I am building a 408 right now and I did alot of research and read a bunch of old threads on tech about different ways to break-in an engine and was wondering what oyu guys think about how to break in an engine. Here is what i gathered while reading all of that stuff.

I will be using the GM EOS oil additive for the first two/three oil changes

start it up dont let it idle and do that for ~15min
shut it off let it cool down and retorque everything
Go run the **** out of it for a few miles(~30 or so)
change the oil
run it like you are going to(in my case hard as hell)
probably wouldnt hurt to change the oil after 500-1000miles
then after about 2000 miles change to whatever oil you want

Does this sound like a good way to break in an engine. Im just kind of nervous about f'in my 6000$ engine or not getting the full potential out of it.

Also on a side note how long should I wait before I spray it? I didnt see too much about how long to wait before spraying an engine. Im only going to start out with a baby shot like 150. Engine components in sig.

link to the thread where I learned/read most of the stuff for my break-in procedure
https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=394059

 

Race motors get broke in at the track. That will be my plan if I ever get around to putting the new motor together. I wouldn't spray it until the rings are seated, at that point you can run whatever oil you like.

 

See that was one of the big debates on the threads that I read. Alot of guys say race engines are broke in at the race but they are also do not need to last a long time either. Im thinking right now that from what I have read that the rings will be nice and seated by 100 miles and thats about as good as they are going to get. After that it will be jsut slight wear and finding their home for good on the cylinder walls. Im going to do this procedure that I stated above I believe then drive from northern Alabama to Dallas texas down to austin then to san antonio to get allen nelson to tune my truck. From AL to San Antonio Texas is going to be about 900 miles. I think that will be plenty to have everything working right then get Allen to tune it and then tune it for the nitrous and get some dyno numbers for it.

 

I wouldn't use EOS over and over like you plan on doing. EOS should only be used in a NEW engine never fired up. I would put it on the cam, lifters, rockers, and pour it over the crank and rods before putting the oil pan on. EOS is an extremely high-pressure/high-stress lubricant that is great for that initial startup but after cooling down it will harden and solidify (more like gel) in your oil filter and plug the oil galleries up. However, when I say this I don't mean literally. I just mean in the sense that your oil flow will be very poor everytime you go to start it in the morning. If I were you I would use EOS on your initial startup and drive. Change oil after 30-50 miles. Then just use regular dino oil of your choice to 500 miles-change oil again, then I would go your standard 2000-3000 mile oil change intervals and continue to do so

 

I'd use a straight conventional oil and drive it mostly in town for the first 500 or so miles. No constant speeds, as little idle as possible, then change the oil. With that constant speed changes for 500 or so miles, you should have the rings fully seated, and everything else. After that I'd use conventional oil the first oil change, and change it at 2000, but drive however you want, then go to whatever oil you want. I don't know how long I'd wait to spray it though.

 

Sounds like you've got a good plan as long as you run the **** out of it to seat the rings. Sure looks like a race motor to me. Great for big power but not longevity.

 

I assume you are using chrome moly rings??? If so be prepared they take longer to seat and it might use a slight amount of oil until they do. Nothing to panic over. It has been my experience chrome moly rings can take as long as 500-1000 miles to fully seat.

Best way to break one in.....even though it is probably not an option here.....is on the dyno. It is nerve racking as hell to watch them rev it to the moon but usually after a 6 hour session everything is pretty well seated

 

I got the 15min thing from this link
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm
The rings are plasma moly cast iron.

 

TTT anybody else?

 

Why don't you go and haul some paper work around and get off the damn computer.