Re: Engine startup and break in

[Jorge Mazlumian <jmazlumian@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ciao Dan
braking in an engine in Val d'Aosta?  Are you trying to make us feel so bad
here in the States?
My 2 liter *hot* engine will be ready in a few weeks, and all I am looking
towards is a drive to Vegas in the middle of the desert in October.
Go ahead, rub it in, tell us more about your lousy break in period in
Northern Italy. ;-))
Enjoy your *new* toy.
Jorge
Longing for a drive in the Alps.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Korolyshyn, Dan Mr. DAC DPW ENGR RESOURCE MGMT BR"
<Dan.Korolyshyn@domain.elided>
To: <alfa@domain.elided>
Sent: Friday, July 18, 2003 6:37 AM
Subject: RE: Engine startup and break in


> Ciao Alfisti,
>
> I now have 730 miles on my newly rebuilt/overhauled/upgraded
> "74" Spider 2.0 liter engine.  One of the mechanics who overhauled
> the engine, Paolo, did the first 30 or so miles, I did not ask in
> detail how he drove, but I gathered that he drove it very easily,
> home to lunch the day the work was completed.  After I picked the
> car up the next day, I drove it by the book, ie. not over 3500 rpm
> for the first 300 miles and now not over 4500 rpm.  I varied the speed
> and when I was on a long drive to Val d'Aosta in norther Italy last
> weekend I took the small roads as much as possible and stopped a lot
> just to go through the gears not exceeding the limits.  Fortunately
> there was not much traffic so I could drive as I pleased concentrating
> on my "rodaggio", break-in rather than the traffic.  Now with the
> 730 miles completed, my oil consumed was about .25 quarts, so I presume
> that the break-in has been successful thus far.  Hopefully all of the
> bearings and machined surfaces are nicely polished and good for at
> least another 100,000 miles.  FWIW, I did use a lead substitute that
> is common here in Italy for older cars that require a leaded fuel
> which is no longer available and I also used about 2oz. of Marvel
> Mystery Oil per tankful of gas just to provide some lubrication for
> the valves and valve guides.  I know that there is a lot of controversy
> on the use of an upper cylinder lubricant, but during the break-in
> I kinda feel that a little is better than not using it at all,
> especially for the valve guides.  So if my oil consumption remains
> at what it is right now, I will be very happy indeed.  My presumption
> is, is that the rings are now seated and the rest of the break-in
> period is for the various moving parts to continue to conform to
> each other develop a smooth mating surface between parts.
> One other issue of interest is that while my original owners manual calls
> for a head re-torque at 600 miles, something I could not do by the book
> as I was on my trip, the mechanics at Alfa maintain that the head
> re-torquing
> for the Giulia series engines is at 1500 km or about 1000 miles.
> I insisted on setting up an appointment to bring the car in for the
> recommended re-torquing as specified in my manual and they just
> shook their heads and laughed.  So since I'm going on leave for the
> next week out of country, I will bring the car in when I get back.
> Since they installed an original Alfa head gasket, I get a one year
> warranty on parts and labor for that and all dealer bought Alfa parts
> installed.
>
> Ciao,
> Dan Korolyshyn
>
>
>
>
> Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2003 13:32:46 -0700
> From: alfacybersite <acs@domain.elided>
> Subject: Engine startup and break in (long)
>
> Tom, first, Congratulations on getting Her running! However, I disagree
> with a few of your break-in plans.
>
> I've never heard of any great concerns over cam break-in periods. I
> heavily coat all moving parts, except piston rings / piston / cylinder
> walls, with STP when rebuilding. I add oil to the upper 'reservoirs in
> the head before installing the cam cover. True, if one has a warped
> head, then yes, there will be cam bearing problems which will be only a
> part of a very major problem.
>
> I idle no longer than necessary to make enough adjustments so that it'll
> run at least 'okay'. I make a short run and come back to check for
> leaks. Fix any. Take a small assortment of tools and fire extinguisher,
> then go for a few mile run and return (hopefully).
>
> I Never Ever lug the engine, but concentrate on slowly bringing up the
> revs, then backing off the throttle completely. I personally feel a
> steep hill is a bit much for a fresh engine - although I'm aware engine
> builders have been using them for years (where available).
>
> After twenty or thirty fairly careful miles, I briefly bring the revs up
> to 5,000 or so and again back off. My feeling if the engine is built
> correctly, everything is going to bed in pretty quickly - even the
> rings, if installed dry.
>
> I go 250 miles or so before changing oil. I don't cut the oil filter
> open but do sift through the oil with my fingers after it has settled so
> that any shavings fall to the bottom. I rarely find any shavings. What I
> do find when opening up engines rebuilt by other mechanics is often a
> lot of silicone strings clinging to the oil pump inlet.
>
> Best of luck,
>
> Biba
> Irwindale, CA USA
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