How long do you have to break in a freshly built motor?? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

babowc · 03-06-2008, 10:40 PM

How long do you have to break in a freshly built motor?? (ka24de)

I'm trying to attend the drift buffet this month (21st) and I'm shooting for ~5-10 days to finish the motor.. I have the head and block seperately assembled and I just need to assemble the longblock and I'd be done..

I'm gonna try to get the turbo setup done too, but highly unlikely.

Anyways, back to the Q.

How long does it take to break in a freshly built motor?
As in.. how long does it normally take to seat the rings good?
and what are your opinions on breaking it in "hard" and "soft"??

If experienced individuals could chime in, that'd be alot more informative than guessers!

Kouki · 03-06-2008, 10:59 PM

Well on our circle track racecars, the only break in on them is start them, set timing, adj carb, and run for 15 min at 3000 rpm to break in the cam(solid lifters). After that its to the track, wide open 8000rpm for 15-30 min, depending on length of race. If somethings not right, 99% of the time it will happen right away, never had problems. I say go out and cruise for an hour or 2 and you're fine to go.

suprafreak1000 · 03-06-2008, 11:00 PM

ehh i dont know poop bout break in time, but my buddy just built a 700+whp lsv turbo for his civic, he waited 1000 miles for his. not beating on it. he just drove to vegas and back lol.

but ya for his he said he didn't want to beat on it to crazy till 1000 miles(seems a lil much for me, but ya)

not sure on ur ka.

(edit) ehh 500 miles sounds good. couple hours like kouki said, but depends on what u got to

90KAcoupe · 03-06-2008, 11:04 PM

im kinda been wondering the same thing... i dont want to destroy my motor peggin the rev limiter at a drift event after i just got done rebuilding it.

some input would be nice... experianced people please!!!

womenbeshoppin · 03-06-2008, 11:05 PM

Drive the shit out of it and keep an eye on your temps/oil level. Change oil after startup, then after like 500 miles. At least thats what i did.

ripnbst · 03-06-2008, 11:10 PM

There are already posts about this, search break in and/or break-in. Most people will say let it run for like 15 mins at idle change oil beat on it for a day or two and change the oil and you're set.

sd8ted · 03-06-2008, 11:15 PM

When I rebuilt my motor, for the first 500 miles I stayed below 4500rpms. And changed my oil after that then I was good to go. This is what I did personally, however different people have different opinions. Rebuilding with forged rods/pistons etc was an expensive process so I went with the safer route.

There are other ways I've read about, one involving running your car kind of hard after it starts up and warms up fully. The rings seat within the first 20 or so miles, if that. And by running your car hard seats them with a nice seal, as the pressure of the gas in the combustion chamber is what seals the rings.

Here's a SITE that tells about the hard/fast break in method. Goodluck!

03-06-2008, 10:40 PM	#1
babowc Post Whore! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: G.NET Posts: 2,659 Trader Rating: (9) Feedback Score: 9 reviews	How long do you have to break in a freshly built motor?? How long do you have to break in a freshly built motor?? (ka24de) I'm trying to attend the drift buffet this month (21st) and I'm shooting for ~5-10 days to finish the motor.. I have the head and block seperately assembled and I just need to assemble the longblock and I'd be done.. I'm gonna try to get the turbo setup done too, but highly unlikely. Anyways, back to the Q. How long does it take to break in a freshly built motor? As in.. how long does it normally take to seat the rings good? and what are your opinions on breaking it in "hard" and "soft"?? If experienced individuals could chime in, that'd be alot more informative than guessers! __________________ My iTrader rating!

03-06-2008, 11:04 PM	#4
90KAcoupe Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: mt. juliet TN Age: 33 Posts: 542 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	im kinda been wondering the same thing... i dont want to destroy my motor peggin the rev limiter at a drift event after i just got done rebuilding it. some input would be nice... experianced people please!!! __________________ the sig rules are gay!!

03-06-2008, 11:10 PM	#6
ripnbst Zilvia Addict Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tulsa, OK Age: 38 Posts: 814 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	There are already posts about this, search break in and/or break-in. Most people will say let it run for like 15 mins at idle change oil beat on it for a day or two and change the oil and you're set. __________________ In the market for a Clean Coupe

03-06-2008, 10:59 PM	#2
Kouki Zilvia Addict Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Nebraska Age: 40 Posts: 727 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Well on our circle track racecars, the only break in on them is start them, set timing, adj carb, and run for 15 min at 3000 rpm to break in the cam(solid lifters). After that its to the track, wide open 8000rpm for 15-30 min, depending on length of race. If somethings not right, 99% of the time it will happen right away, never had problems. I say go out and cruise for an hour or 2 and you're fine to go.

03-06-2008, 11:00 PM	#3
suprafreak1000 Zilvia Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Colorado Age: 35 Posts: 259 Trader Rating: (2) Rides Gallery: suprafreak1000 Feedback Score: 2 reviews	ehh i dont know poop bout break in time, but my buddy just built a 700+whp lsv turbo for his civic, he waited 1000 miles for his. not beating on it. he just drove to vegas and back lol. but ya for his he said he didn't want to beat on it to crazy till 1000 miles(seems a lil much for me, but ya) not sure on ur ka. (edit) ehh 500 miles sounds good. couple hours like kouki said, but depends on what u got to

03-06-2008, 11:05 PM	#5
womenbeshoppin Zilvia Addict Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Orange county Age: 37 Posts: 614 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Drive the shit out of it and keep an eye on your temps/oil level. Change oil after startup, then after like 500 miles. At least thats what i did.

03-06-2008, 11:15 PM	#7
sd8ted Leaky Injector Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 72 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	When I rebuilt my motor, for the first 500 miles I stayed below 4500rpms. And changed my oil after that then I was good to go. This is what I did personally, however different people have different opinions. Rebuilding with forged rods/pistons etc was an expensive process so I went with the safer route. There are other ways I've read about, one involving running your car kind of hard after it starts up and warms up fully. The rings seat within the first 20 or so miles, if that. And by running your car hard seats them with a nice seal, as the pressure of the gas in the combustion chamber is what seals the rings. Here's a SITE that tells about the hard/fast break in method. Goodluck!