whats the engine break in procedure

**DemonSpeed** · 06-17-2008, 01:19 PM

Hi guys im getting an Ls6 installed in a couple of days and I need to know what you can and cant do with a new engine. Ive always heard keep it under 3k rpm for 3k miles, is that right? When will I be able to let her loose?

**Mr. Luos** · 06-17-2008, 01:25 PM

Heat cycle it 5 times. Warm up, cool. Warm up, cool.

Then tune it on a dyno.

**SVG210** · 06-17-2008, 02:03 PM

Lol i was about to tell you what the Engine brake is for but after reading your post you just wanted to know the brake in period

I had such good info about the engine brake.

**Acceleration Junky** · 06-17-2008, 03:19 PM

My stroker required the following, not over 3,000 rpm, not over 55mph, no lugging the engine, no more than half throttle, and no constant speed for 500 miles. Then change oil and oil filter and drive that shit like you mean it. That's what was recommended to me for my car.

**DemonSpeed** · 06-17-2008, 03:29 PM

so 500 miles then? no constant speed, that will be hard to do. So I cant say, drive 50 mph for 5 min. to the store? thanks for the info guys, sorry hurraquio

**Acceleration Junky** · 06-17-2008, 03:54 PM

Everybody has thier own opinion as far as breaking in a new this or that. What I did was a pain in the ass but it was recommended to me by the shop that built my motor. And I cut my oil filter in half after 500 miles and there was definitly metal "dust" in it.

**DemonSpeed** · 06-23-2008, 01:48 PM

wow your right about the varying opinions, its hard to find 2 that match! you hear "drive it hard from the start" to "baby it for 1k miles and get on it a little a few times".I couldnt find anything on GM performance site about it. Anybody have a link to an official break in for an ls6?

**Blown Interceptor** · 06-23-2008, 02:11 PM

Read This...

http://mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

**Mr. Luos** · 06-23-2008, 03:14 PM

What I have noticed...

Shorter break-in time but beating on it early will yield good power numbers, BUT the motor may not last quite as long.
Longer break-in time may have a slightly lower power number, but lasts longer.

I did a little of both with my new motor.
Let idle for 20 minutes. Changed oil.
Ran for 100 miles really lightly. Changed oil.
Dyno tuned.
750 more miles of light driving making sure the RPM's got varied.

**DemonSpeed** · 06-23-2008, 04:52 PM

aaaah I dont know what to do!

**Sarge** · 06-23-2008, 07:49 PM

Drive that bitch like you stole it day one. I have broken in all my motors that way. Change the oil and filter after the first 2-3 hundred miles....use Castrol 10-30 GTX (conventional) for the break in......from there go on your regular oil change interval with whatever you use.....synthetic or conventional.....my motors all make monster power and last....Pull it out of the shop and lay rubber all the way down the street....right off the bat....drive it like Hillary Clinton is right behind you wanting to get laid.....floor that cow and keep going.

**Mr. Luos** · 06-23-2008, 08:01 PM

Originally Posted by Sarge

Drive that bitch like you stole it day one. I have broken in all my motors that way. Change the oil and filter after the first 2-3 hundred miles....use Castrol 10-30 GTX (conventional) for the break in......from there go on your regular oil change interval with whatever you use.....synthetic or conventional.....my motors all make monster power and last....Pull it out of the shop and lay rubber all the way down the street....right off the bat....drive it like Hillary Clinton is right behind you wanting to get laid.....floor that cow and keep going.

The only thing I did different was the oil.
I started it on the cheapest shit I could find. Let it idle for 25-30 minutes.

**bandit001** · 06-23-2008, 09:53 PM

Again, varying opinions. Some say baby it, some say let it fly.

This is from experience- my dad has done this with every engine he's ever done up. Drive it the way you normally do (in his/my case, this just happens to be quite hard). Never had problems at all (aside from a few speeding tickets, and a roll or two through an intersection). Though this was always on older engines, so I'm not sure if it would carry over to an lsx engine.

**DemonSpeed** · 06-24-2008, 02:59 AM

Originally Posted by Sarge

....drive it like Hillary Clinton is right behind you wanting to get laid.....floor that cow and keep going.

**Spaz** · 06-24-2008, 04:56 AM

Originally Posted by Mr. Luos

Heat cycle it 5 times. Warm up, cool. Warm up, cool.

Then tune it on a dyno.

warm it up by going down a road @ 45 -60 mph for 10- 20mins... park it and let it cool all the way down... do this a few more times...

**LS2Tuner** · 06-24-2008, 07:15 AM

Run engine for 20 min. for initial break in.

Allow to cool.

Now go blast around a few blocks while at operating temp.

Time to change oil break in oil.

NOW GO DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLD IT!

What do you think we do with all the race motors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . NO break in other than getting up to temp. and changing oil after rings and bearings have done their initial mating.

The whole 500 miles at 3000 or under is BS. If it isn't right it isn't right. I want that son bitch to break while the cherry picker is still out NOT 2-3 month's later because I pussy footed it for the "break in period".

If it is going to be raced or "beat on" that's how it should be broke in.

**DemonSpeed** · 06-24-2008, 11:44 AM

thanks for the good info guys, hopefully im getting it back today.

**nhraformula** · 06-24-2008, 05:18 PM

Originally Posted by Sarge

Drive that bitch like you stole it day one. I have broken in all my motors that way..

same here and never had a problem.
if somethings gonna break, better when you have a warranty

**davidbie** · 07-02-2008, 12:32 PM

Crate Engines Start-up Instructions
1. Always put safety first. If your car is on the ground, be sure the emergency brake is set, the wheels are chocked, and the transmission cannot fall into gear.
2. Be sure to check the engine's oil level and prime the oil system.
3. Run the engine between 2,000 and 2,500 RPMs, with no-load on the engine for the first 30 minutes.
4. Adjust the distributor timing roughly by hand for a quick start-up and the smoothest idle possible.
5. Adjust the carburetor settings, if necessary.
6. After the engine has been running for 30 minutes, set the ignition timing (see install ignition section for timing specifications).
7. Drive the vehicle with varying speeds and loads on the engine for the first 30 miles. Be sure not to use a lot of throttle or high RPMs.
8. Run five or six medium-throttle accelerations to about 5,000 RPMs (55 to 60 MPH), then let off in gear and coast back down to 20 MPH.
9. Run a couple hard-throttle accelerations up to about 5000 RPMs (55 to 60 MPH), then let off in gear and coast back down to 20 MPH.
10. Change the oil and filter with 10W30SG oil and appropriate ACDelco oil filter.

11. Drive the next 500 miles normally, without high RPMs (below 5,000 RPM), hard use, or extended periods of high loading.
12. Change the oil and oil filter again.
13. Your engine is now ready for many happy cruising miles
Copyright©2003 General Motors Corporation
this what GM recommends
It may be late,but may help in the future.

**joejenkinsglass** · 07-02-2008, 01:55 PM

the whole break in procedure is mainly for a flat tappet cam. On an ls1 just gotta get the rings seated what I do is use cheap oil for about 20 min then change to whatever I am gonna run but before beating it get a tune