Alternate method of engine break in.

[gmakra]

I am getting a custom ground cam from Weber Redline and I was talking to the guy about maybe getting the cam nitrated. His response was it can be done but you really don't get much benefit since the cam is made of cast iron. So we got to talking and he mentioned that he breaks in cams and engines a bit differently and has never had a cam failure.

He said that the standard is to run the engine for 20 minutes at 2000 RPM which gets the oil splashing on the cam and all that good stuff. However he said that he breaks them in a bit different. He starts the engine for a few seconds brings the RPM to 2000 RPM and shuts it down and lets the engine cool off. Once its cool he runs it for twice the amount of time from the previous. So if the engine ran for 5 seconds he will run it for 10 seconds @2000RPM and shut it down till it cools. Next time he will run it for 20 seconds and so on. He said the heat and pressures created during break in can gall the metal he said this way it was similar to breaking in a ring and pinion gear.

This way if you have a leak or something that needs to be addressed you can take care of it during the cool down cycles. Once the engines runs for 20 min drain the oil and enjoy the engine. I gotta tell you this actually makes sense.

[Muad'Dib]

I dont know if i like that idea... only because each time you let that engine cool off, all the oil drains back down and you get a dry start. Granted its not completly dry... but to me its like saying to turn off your engine at a stop light to save gas.

I broke in my cam by alternating the RPM's between 2500 and 3000 RPM's. Worked great for me.


I guess you could try it... and report your findings?

[SilverXJ]

Thats not a good method. You don't want the engine or oil to cool off. You want it hot where the oil gets to its designed viscosity. Letting it cool off it not doing a proper cam break in.