Running in a rebuilt engine.
Discussion
Sardonicus said:
Boosted LS1 said:
Which is why manufactures rev their engines to the max, test them on a rolling road before we get told to run them in again, lol. If we don't they void the warranty.
Seen some factory video for Honda motor cycles where they do just this 
then the unsuspecting new owner rides around careful not to rev it too hard for the 1st 1000 miles 
Phil
As has been said, the first couple of hours are the most critical for engine break-in. If you get it badly wrong in those first couple of hours then you'll get oil glazing of the cylinder bores, resulting in poor compression and oil consumption. There is no way back from that without re-honing the cylinders.
It's all about getting the piston rings to bed in against the honing pattern of the cylinder walls, and to do that you've got to get combustion pressure to push the rings outwards against the bores. That means putting the engine under some load.
The rule is: Don't thrash it, but for goodness sake don't baby it either. Avoid high revs, but do vary the revs. Don't labour the engine excessively, but do make it do some work. Avoid cruising on the motorway at constant speed. Avoid sitting in traffic jams.
The first couple of hours are so important that I would want to go for long night-time drives with minimal traffic so that I can do what's necessary without being constrained by the presence of other cars. If you can do it in cool temperatures that's got to help as well.
After the first couple of hours, just drive it normally and start giving it occasional blasts of higher revs (once it's fully warmed up, course).
It's all about getting the piston rings to bed in against the honing pattern of the cylinder walls, and to do that you've got to get combustion pressure to push the rings outwards against the bores. That means putting the engine under some load.
The rule is: Don't thrash it, but for goodness sake don't baby it either. Avoid high revs, but do vary the revs. Don't labour the engine excessively, but do make it do some work. Avoid cruising on the motorway at constant speed. Avoid sitting in traffic jams.
The first couple of hours are so important that I would want to go for long night-time drives with minimal traffic so that I can do what's necessary without being constrained by the presence of other cars. If you can do it in cool temperatures that's got to help as well.
After the first couple of hours, just drive it normally and start giving it occasional blasts of higher revs (once it's fully warmed up, course).
Pleased to see that last paragraph, Dr Mike.....
During the later stages of my running in, late one night I was overtaken by some local lads in a stickered-up Peugeot, so regretfully had to show them who was boss. After I had put them firmly in their place I glanced down at the rev counter and was still pulling 5000 rpm in a high gear.
To be fair, I have had absolutely no problems with my V8D 5 litre engine, and have covered 24,000 joyful miles with it in the last 30 months, including about 30 track days and quite a few sprints. Shell Helix Racing 10w60 has been my friend for most of those miles.
During the later stages of my running in, late one night I was overtaken by some local lads in a stickered-up Peugeot, so regretfully had to show them who was boss. After I had put them firmly in their place I glanced down at the rev counter and was still pulling 5000 rpm in a high gear.
To be fair, I have had absolutely no problems with my V8D 5 litre engine, and have covered 24,000 joyful miles with it in the last 30 months, including about 30 track days and quite a few sprints. Shell Helix Racing 10w60 has been my friend for most of those miles.
Cokes said:
Bit confused now 
My engine was just stripped, skimmed, checked and rebuilt with new bearings, seals and rings.
No new cam as it only has 10k miles on it.
Some say fast, some say slow, some say 1000 miles, some say 100.
Can't see how everyone could be right
As you now say the above, all you need to worry about are bedding in the new rings to the honed bores by the advise given regarding not holding a steady speed, and be a bit gentle for couple of hundred miles to allow those new bearings to bead in. My engine was just stripped, skimmed, checked and rebuilt with new bearings, seals and rings.
No new cam as it only has 10k miles on it.
Some say fast, some say slow, some say 1000 miles, some say 100.
Can't see how everyone could be right
As said on here listen to the engine builder as he knows what has been done.
Just as a question regarding these part engine rebuilds - what sort of warranty would you get and what would the expectation be if say the cam let go after 1k and made a big bang, would not the builder say that that part is not covered ?
Just starting the running in period on mine, ECU throttle setting limited to 3750 rpm, plenty of A & B roads driven as others have already said, avoid sitting at constant speeds etc., etc. this guidance from TVR Power yesterday when I picked mine up after extensive engine work. 1,000 to 1,200 miles like this then oil & filter change (then more of the same for me before full remap).
If you're worried about the weather up there and are confident enough in reliability, why not drive South, book in to a B&B overnight & maximise mileage without getting bored of the scenery, that's what I'm doing!
If you're worried about the weather up there and are confident enough in reliability, why not drive South, book in to a B&B overnight & maximise mileage without getting bored of the scenery, that's what I'm doing!
Richard 858 said:
Just starting the running in period on mine, ECU throttle setting limited to 3750 rpm, plenty of A & B roads driven as others have already said, avoid sitting at constant speeds etc., etc. this guidance from TVR Power yesterday when I picked mine up after extensive engine work. 1,000 to 1,200 miles like this then oil & filter change (then more of the same for me before full remap).
If you're worried about the weather up there and are confident enough in reliability, why not drive South, book in to a B&B overnight & maximise mileage without getting bored of the scenery, that's what I'm doing!
...but if I drive South I only have a few miles before things get really wet and splashy! If you're worried about the weather up there and are confident enough in reliability, why not drive South, book in to a B&B overnight & maximise mileage without getting bored of the scenery, that's what I'm doing!
Bassfiend229hp said:
Richard 858 said:
Just starting the running in period on mine, ECU throttle setting limited to 3750 rpm, plenty of A & B roads driven as others have already said, avoid sitting at constant speeds etc., etc. this guidance from TVR Power yesterday when I picked mine up after extensive engine work. 1,000 to 1,200 miles like this then oil & filter change (then more of the same for me before full remap).
If you're worried about the weather up there and are confident enough in reliability, why not drive South, book in to a B&B overnight & maximise mileage without getting bored of the scenery, that's what I'm doing!
...but if I drive South I only have a few miles before things get really wet and splashy! If you're worried about the weather up there and are confident enough in reliability, why not drive South, book in to a B&B overnight & maximise mileage without getting bored of the scenery, that's what I'm doing!
Cokes said:
As much as I like the idea my thought was to stay close to home so if something was to go wrong I'm not far from my garage and a set of tools.
Full garage setup, hydraulic scissor ramps, compressor, tools etc in Burton on Trent if you want/need it if you head South and need to check her over or fiddle after a few hundred milesroseytvr said:
Full garage setup, hydraulic scissor ramps, compressor, tools etc in Burton on Trent if you want/need it if you head South and need to check her over or fiddle after a few hundred miles
Like wise (except the scissor lift & compressor) if you get as far down as Northamptonshire.Richard 858 said:
roseytvr said:
Full garage setup, hydraulic scissor ramps, compressor, tools etc in Burton on Trent if you want/need it if you head South and need to check her over or fiddle after a few hundred miles
Like wise (except the scissor lift & compressor) if you get as far down as Northamptonshire.
Always good to see that there are people in this world willing to open the door to their garage to help a fellow owner out.
I hope I get a chance in time to meet and personally thank everyone that has helped me along the way.
This could turn out to be quite the tour of Britain
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