running in process
Turbo Mini Forums

Hi after an engine rebuild what procedure to you do to run in as there's different ways according who you talk to what do you guys do??

there is a topic on here some where:

Edited by hazpalmer on 12th Dec, 2010.

Everybody is different as to how they run in, but as mine has been totally ripped apart and replaced/uprated I am doing as follows:-

Obviously make sure your engine is running right ie. Fuelling, timing, etc.

For the first 400-500miles not revving beyond 3000rpm and no motorway driving at all.

Oil and filter change at 500miles, then going abit higher up the rev range not topping more than 5000rpm and minimal motorway driving for the next 400-500miles.

Oil and filter change at 1000 miles and then the fun can begin

There will obviously be people who will disagree and I've known people who don't even run in. But better to be safe than sorry, one bloke Pete knows runs his engines in for 3000 miles!

I've just stripped down my engine that had only covered around 500mile.

I gave this motor a seriously 'hard' run in.

On dismantle the Accralite pistons look untouched, hone marks still visible on the bores and all the shells + thrusts can be reused.

I've done the strip down as i'm changing the cam, timing gears, drop gears and clutch.

The first build on my 1293 has a softly smoothly run in method. After 2000 miles it was ran up on the dyno. Blue smoke was emitted.

160psi accross all four cylinders.

Second build i knew the fueling was alright. Was run semi hard upto 5k.

A little bit of blue smoke.
165-170 psi accross cylinders.

At avon ill be warming the car upto tempreture then full bore down the strip upto 8500rpm.

I've had impreza builds in the past & ran in for 1000 miles off boost & oil changed every 200 miles ish then after that just built up the revs & boost gradually

Grip tight and pullllllll



I build and use as normal. Running in is only really for the rings, bearings etc run in very quickly. And the honing will only have an effect on the rings for a short period of time, so best to use this time wisely.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

Iirc paul wiggy does his run ins at avon down the strip. A friend of mine has done hard and soft run ins for his polo gt it made 5hp more with the same build on a hard run in. I work at honda now and when they build the engines and test them its the same as a hard run in, five mins at 3k then through the rev range from idle for a while. The syncro race team i work for only do hard run ins for there engines.

Drives
-Ford S-max Mk2 Ecoboost
-Rover 100 VVC #2 - track project

Searching is all you need on TurboMinis

I break the cam in, 20-25 mins at 2-3k,

then get it out on the road, low ish boost (5 ish psi) drive normally with short squirts of a few seconds of full throttle in 3rd from about 3-4.5k, then coast for a few seconds, repeat. I get maybe 50 miles on like that, and consider it run in, change the oil at 100 miles for another load of cheap stuff, then good oil and filter at 500 miles.

the theory being that cylinder pressure from the squirts pushes the rings against the bores and helps bed them in, and letting off lets some oil up so the rings dont get too hot/scrubed etc.

Well there's a few different theorys there I like the sound of the quick run ins as I don't use the car as a daily driver Iam prob luck if I would do a couple thousand miles a year

I've been told and follow the rule of being ready to drive the car for 20 mins right after initial startup (hard to do after a lot of changes have been made I know...). I do first start and drive for 20 min or so at no more than 1/4 throttle and no more than 3k while varying the throttle on/off throughout. After that, just be sensible and take it easy at first as things will always need to be re-torqued and adjusted. After 300-400 miles and all is well, have fun! Also, I just use 30 weight oil for first 100 or so miles, change with the same, and then to 20w50 at 400 or so.

Also, I've also heard not to just let it idle or rev under no load at first...needs to be under light load from the first start if possible...

Edited by EricsAmerica on 12th Dec, 2010.

Eric
my pics.... http://www.fototime.com/inv/7AAF37CF3EFA956

I'd go with give it some beans.

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

Bed the cam and nail it

I seriously doubt it!

If it was me I would follow pauls advice.

I run a supercharger and I don't care the TB is on the wrong side.
VEMS + 12 PSI + Liquid Intercooler = Small Bore FUN!

Im with Paul. Bed the cam in and then drive it as normal.
I always use the cheapest oil i can get to bed the cam in. Then swap it before driving. Mine was ran in at avon this year!

drive like normal for me,
down to the shops , somthing breaks ,
tow it back......

I've always done normal driving off boost on ASDA special oil the cheapest I can get used to be about 2quid for 5liters but just didn't know if I was doing right or not