Engine Break In Procedure

[Apex Motorsports]

Engine break in procedure is an often debated topic. Below is a copy of the recommended procedure recommends for GM Performance crate engines.

[Firefighter]

What I find curious about that break in sheet is that they have you change the oil 3x in the first 500 miles.

The owners manual that comes with a new car just says drive it calmly for the first 500 miles and change the oil when the oil light come on.

I changed all my fluids at 1500 miles...

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[mbowen89]

So steps 7-10 could all be done in less than a single 2 hrs session...!?

[Apex Motorsports]

Originally Posted by mbowen89

So steps 7-10 could all be done in less than a single 2 hrs session...!?

Correct. In the context of a new car 6-12 is all you really need to pay attention to.

[JCunningham]

they tell you you can run the oil that long because they do not want to tell customers they need to put money into it that soon. engine and diff oil should be replaced by 500 miles.
The debate over breaking it in hard is the engine should be broken in hard but the rear end should be broken in easy. They also dont want you to get tickets or crashing breaking it in hard.

[mbowen89]

Any suggestion on what kind of oil and brand to use at each of these steps? Or is full synthetic fine?

[Apex Motorsports]

Originally Posted by mbowen89

Any suggestion on what kind of oil and brand to use at each of these steps? Or is full synthetic fine?

GM recommends Mobil 1.

[Indydriver]

Keep in mind that these recommendations are for a crate engine for which there is probably a presumption that it will be used for racing.

Years of reading break-in debate threads coupled with my personal experience convinces me that manufacturers care nothing for the physical contaminants that become suspended in motor oil and its oil filter during break-in. Heck, my 2012 Toyota V6 calls for an initial change interval of 10,000 miles on 0W-20 oil. Honda (with those venerated engineers) adamantly insists on running the factory fill to the OLM (6-8,000 miles) on their V6s.

[Apex Motorsports]

Originally Posted by Indydriver

Years of reading break-in debate threads coupled with my personal experience convinces me that manufacturers care nothing for the physical contaminants that become suspended in motor oil and its oil filter during break-in.

I don't disagree with that at all.

[mbowen89]

So you're saying these instructions are better, because the engineers do care more about the condition of the motor from break in because it's going to be pushed to it's limits more if it's being raced? There's two points to take into consideration right, how hard you are on the engine during break in, and how often an oil change.

[White_SS/RS]

I don't see what an engine being designated for race use or street use has to do with how it's broke in. They all operate the same and benefit the same from a good break-in. Hard break-ins are to seat the rings and for no other reason, if they don't seat oil consumption becomes an issue. Other than oil consumption; why do we care? Well, Oil past the rings contaminates the intake charge, lowering effective octane levels and reduces power and mileage. Oil consumption also leads to carbon build up that can create hotspots and possible pre-ignition/detonation issues.

Like mentioned in other posts, safety concerns and general lack of caring about oil consumption or its effects is why manuals are written why they are. Oil consumption from poorly seated rings is not going to generate much warranty problems for manufactures, because using a quart every 2-3k seems acceptable to most people. They already have your money and they rely on a general idealism that oil consumption to some degree is normal.

[White_SS/RS]

Originally Posted by JCunningham

they tell you you can run the oil that long because they do not want to tell customers they need to put money into it that soon. engine and diff oil should be replaced by 500 miles.
The debate over breaking it in hard is the engine should be broken in hard but the rear end should be broken in easy. They also dont want you to get tickets or crashing breaking it in hard.

+1 and in the case of GM that's one extra oil change they are responsible for in the first 2 years.

[Apex Motorsports]

Originally Posted by mbowen89

So you're saying these instructions are better, because the engineers do care more about the condition of the motor from break in because it's going to be pushed to it's limits more if it's being raced? There's two points to take into consideration right, how hard you are on the engine during break in, and how often an oil change.

Correct.

[willhe64]

That sounds exactly like the flat tappet solid cam break in procedure I got from crane with my gen 1 cam.