I hope to be breaking in a new engine next weekend and ran across this on the web.

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

Anyone tried this or know someone who has?

What do you think?

I know back in my Dad's day, they would shake Bonami or Boraxo over a carburator to try and seat their rings faster on their race engines <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

Ken

i agree
lets drag engbuilder in on this

There's probably some merit to it but honestly it seems like modern day snake oil tactics to me...

If this really was such a great way to do it why is this guy the only one to figure it out?

Whether it works or not I'll not be buying in to it regardless. I work too hard for my money to take a chance. I have to go with tried and true.

Btw that link has been going around for years so I didn't bother actually clicking and reading it this time. If anything has drastically changed to prove his points since I was there last I haven't read it. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Gave them a bogus e-mail address, kept getting in deeper to the sight, guess what in my opinion, its a porno sight. I quickly got out.

>>>*Back in my Dad's day I watched him do exactly the same thing, shake BonAmi into his new 261 Jimmy.

I was about 12 or so, I asked him one question.

"You took it in to have it all cleaned up and now why are you putting dirt back in?"

He said, "It's the way you do it, son, chrome rings."

Heck, I was 12, what did I know?

Don't do that.

Now. Breakin. Without all the hype and specifics, there are three goals we want to achieve. We want to seal the rings quickly and we don't want a cylinder to overheat, and we want oil flowing everywhere!

Long runs at steady throttle can overheat a cylinder due to erratic fuel distribution. let's face it, in normal driving you are on and off the gas all the time.

Plus setting the engine speed at a nice easy 1500 RPM and leaving her there is not going to load the rings.

I start them and kick them up to 1500 to 2000 RPM and listen for strange sounds, look for leaks. If there is oil or coolant all over the floor, or it suddenly hits you where the "extra" rod bolt came from, best to shut her off and fix the problem.

Then I blip the throttle several times, yep, wide open, let her settle and do it again. I never let a new engine run steady for more than perhaps 60 seconds.

15 minutes I shut her down, go have a bee..Uh...some coffee to celebrate. (Hey, it RUNS!..*Bout the same feeling a woman must get giving birth, I think..)

Well, maybe not quite THAT extreme but still...it's pretty warm and fuzzy to hear her rumble after you have had every single piece in your hands.

Then I take her out for a somewhat less than gentle drive, I like to find a long hill and load the engine at full throttle up to 4000 or so, then let off, then find a hill and coast down it in high gear, foot off the gas.

Now if you are from Kansas, just speed up and slow down, that works, too.

Stay out of cruise control for the first 500 miles or so, all there is to it.

As far as "power" gains? Naw. Of course, if you score a piston or something running her in it will be down on power.

Hey, look! I said the same thing without using red letters!...*LOL**...*EB

Hey, There is a hill in Kansas. Actually we do have some here and there...

>>>*...*LOL**....Well, I sure didn't see any. I could see the taillights of the car ahead of me from 50 miles back....heehee....*EB

Well, I'll do it your way Ted, but, I have a couple questions.

My rod clearance is .0015", main clearance is .003", and closest piston to head clearance is .025" and using a stock Rock oil pump.

I'm at the point where if I need to change anything, now is the time to do it.

Do you see any problems with this?

What oil would you use for the break in?

When do you do the 1st and 2nd oil changes and what oil do you use for these?

As far as hills go around here, I'm usually going up or down at least a little and have more than a enough 4th and 3rd gear hills everyday to and from work.

Thanks for your input.
Ken

>>>*That all looks good, the .025" piston to head spec is snug, but all that will do is make her feel real snappy.

Start her up, let's see if she runs!...*EB

I love the the feel of "snappy" just don't want to hear it go slappy <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />

Can't wait to get this thing up to Mt. Adams or St. Helens and do some camping.

Thanks Ted and everyone else for your help and input.
Ken