I get the impression this is one of Those Subjects.. But, since I'm
nearing that time myself,
I wanted to gather more info and opinions..
I'll state what I've heard and read, so let me know if I'm off track
anywhere..
From what I've heard and read, the important things are getting a good
ring seating, not droning along at the same rpm for long amounts of time,
and some schedule of taking it easy for some period of time.
For the rings, it would seem that you do want to load it pretty hard,
very quickly (as per the procedure on the Hastings site) to get them
bedded in right. Idleing for long periods can glaze them. Apparently,
running at 2000-2500 for first warmup, isn't risking it though. Also,
the bedding in process is a thing you do right when you first start up the
engine, then you don't drive like that anymore. (till it's broken in)
Varying the RPM's prevents uneven wear patterns. ( I guess..)
The Alfa reccomendation for customer break in, where you stay under a
certain rpm for a certain time, used to be common in new cars, and now is
not. I've wondered what exactly has changed? Do they do bench break
in? Different materials, or different surface prep? Different philosophy?
I think I'll lean towards the gentle break in school, (unless I hear much
to counter that) since it would seem from a common sense point of view
that some early "fitting" wear of new parts has to happen.
And I'm glad that TJ apparently wasn't as hard with the riding crop as it
sounded at first post... ;-)
Jon and Marcia (we're getting there)
77 Spider
Irvine, CA
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 10:44:20 +0200
From: "Korolyshyn, Dan Mr. DAC DPW ENGR RESOURCE MGMT BR"
<Dan.Korolyshyn@domain.elided>
Subject: [alfa] Rebuilt Alfetta Engine Officially Broken In
IMHO, it is not just the bearings and rings that need a slow break-in
period, for engines other than engines built strictly
for racing, but also the valves and guides, cams, chains and gears, oil
pumps and water pumps, etc. that need a period for
mating and sliding parts to wear in slowly rather than roughly
in order to have a finer grained mating/wearing surface for longer
life expectancy. I would suggest following Alfa's recommendations which
are found in the owner's manuals. Alfa also says to vary the
engine speed during break in which is very important.
Dan K.
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 20:36:15 -0400
From: "Brian Shorey" <bshorey@domain.elided>
Subject: RE: [alfa] Rebuilt Alfetta Engine Officially Broken In
Fred always recommended hitting an engine hard to get the rings to
seat. I think it's more critical to vary the RPM than what the actual
revs are. Once the rings seat which varies from build to build,
(according to Fred) you can whail on it all you want without fear.
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