Engine break-in vs. ring seal?
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TECH Junkie
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Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Port Neches, TX
Engine break-in vs. ring seal? Hi All,
I'm somewhat far away from finishing my 418" L92 stroker and am pondering on the break-in procedure. This isn't a typical mill, LS7 crank with Ti rods and custom pistons at 11.6:1 CR, not to mention a Vic, JR with 4150 TB and Holley HP ECM. The engine will be in a stick car with no easy way to load the rings. Can I get by with just a start-up and short run before needing to be concerned with ring seal? Is there a time window before the rings glaze over and sealing becomes an issue?
I'm somewhat far away from finishing my 418" L92 stroker and am pondering on the break-in procedure. This isn't a typical mill, LS7 crank with Ti rods and custom pistons at 11.6:1 CR, not to mention a Vic, JR with 4150 TB and Holley HP ECM. The engine will be in a stick car with no easy way to load the rings. Can I get by with just a start-up and short run before needing to be concerned with ring seal? Is there a time window before the rings glaze over and sealing becomes an issue?
You can start it up but you have a fairly short window before the crosshatching of the cylinders get worn and they lose the ability to break the rings in right. Cylinder pressure pushes the rings out so you need to do some fairly hard pulls. Don't baby it right away.
If you haven't assembled the short block, try using the Total Seal quick seat powder. After cleaning the cylinders, you smear the powder in the bores which turns a greenish tint. The rings will begin seating during the assembly process. You can also have the car on jack stands and lightly accelerate against the brakes to lug the engine a bit and help them seat with heat and pressure.
Teching In
Joined: Nov 2014
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From: Northeast Ohio, USA
Was taught this years ago, by a motorcycle mechanic. He'd say "If you break it in fast, it will always be fast. If you break it in slow, it will always be slow."
Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (11)
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,782
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From: Port Neches, TX
If you haven't assembled the short block, try using the Total Seal quick seat powder. After cleaning the cylinders, you smear the powder in the bores which turns a greenish tint. The rings will begin seating during the assembly process. You can also have the car on jack stands and lightly accelerate against the brakes to lug the engine a bit and help them seat with heat and pressure.
Thanks!
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Verdad Gallardo wipe several times with dry paper towels
wipe with soft cloth doused in brake clean
dip finger tip into Quick Seat silver/gray powder
smear powder all around upper 3.5 inches of all cylinders
should turn a greenish tint if cleaned properly
install pistons/rings dry
Watch cross hatch begin to change/lose it's sharpness as pistons move up and down during assembly
Definitely worth the 16 bucks since you don't want an oil burner and would love to have ALL the piston kicking NASTY stay north of the rings !!!
