Winter engine break in…
 

Putting my 930 motor back in the car this weekend…

Cams reground, rockers reground, new bearings, new rings, new oil squirters, heads rebuilt, and a million other things. Nikasil, original pistons.

Started with a pitted cam and some minor issues and escalated to a rebuild.

I’m in Wisconsin… it’s cold, salt on the road, and I can’t drive it any time soon.

I do want to at least make some progress.

I see lots of debate on 20 minutes at 2000rpm vs just driving it.

What about just starting it for a couple minutes to verify no massive issues or oil leaks? Any harm in that?

What about just spinning the motor with the fuel disconnected for a couple minutes to accomplish the same? Would the oil coat the cylinders and prevent break in?

Would it be blasphemy to just use 20/50 Castrol gtx or vr1?

I know seating the rings is key, my leakdown cold is better that 93-95% before break in…

Do I need to take the oil restrictions out for break in??? Cams and rockers looked great, except for minor wear on one.

Anxious to do … something :) There’s lots of wiring, an MSD, boost retards, AFR meters, yada, yada. I kind of want to make sure this stuff works…

Lay off the stimulants, wait until the road is dry.

Will do… but I have ants in my pants and want to see it run!

Some say you can glaze over your cylinders by idling, others say you need to run the car and do some engine braking et. I’m not really sure who to believe, I’ve never broke in a car then immediately tore it apart to check. I’m sure the engine masters here will chime in due time. I can’t see it hurting for a brief start up to check for leaks et. I wouldn’t let it idle for hours. If you got ants in the pants have at it on a dry road and then just wash the salt off.

For cams you need RPM to build hydrodynamic wedge-hence the "run it at 2K"
And the rings-yup nickasil is tough and firing pressure is needed to make them seat.
So whatever course you take DO NOT let it sit and idle!

Any risk to just spinning the motor up with the starter plugs out for a minute to circulate the oil?