C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Best Engine break-in procedure?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 19, 2002 | 11:55 PM
  #1  
GRX's Avatar
GRX
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 6,252
Likes: 2
From: Silicon Valley Kalifornia
Default Best Engine break-in procedure?

Like title says. I've gotten so many versions over the years...wondering what the forum members recommend? Oil viscosity? Brand? Time factors? Distance? Load? :chevy


[Modified by GRX, 8:55 PM 12/19/2002]
Reply
Old Dec 20, 2002 | 08:00 AM
  #2  
ski_dwn_it's Avatar
0ski_dwn_it
Former Vendor
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 7,204
Likes: 6
From: St Marys PA
Default Re: Best Engine break-in procedure? (GRX)

What did you do to it? Rings, or just heads cam rr :confused:
Reply
Old Dec 20, 2002 | 10:44 AM
  #3  
vader86's Avatar
vader86
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,183
Likes: 1,740
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Default Re: Best Engine break-in procedure? (GRX)

Depends on what you did.
Reply
Old Dec 20, 2002 | 10:47 AM
  #4  
Ramanstud's Avatar
Ramanstud
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,193
Likes: 1
From: Cincinnati Oh
Default Re: Best Engine break-in procedure? (vader86)

I'll be doing the same thing, so let's 'assume' a total rebuild. Rings, bearings, cam, valvetrain, everything.
:lurk:
Reply
Old Dec 20, 2002 | 10:51 AM
  #5  
GRX's Avatar
GRX
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 6,252
Likes: 2
From: Silicon Valley Kalifornia
Default Re: Best Engine break-in procedure? (ski_dwn_it)

Brand new bow-tie block...new pistons, rods, crank and heads.
Reply
Old Dec 20, 2002 | 10:58 AM
  #6  
vader86's Avatar
vader86
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,183
Likes: 1,740
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Default Re: Best Engine break-in procedure? (GRX)

the break-in procedure varies from builder to builder, and you should ask one of the local builders for his procedure. This is just one i heard:

put in a thicker oil, like 20w50 dino
cam break-in is usually 15min at 2000rpm, some builders will immediately change the oil
500mi, change
another 500mi and change to your regular oil
Reply
Old Dec 20, 2002 | 04:22 PM
  #7  
gtsyellow's Avatar
gtsyellow
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,019
Likes: 0
From: down that one road next to that big tree
Default Re: Best Engine break-in procedure? (vader86)

everyone has a different oppinion, the one i was told was use 5-30w dino, warm the engine up to operating temp and go stand on it.
Reply
Old Dec 20, 2002 | 07:46 PM
  #8  
1MoorTym's Avatar
1MoorTym
Drifting
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,521
Likes: 0
From: West Islip New York
Default Re: Best Engine break-in procedure? (GRX)

Maybe not the best, but the way I do it ----

Use the oil (dino) weight spec'd for the engine, nothing heavier, you don't want to starve anything for oil on the first start, even if primed before hand.

Roller cams don't need a break in, but I still run for 15-20 minutes at 2000 rpm.

Change the oil and filter. Change oil and filter every 500 miles, still using dino for 2000 miles. After 2000 switch to Mobil 1.

I take it real easy the first 500 miles and don't crazy for the first 2000. Yeah this is conservative, but nothing is better than a slow break in.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-8

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
Old Dec 20, 2002 | 08:26 PM
  #9  
Corvette0096's Avatar
Corvette0096
Race Director
20 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,506
Likes: 4
From: Vancouver,Wa.
Default Re: Best Engine break-in procedure? (GRX)

5-30 dino Drain after the first day, 5-30 dyno drain after 500 miles 5-30 dino 3000 miles then Mobil one after that. You will get several answers. mine has not used a drop after 4k miles
Reply
Old Dec 20, 2002 | 09:41 PM
  #10  
JCAIRE2's Avatar
JCAIRE2
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 6,097
Likes: 0
From: High Plains Drifter Fayetteville, AR
Default Re: Best Engine break-in procedure? (gtsyellow)

everyone has a different oppinion, the one i was told was use 5-30w dino, warm the engine up to operating temp and go stand on it.
:iagree:

Check out this page: http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm
Hope you enjoy your new engine!
J :cheers:
Reply
Old Dec 20, 2002 | 10:33 PM
  #11  
superlund's Avatar
superlund
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,152
Likes: 1
From: Wichita KS
Default Re: Best Engine break-in procedure? (JCAIRE2)

I've seen that Moto-Tune site before and it is spot on; :iagree:
As a matter of fact I followed his spec's to the "T" with excellent results.

Cyl pressure = ring seating.... :yesnod:
Reply
Old Dec 20, 2002 | 10:33 PM
  #12  
gtsyellow's Avatar
gtsyellow
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,019
Likes: 0
From: down that one road next to that big tree
Default Re: Best Engine break-in procedure? (JCAIRE2)

that link sounds exactly like my engine builder Dan, good stuff.
Reply
Old Dec 21, 2002 | 09:54 AM
  #13  
MrCrowley's Avatar
MrCrowley
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,097
Likes: 1
From: Abita Springs LA
Default Re: Best Engine break-in procedure? (1MoorTym)

I break mine in the same way Kenny Bernstein does his. If you gonna drive it hard, do it from day one!
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2002 | 01:41 PM
  #14  
GRX's Avatar
GRX
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 6,252
Likes: 2
From: Silicon Valley Kalifornia
Default Re: Best Engine break-in procedure? (MrCrowley)

Well, I don't drive the way Kenny does! That's for sure....nor do I tear down the motor every other day. :D
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Best Engine break-in procedure?





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:56 PM.

story-0
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Is the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 the best Silverado yet?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-16 08:01:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

Slideshow: 5 best and 5 worst Corvette daily drivers

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:32:13


VIEW MORE
story-2
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

Slideshow: The headlights of every Corvette generation explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:17:14


VIEW MORE
story-3
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-4
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-5
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE