90crxzc

I just had my engine(zc) rebuilt with JE pistons and rings, i have 1400km(900mi)on the engine and am still burning oil, i have been babying the engine not going over 3000rpm,s no hwy driving,i burned about 1/2 liter the first 1000km.s and when i checked it last, burned about 1/2 liter in the last 500km,s, the engine rebuilder said the JE xc rings could take up to 3000km(1700mi) to seat. Should i be worried at this time?

pornstarSR

no your ok just keep being nice to it, remember to modulate the speed, never really stay at one constant rpm


[Modified by pornstarSR, 12:54 AM 5/4/2002]

Jared

I would be worried at 500 if they hadn't seated. By not going over 3000 you are probably excessively babying the engine. I know everyone has their own way to seat rings, but here we go. I'm a firm believer in redline runs. It doesnt have to be wot like you're running the hell out of it but when I put one together, I let it idle long enough to set the timing and check for leaks, then I go driving. First couple miles I make sure everything is ok, then I go seat the rings. I make several redline passes and after I get to redline each time, I let off the throttle and leave it in gear which lets it come all the way back down through the RPM range in decel, pulling vacuum. The compression of the redline run will help seat the rings, then the decel with high vacuum readings will pull a hard vacuum on the cylinders and bathe the rings in oil which will also help them seat very quickly. From there on out I consider them mostly seated, but up to 500 miles I vary RPMS of the pulls but still leave them in gear and let it pull vacuum on the decel. At 500 miles I change the oil and consider the engine broken in. If you're smoking past 500 miles, I'd be worried. I suggest trying some Sea-Foam or some Rislone as a last ditch effort. Hit me up if you need anymore help.

D-Man

itll be a good idea to change that break in oil at 1000 miles

rioninja

I agree with Jared that you might be overly babying the engine. You definaly have to take it up near redline every so often to "clean out the rings" as its called. Every once in a while take a trip up the tach in 2nd or 3rd and leave it drag back down in gear.
Only thing i dont agree with, is that you should wait at least a couple hundred miles before starting this routine on a new motor. Dont get me wrong, i'm not saying to go beat on your car, just put a little load on it.

NOSed_b18b

Hmm...that's a very interesting break in method. After your first initial "break in redline runs", do you decelerate while still in gear daily driving? Also, have you done any immediate compression tests to see what kind of numbers they come out to be?? If so, are they usually high?

Jared

yes, during daily driving i still decel in gear during daily driving fairly consistently up the 500 mile oil change. My compression numbers are always high, as this is my third engine that I've built(but the first for myself). I'll keep you posted on the numbers on this engine, I'm at 175miles.

lbz34

listen to jared he knows the method for rings. all i can add is to use a higher gear and pull some load through the engind and your good to go. in your case do a leak test and verify the cylinder leak problem!!

AlphaKennyWun

everyone has their own way of breaking in a motor
I think your babying it too much.
Im at 600 miles now with new internals and my theory is since the motor is built for forced induction then then introduce the rings to 'some' boost. I dont pass 5000 rpm or over 6.5 lbs of boost most of the time. I definately think you babying it way too much. Oil change at 500 miles nonsynthetic Kendall oil 10-30.

Jared

Ah, I left out something, he's right about using the higher gear and using some load, but I would also like to add that you also need to use a regular non-synthetic motor oil and I recommend something non-detergent.

90crxzc

I have been using non synthetic oil and changed it at 500 and will again at 1500, up till the first 1000km, i didnt go over 3000rpm,s but in the last 300 i have been shifting at 4000 at times and will increase that over the next 300 km, i guess i have been over-babying it, but i didnt want to take any chances after spending all that $,

Jared

I would say, at 1k and still burning oil, you're probably gonna have to spend some more cash to rering it now.

saso

Just curious how do you race guys (track only) break in the motor??