Well, I should be able to start my new engine by this weekend and I was looking for some "break-in" or start-up suggestions.

 

Lots-o-info on the interwebnet....


http://www.mattituck.com/articles/engbrkin.htm

http://www.ntnoa.org/enginebreakin.htm

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

http://www.fespecialties.com/HTML/BreakIn.html

http://www.naspc.org/breakin.htm

http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.ef123a0

In a nut shell... make sure all fluids are good, start it up, let it warm up for a few minutes at idle, rev it EASILY through the rpms, go out & EASILY drive it up & down the street changing gears & rpms... DRIVE IT EASY for about 500 miles & change the oil to remove shavings from the new parts.

 

Once you start the engine for the first time, let it idle for about 10 min, then kill it & change the oil. Do NOT break in an engine with synthetic engine oil. After that, baby it for 500 miles, then change the oil once more. Then you're good to go normal after that. Thats how I broke my engine in, and It worked great!

 

Hah! I knew you'd say that; I should've been more specific - I meant for this particular engine on the ZX. I just didn't know if there was something "special" for these engines.

 

Yeah There Is We Need To See Video Of It Starting Up And Running.. Duhh You Should Know That By Now.

 

haha agree'ed ^^^^ with any engine though its about the same, as for running 10 mins and changing oil idk aboot that but maybe, also, use a FRAM oil filter on break in, after that dont ever use one again lol. dont use synthetic oil on break in, and dont rev it up at all or in any way beat on it dont floor it dont redline it for 1000 miles, temtping though huh. and yes make sure all the fluids are new and at the right level

 

I picked up the oil changing thing when I helped my friend rebuild his 7mge Supra. He said to change it after running it for aboot 10min. I've been doin it ever since. Its not like it costs a lot of money or time... I just felt better taking that extra step, but thats all up to you.

 

This brings me to another question.

My engine's been back from the shop for two weeks now. Is there a way I can allow oil to run up the engine to lubricate its parts? I mean other than by turning the engine on.
I hear on Chevy they remove the distributor to manually make the oil pump work to allow it to pump oil to the engine compartments; can this be done on our engines as well?
I think it's the same principle on ZX since I can see the rod that goes to the oil pump when I remove the distributor.

Any suggestions?

 

you cant do that, have to rotate the engine, when you put the oil pump up you should have primed it then by pouring oil into the pump until it was full, that way on initial crank its flowwing oil.

 

Yeah... ya can't just turn the distrib / oil pump by hand. What you do to "prime" the engine is pour oil into the new oil filter before installing. Also w/ the valve cover off you can lightly pour oil over the rockers. When you're ready to crank, pull off the coil to distrib wire & crank a few times... that will get the oil flowing before starting.

 

id pull the plugs too because that way your motor has less pressure on it if you crank it with the starter because it takes a few minutes to build oil pressure and you don't wnat a ton of pressure on your bearings liks that

 

When starting my 1970 429 after a while I use this blue oil treatment that comes in a silver can. Pour some over the valves and wait a few minutes before cranking.

 

I've re-built engines for the past 40 yrs and all the above suggestions are good. I would add when breaking the engine in not going over 65. What I recommend is driving 55 for a while, and then 65. Don't race the engine while driving. Also if you put crome rings in it might take longer for the rings to seat. You will know when that happens as you will get a surge of power then your good to go. Just be patient and you will have a great engine.