Engine Break-in
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 9,063
Likes: 2,736
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Wait a minute.....did 63mako really just say that Mike Ward is right? Excuse me, I think I need to break out the emergency vodka.....
From an efficiency point of view, it wasn't cost effective for the factory (GM) to break in engines back in the day. They just accepted the very small number of engines needing to be replaced as the cost of doing business. On a high dollar engine build, initial break-in is a very nervous time, so whatever you have to do to make it a little easier on you is just fine with me. I don't think I'd bother, though.
As far as engine break-in goes, I subscribe to the school of thought that says to drive the car in such a way as to put some load on it, right from the get-go. You need to get some cylinder pressure behind the rings to make them break in quickly before the cross-hatch is worn down. However, take it easy on the rpm for a few hundred miles.
Scott
From an efficiency point of view, it wasn't cost effective for the factory (GM) to break in engines back in the day. They just accepted the very small number of engines needing to be replaced as the cost of doing business. On a high dollar engine build, initial break-in is a very nervous time, so whatever you have to do to make it a little easier on you is just fine with me. I don't think I'd bother, though.
As far as engine break-in goes, I subscribe to the school of thought that says to drive the car in such a way as to put some load on it, right from the get-go. You need to get some cylinder pressure behind the rings to make them break in quickly before the cross-hatch is worn down. However, take it easy on the rpm for a few hundred miles.
Scott
Last edited by scottyp99; Oct 3, 2013 at 10:01 PM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
I still have faith that he'll come around sooner or later.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 146
Likes: 5
From: North Brunswick New Jersey
I'm with you on this one. The cost of gauges and the peace of mind they bring plus having something to compare the originals to makes it worth it in my opinion. Good luck to you and smiles to go with the miles.
