Hey guys,

Just got a quick question concerning valve spring break-in.

I know that with aftermarket valve springs the motor needs to be at least warm prior to taking it to high RPMs. I understand the whole concept of aftermarket springs being a lot less forgiving than OEM springs when cold.

My question is what do you guys use as an indication of when your motor is warm? Do you wait for a specific coolant temperature to be reached? I have heard some people say that once the coolant temp needle is off the low peg that this is an indication of a warm engine.

Do some of you go by a certain oil pressure at idle?

Thanks,
Brian

 

normal operating temperature for me.

 

i don't move my car ti'll the motor reaches full temp. then i know i'm safe.

 

I wait until it gets to normal operating temp.

 

Normal temp would take about 30 minutes of warmup in the winter here... (a few days last winter here were as cold as -10F)

Is that a good reason for me to look for a lower lift cam?

As it is (stock), I wait for the needle to get a few ticks off of the cold-peg before I drive.

 

Sorry - I forgot we were talking about break-in temps... not DRIVING temps.

 

i start the car then just idle/drive it till the needle is off 160 to take it over 2000rpms, at that point the oil temp should be high enough that everything is safe.

 

I'm ****.

The Vettes got an oil temp gauge, It doesn't move till the oils at 160 degrees, water temps usually about 180 by that point.

 

unfortunatly ive got a 160 tstat so unless its 90 outside and ive been driving in traffic for 30 minutes it wouldnt hit 180

 

Yep the oil takes longer than the water to warm up, just keep that in mind.