Break-in oil

[jimmycuda71]

How long should the break-in oil be left in? The engine has a roller cam and roller rockers. It was run on the dyno. It is now installed in the car, how many miles does it need driven before replacing the break-in oil with regular oil.
Jimmycuda71

[barnett468]

How long should the break-in oil be left in? The engine has a roller cam and roller rockers. It was run on the dyno. It is now installed in the car, how many miles does it need driven before replacing the break-in oil with regular oil.
Jimmycuda71

What oil is it exactly?

Some people change it immediately after initial break in like after 30 minutes to an hour . I usually leave it in for around 200 miles . Others leave in for 500 miles . What I would not do is run synthetic until it has at least 500 miles on it.

[burdar]

I've just got regular 10w-30 in my Challenger.  I added a break-in additive.  The bottle of break-in additive said to change the oil after 1000 miles.

[jimmycuda71]

What oil is it exactly?

Some people change it immediately after initial break in like after 30 minutes to an hour . I usually leave it in for around 200 miles . Others leave in for 500 miles . What I would not do is run synthetic until it has at least 500 miles on it.

Joe Gibbs Driven 00106 BR Break In Oil 15w-50, was the oil the engine builder used.

I had planned on changing the break-in oil and putting in conventional oil for the first few thousand miles and then swapping to synthetic. Just didn't know how long to leave in the break-in oil.

Jimmy

[HP_Cuda]

Here is the deal.

I used Joe Gibbs break in oil and yes after I broke it in I changed it. Why you ask?

Well my curiosity gets the best of me and I want to know how much metal is in the oil and the filter. This way I can hopefully head off any issues in the future or at least make some sort of corrective action.

[barnett468]

I would leave it in for 200 miles . Either way, I would use an oil with between 1250 and 1600 ppm of ZDDP or ZDDB when it was changed.

The oil filter is there to remove contaminates which there will be more of during the first 500 miles anyway.

[Strawdawg]

If you believe Joe Gibbs, take it out now.   Anyway, with a roller cam, there was a minimum of metal to metal contacts to break in anyway.

[734406pk]

If you believe Joe Gibbs, take it out now.   Anyway, with a roller cam, there was a minimum of metal to metal contacts to break in anyway.

  "Break-in oil" seems to be directed towards engines running flat tappet cams, which require a high zinc level additive. Roller cams do not require this high level of ZDDP.

[barnett468]

"Break-in oil" seems to be directed towards engines running flat tappet cams, which require a high zinc level additive. Roller cams do not require this.

Break in oil is for all parts of the engine and includes roller cams because it still adds a layer of ZDDP on the cam.

[onebadfish]

I am using Lucas break in oil. Only 250 miles on the engine so far. I had to drop the oil  since we had a coolant leak in the head during the first 100 miles. The engine builder says to run break-in oil all the time . I am running a solid flat tappet with roller rockers.

[barnett468]

I am using Lucas break in oil. Only 250 miles on the engine so far. I had to drop the oil  since we had a coolant leak in the head during the first 100 miles. The engine builder says to run break-in oil all the time . I am running a solid flat tappet with roller rockers.

I wouldn't run break in oil all the time, that's illogical.

[734406pk]

Some info from Amsoil:
https://www.amsoil.com/newsstand/classic-and-vintage/articles/reduced-zddp-and-wear-protection/

https://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-product/motor-oil/racing/break-in-oil-(sae-30)/

Driven Oil video, very informative:

! No longer available

[Strawdawg]

ZDDP was added to oil to reduce the effect of scuffing which primarily occurs with flat tappets.  It is also an anti-oxidant.

Roller lifter engines do not suffer from the rollers scuffing on the cam at all.  There can be other places that scuff such as factory rocker arms against the the valve stems or the pushrod seats and pushrod tips.  Normal engine oil has more than enough ZDDP in it to handle these areas.

This is the reason that break-in oil or additional ZDDP is not required on new engine start up on engines with roller cam shafts.

The reason we do not run break in oil for extended periods of time in a new flat tappet engine is two-fold.

First, most break-in oils do not contain a normal additive package to handle the by products of combustion in the oil pan which can cause corrosion and build up on pistons, etc.

Second, it can accumulate in the oil filter reducing flow potentially.

In the end, follow the recommendations of the cam manufacturer and the oil manufacturer. 

[734406pk]

I am using Lucas break in oil. Only 250 miles on the engine so far. I had to drop the oil  since we had a coolant leak in the head during the first 100 miles. The engine builder says to run break-in oil all the time . I am running a solid flat tappet with roller rockers.

IMO, you will want to change the oil/filter once the piston rings have seated (oil consumption should diminish) around 200 to 1000 miles depends on the oil manufacture's recommendation and the builder's break in proceedure. At that point, you will need an oil that has a high ZDDP additive level to protect your flat tappet cam lobes and lifters from rapid wear. Periodic (once or twice a year) oil sample testing after break in will be an excellent way of checking your engine's health.

[Strawdawg]

I hate to disagree twice in a thread, but...

Modern "moly" rings are low tension and assuming the machine shop followed the ring manufacturer's comments for installation regarding hone job and clearance, they are broken in with the first dyno run or first romp on the street.

A long break in period was true back in the '60's.  Today, power increase is almost imperceptible with time on a properly assembled engine and coil consumption should be about as good as it's going to be.   

If you use a machine shop that does not do it the way the ring company suggests, then you are at the wrong machine shop, imo   Mass production rebuilders may be another question