Break-in Oil

[Rosco_NZ]

Recommend 20W-50 multi grade for break in

[porschedude996]

Originally Posted by Henry Schmidt

I am a big fan (for years) of 30 wt Valvoline non-detergent.
Napa 30 wt non-detergent is the same product.

I’m going here. No sense in buying expensive stuff anyway. Couple a hundred miles, or after a thro warm up?

[stownsen914]

I'm looking at break-in oils for my rebuild, and have heard a couple recommendations for Valvoline 30 wt non-detergent oil. The stuff I can find mentions having zinc of 400 ppm. That's obviously too low for normal use in our aircooled engines. Is that OK for break in?

My application is a race engine. "Break in" will consist of a trackday ~60 mins run time.

From the Valvoline website

[Black 993]

I'm far from an expert on this but I would think 30 is too thin for track duty.

[Henry Schmidt]

I still use 30 non-detergent when possible. The detergents reduces friction and the point of break in oil is to allow the components to create a working relationship.
30 minutes of stationary time time varying the rpm constantly, adjusting the tune and checking for leaks. Change that oil to your oil of choice, I'm a fan of VR1 20w50 and then a 1 hrs road trip to maybe a favorite restaurant. Let it cool while you eat, maybe a hour and a half or two, then the trip home. Check for leaks, check the timing, do a valve adjustment and drive it to the next oil change.
Removing the plugs to do the valve adjustment allows you to get a feeling for how your combustion is performing.

[stownsen914]

Thank you, Henry - I was hoping you'd chime in. The Valvoline 30 wt I could fine doesn't have the usual high zinc that we seek. Is that OK for break-in? Maybe that's even desirable for a brief break-in period?

[Henry Schmidt]

Originally Posted by stownsen914

Thank you, Henry - I was hoping you'd chime in. The Valvoline 30 wt I could fine doesn't have the usual high zinc that we seek. Is that OK for break-in? Maybe that's even desirable for a brief break-in period?

High zinc is important to long term wear while break in oil is about new parts mating.
If the oil is too slick, ring could struggle to seat. There are many factors effecting ring seat (ra factor, cross hatch, ring pressure, ring flutter) so you're at the mercy of general rules. We had good luck using non-detergent oils so we sticks to what works.
It's an old dogs/new tricks scenario. YMMV.

[winders]

I would look at the BR30 and BR40 break-in oils from Driven.

[Rosco_NZ]

Lake Speed Junior ‘The Motor Oil Geek’ seems to have great insights into oils and lubrication. Apparently high calcium detergent levels reduce the effectiveness of the ZDDP. Latest theory is SP grade oils with less calcium require less zinc and get better wear characteristics. I’m not sure I’m ready to test the theory out on my newly rebuilt aircooled engine, but I watch with interest.