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Breaking In the Rebuilt Engine

Home » Car Maintenance » Rebuilding an Engine » Breaking In the Rebuilt Engine

After the engine has been put back together, here are some steps you need to follow to make sure of a good break in period. But before you do this, here are some precautions you must take before preparing the engine for break in:

• Prime the oil pump, oil lines, and fill the oil filters with oil wit an auxiliary pump. You can do this with a hand drill or you can use an external pressure tank that is connected to the oil pressure gauge.
• Make sure the carburetor or fuel injection system works properly. It must provide the proper air-fuel ratio that is required in today's engines. Listen for any air leaks. If there are leaks, re-torque the bolts until the leak disappears.
• Make sure the engine timing is correct to the specifications of the engine. If the ignition timing is off, it will affect engine performance.
• Make sure you use the proper spark plug and the gap is set according to specifications.

Now that you have prepared the engine, and everything is connected, checked, and the engine is ready to be tested, here are the steps you need to break in your rebuilt engine:

• Before you start your engine for the first time make sure it is pre-lubricated.
• Whatever you do, never, never add cold water to the cooling system while the engine is running. The engine needs to run at normal operating temperature.
• Start the engine and let is run at fast idle. This is about 1500 RPM. While you do this check the oil pressure. Run the engine for thirty minutes. Adjust tappets, the carburetor, and ignition if necessary.
• Shut engine off and retorque cylinder heads and manifolds to engine specifications. Then readjust tappets.
• Finally, start engine and make a test run on the road going 30 MPH in drive. After a few moments, accelerate to 50 MPH then decelerate slowly. Repeat this procedure as you drive down the road at least time to fifteen times.

The reason for fast acceleration and deceleration is because this increases ring pressure and helps to seat the rings against the cylinder walls.

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