break in oil

[Moparmatt72]

As thinking of using 20w/50 with lucus break in oil for a while then go full synthetic, or should I just go with racing oil like 45w. Hope to finally start up this motor soon

 

[Endangered Species]

That's the million dollar question.

Some say use break in oil, some say use regular oil. Some say that Synthetic doesn't let the rings seat.... how ever we have started our motor up on Brad Penn for years.

I'm wondering what other guys say.

 

[Photon440]

I don't think there's anything wrong with synthetic oil and rings seating. A lot of expensive cars come from the factory with synthetic oil already in them (Corvette, AMG Mercedes, Porsche, Aston-Martin, Bentley, Viper, Kenworth, Audi...) They don't seem to worry about any warranty work that will occur from this practice.

 

[sleepar]

My take is to use break in oil that's ready to use rather than adding a supplement to an oil and mixing it in the engine as it runs.... I use Lucas break in oil in a 5 quart jug and shake it before I use it a use the zddp additives as assembly lube on bearings straight from the bottle... if an engine sits for months after rebuild before starting I will over fill the sump with 15 quarts of break in then spin the motor with the starter for a few minutes then drain it down to the proper level then start use the oil for the next rebuild or add it to the fuel a quart to a tank when filling up for upper cylinder lube...

- - - Updated - - -

I don't think there's anything wrong with synthetic oil and rings seating. A lot of expensive cars come from the factory with synthetic oil already in them (Corvette, AMG Mercedes, Porsche, Aston-Martin, Bentley, Viper, Kenworth, Audi...) They don't seem to worry about any warranty work that will occur from this practice.

It's about flat tappet cams in antiquated engines..... that high end stuff is roller cams or overhead cams and the oil for flat tappet can mess up a roller engine.... just because it's expensive doesn't mean it's compatible or better or anything....

 

[Hemi Rebel]

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2012/10/18/tech-101-zinc-in-oil-and-its-effects-on-older-engines/

 

[SUPERSTOCKRACER]

With a solid roller cam, I don't think there's any benefit. It cant hurt and I've done it both ways. I will NOT use synthetic oil in a newly built motor. Not till everything is seated. Modern cars use different ring packages compared to race cars.
I've use Valvoline VR1 20-50 race oil for years. Just switched to Brad Penn 20W-50 for the summer and 10W-30 for spring and fall recently.

- - - Updated - - -

With a flat tappet cam, I highly recommend a break in oil with the extra zinc.

 

[Moparmatt72]

Thanks everyone. Will get the break in oil, I have even on newer engine brain feared and used fullssynthetic after I built the engine on my srt4 engine and the rings did not seat well had a lot of blow by. After my engine is broken in ill be getting a custom blend oil for use by BND of quantum blue. My cam is a hydraulic by isky.

The 20w50 I was going to use was valveoline non synthetic with a bottle of lucus break in oil. I always prime my oil system prior to starting up and will spray some oil in the cylinders and rotate it around to help lube the walls prior as well.

 

[Dennis H]

After unning it on the bench, my builder recommended Valvoline 10-40 conventional. After that I have used Amsoil Signature 10-40 high zinc. 40 plus thousand not easy miles no problems.

 

[SUPERSTOCKRACER]

After unning it on the bench, my builder recommended Valvoline 10-40 conventional. After that I have used Amsoil Signature 10-40 high zinc. 40 plus thousand not easy miles no problems.

AMSOIL IS THE BEST STUFF OUT THERE. Pricey but real good stuff. after breakin, I wouldn't hesitate to run AMSOIL.

 

[383man]

I weill say I remember in the late 90's when I went to my Viper update training (worked at a Dodge dealer for 24 years) they told me the factory broke in the V10 Viper engines on standard oil and put the synthetic later after the eng was broke in on the stand. It got the synthetic before it left the factory but after they ran the eng so long on standard oil first. Myself I use a solid flat tappet and I use what I always have which is Valvloline VR1 20W-50 racing oil and I added a bottle of Comp zinc additive. The eng has been in the car since 2011 and still running fine. Ron