When breaking in my engine should I have a 160 degree thermostat or 190 degree thermostat. Should I drive it right away or let it run at 2000 rpm for about half an hour first.

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82 Camaro Z28
35 w/4 bolt mains
9.5:1 comppresion
heavily ported 882 heads
gasket matched Torker intake Edelbock Performer 750 carb
Speed pro cam 222 @.05 .447 lift
headers with straight pipes
Borg Warner T-10
Posi

Another 82 Camaro Z28
Black w/silver racing stripes
355
Edelbrock Performer intake and 750 carb
4 bolt mains
69 camaro heads 64cc
9:1 compression
TH-350 w/stage 2 shift kit
275/60R15 out back
205/60R15 front

 

there is a great tech artical about this in the tech section, and i believe what it says is that first you run it at varing RPM's for about 20 minutes, change the oil+filter, then drive it for 400-500miles, never going above 50-55mph, then change the oil+filter again.....and ur set.....i think.....read the artical

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"When something breaks, it gives me an excuse to replace it with a performace part!"
1988 GTA
TES headers
Flowmaster exaust
TB airfoil
165 Tstat
K+N's
JET chip
kenwood head unit, xplod amp, poineer 3 ways
weird rattling noises
dying 350
crappy paint
700R4 on its last leg
hood that won't open

 

use straight 30w oil, (dino juice) too

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ICON Motorsports

1st & 3rd

 

This is what I do...

1) 30w oil (dino)make sure all fluids are full. (if you can only get a gallon of coolant/water into the rad...the engine block is NOT full )

2) run engine above 1500 RPM for 20-30 minutes, reving occationally. Keep an eye out for overheating and any leaks.

3) set timing and all adjustments.

4)Change oil and filter, staying with dino oil. Multi visc. is OK.

5) Test drive, if alls OK then just drive it normal. My truck engine has about 600 miles on it and it sees WOT all the time.

6) Change oil at 500 miles, then every 3000.

Been doing it this way for 15 years.

Everybody that responds to this post will tell you a different way, everybody I know breaks them in differently

Good luck.

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ASE Mechanic/Machinist/Smog Tech

1999 NBM Trans Am
1986 Chevy 3/4 ton pick up
1981 corvette
1995 Kawi ZX6R

GO #3

[This message has been edited by Engineboy (edited January 31, 2001).]

 

If you have a flat-tappet cam, you need to run it at above-idle RPMs like engineboy says. If roller, not a problem.

The GM performance parts web site has a good summary of how to do this. I believe it is linked to their crate engine page, but look for it.

 

Strait from the General's mouth:

RECOMMENDED ENGINE START-UP PROCEDURE
1. SAFETY FIRST! If the car is on the ground, be sure the emergency brake is set, the wheels
are chocked, and the transmission cannot fall into gear.
2. Be sure to check the oil level in the engine and prime the oil system
3. Run engine between 2,000 and 2,500 RPMs, with no-load on the engine for the first 30 min.
4. Adjust the distributor timing roughly by hand for a quick start up and smoothest idle possible.
5. Adjust the carburetor settings, if necessary.
6. After the first 30 minutes of the engine running, set the ignition timing (see install ignition
section for timing specifications).
7. Drive the vehicle with varying speeds and loads on the engine for the first 30 miles. Be sure
not to use a lot of throttle or high RPM.
8. Run five or six medium-throttle accelerations to about 5,000 RPM (55 to 60 MPH), then
letting off in gear and coasting back down to 20 MPH.
9. Run a couple hard-throttle accelerations up to about 5000 RPM (55 to 60 MPH), then letting
off in gear and coasting back down to 20 MPH.
10. Change the oil and filter with 10w30SG oil and PF1218 AC Delco oil filter (PN 251605610
11. Drive the next 500 miles normally, without high RPM's (below 5,000 RPM), hard use, or
extended periods of high loading.
12. Change the oil and oil filter again.
13. Your engine is now ready for many happy cruising miles!

I hope that pasted well. Hope it helps.

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"Arguments are like fire-arms which a man may keep at home but should not carry about with him."

-Samuel Butler