YAET: Breaking in an engine

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Apex
Your oil filter takes the metal fillings out of the engine. If it doesn't, you have bigger problems.

When you're LOADING the oil down with filings, it's a little beyond what the oil filter is designed to handle...

Originally posted by: SampSon
These sites seem to be focusing on sport bikes used for racing. Sport bikes are regularly run at much higher rpm and compression levels than your average car.

Obviously the manufacturer is going to go for the conservative procedures. Do you think they would advocate, in print, that when you buy a new car you should run it hard on public roads in order for it to work best? Sounds like a law suit waiting to happen.

Actually, part of the reason I'm asking is because I'm looking at stepping up to a new motorcycle in a few months.

 

[marincounty]

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

Originally posted by: redly1
Manufacturers do not specify how to "break in" a car, as far as I remember from the 3 or 4 new cars I bought

most modern engines (in the last 15 years or so) are already broken in. Just drive your car responsibly.

How is a new engine already broken in? Its new.
The idea of once in a while using lots of throttle is to increase the gas pressure on the rings, causing them to wear (break-in) more is a sound one, and will result in an engine that makes more power, and uses LESS OIL over its lifetime. If the rings don't seat properly, you will use more oil and make less power.
I wouldn't put in any high grade synthetic until the engine is completely broken in, otherwise the rings will never seat properly.
And production automobile oil filters are crappy, all kinds of small metal particles go right through them. Look at a race car's oil filtration system and you will know.
I would change the oil filter and oil after a few hundred miles on a new car.
You could listen to the manufacturer, but they are in the business of selling parts and new cars aren't they?
What you don't want to do is get the engine too hot during break in. Short periods of heavy throttle are ok IMHO.
You know how they break-in a racing motorcycle, one easy lap, then the flogging begins.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: marincounty

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

Originally posted by: redly1
Manufacturers do not specify how to "break in" a car, as far as I remember from the 3 or 4 new cars I bought

most modern engines (in the last 15 years or so) are already broken in. Just drive your car responsibly.

How is a new engine already broken in? Its new.
The idea of once in a while using lots of throttle is to increase the gas pressure on the rings, causing them to wear (break-in) more is a sound one, and will result in an engine that makes more power, and uses LESS OIL over its lifetime. If the rings don't seat properly, you will use more oil and make less power.
I wouldn't put in any high grade synthetic until the engine is completely broken in, otherwise the rings will never seat properly.
And production automobile oil filters are crappy, all kinds of small metal particles go right through them. Look at a race car's oil filtration system and you will know.
I would change the oil filter and oil after a few hundred miles on a new car.
You could listen to the manufacturer, but they are in the business of selling parts and new cars aren't they?
What you don't want to do is get the engine too hot during break in. Short periods of heavy throttle are ok IMHO.
You know how they break-in a racing motorcycle, one easy lap, then the flogging begins.

You're on the money, except the synthetic oil part.

There is no oil on the face of the planet that can prevent break-in. If there was, we would all be using it, all the time.

The reason using synthetic oil in a brand new engine is frowned upon is because it is a waste. The synthetic oil will still be fine after 500, 1,000, 3,000 miles.. whatever. Except you have ruined it by filling it with break-in contamination, and it must be changed.

Remember that any and all oil is worthless if it has solid particles in it.

Also remember that regular automotive oil filters do not filter that well. Particles below a certain micron simply flow right through them. A good filter might be able to remove 95% of particles 40 microns in size in a single pass.