttle as much as possible during that time. I am at 32 hours right now, and have a ride planned with some friends to run a groomed snowmobile trail at 10,000 feet elevation. I've done this ride before, and it is pretty steep grades. Combined with the high altitude and soft snow, it pretty much requires steady 3/4 to full throttle to keep moving along. Also, its not uncommon to start the ride at zero to negative temps. So I'd like to put my synthetic oil in and do this ride. Question is, am I jumping the gun a bit at 32 hours? Should I postpone the ride until I can get 8 more hours in?
When I was messing around with two strokes, we'd put new pistons in, do a couple practice laps, then run hard in the race. But two strokes are a different animal. Dont know if these forged piston four strokes really need 40 hours.....
I have changed it twice already.
The original stuff the builder put in was Rotella T4 15w-40. When it started getting really cold here, I switched over to Kawasaki 10w-40 dino.
I've built a lot of engines over the years and I can assure you that there is no 'break in' period. Its a load of hooey! Fire it up and drive it like you stole it from the get go.
I forgot to include that part and your correct. If I remember right, in those cases your supposed to use some type of zinc additive..? I'll also agree with changing the filter early the first time but that really has to do more with how sloppy the engine builder was.
Consider this: Brand new cars roll off the assembly line with the original oil and filter and nobody thinks twice about breaking those in.
Thanks for all the replies. They pretty much summed up what i have been feeling about this.
Considering how high of an rpm these engines run, I would think the rings took a seat a long time ago. There was actually a noticeable change in the start up noises at about 6 hours. And now that I think about it, my builder said 10 hours-change oil, 10 more hours-change oil, then wait until 40 to put synthetic in. So I guess he's probably thinking most of the break in is done by 20 and he's playing it safe.
I have a world class engine builder not far from me that builds several L series engines from scratch out of solid aluminum billet. Once he completes an engine, he breaks it in for 3-6 hours on a dyno. He said every individual engine will have slightly different outputs in the sequence, but 99% are as good as they are ever going to be by 4 hours. Some of his engines are producing 800+ HP, so I figure my little 50 something HP engine is not to worry. (I inquired if he wanted to rebuild my engine and he quickly said, "I don't do the small ones".:crying.
I have built 100's of engine mainly diesel engines. We always broke them in on a dyno. Start and run them to temperature. If it all checked out load them up for a hour. And done.
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