Engine break in question

[vex]

I'm getting closer to breaking in the engine and I have a few questions regarding it:

first and foremost is should I leave the turbo disconnected for the 1000mi break in period and just run naturally aspirated and just lean out the fuel. Then once the break in period is finished I just hook up the boost?

Or should I run the car with everything hooked up and just stay out of boost as much as possible during break in?

[RETed]

It's too much trouble to "disconnect" the turbo...
I would not recommend leaning anything - lean = HOT.
Keep control of your right foot!


-Ted

[Phoenix7]

it's hard as hell to NOT boost but you gotta let the parts seat in right to ensure the motor lasts a long time.

What's the rule of thumb?

I did no more than 3K rpms for first 500 miles, then 4Krpms next 500, and 500rpms higher every 100 miles.

[vex]

Originally Posted by RETed

It's too much trouble to "disconnect" the turbo...
I would not recommend leaning anything - lean = HOT.
Keep control of your right foot!


-Ted

I don't know if you've seen my project ted. This is a 6PI turbo project. Disconnecting the turbo would just be not running the intercooler piping to it. But that puts more stuff in the way of the exhaust so that might add additional stress to the engine.

I'll have to lean out my fuel even if I do run the turbo as I'll be running what looks like 900cc/min on the primaries and 1360cc/min on the secondaries. All this for 5 lbs of boost...

Originally Posted by Phoenix7

it's hard as hell to NOT boost but you gotta let the parts seat in right to ensure the motor lasts a long time.

What's the rule of thumb?

I did no more than 3K rpms for first 500 miles, then 4Krpms next 500, and 500rpms higher every 100 miles.

So I should run with boost to ensure that the motor does sit the seals correctly? I would have figured that the seals wouldn't care one way or the other.

[Phoenix7]

I say no boost until the motor is done being broken in. then romp on it till it blows.

[Fidelity101]

Originally Posted by Phoenix7

I say no boost until the motor is done being broken in. then romp on it till it blows.

[Max777]

I believe that Phoenix is not just talking about the apex seals, but all the parts in general.

an engine is made of aluminum, steel, rubber, all sorts of bolts, gaskets, hoses, etc. A "brand new" engine" is usually in tollerance if you look at all the parts individually, but it needs time to "Seat" all the pieces in one.

Think of it as a kneaded eraser, when brand new, it doesnt erase very well, you need to stretch it, pinch it, and twist it untill its nice and soft/pliable in order for it to perform the best.

[NoDOHC]

Vex:

I am running an NA 4 port and it is not as easy as disconnecting the outlet from the turbo. You should never have a turbo spinning (exhaust going through it) with the output of the compressor open to atmosphere (they can over-rev).

You could just take the turbo completely off the engine if you block off the coolant feed, oil feed and oil return.

I would leave the turbo on and just stay out of boost.