"Running in" Techniques..??

[chris-pilling]

Hello, Everybody has there way of running in there engines and different thoughts on it "How to" but i was curious to what people like to do. Ie what sort of rev range's, oils, milage to run in etc,

The advice i was given is first 30 miles, dont rev it to much, 3000 max.. then after that up it a bit 4500 (not all the time) but most importantly dont labour the engine. ive had it set up roughly for running in by a chap call rob who works at minisport and that was his advice! what are your thoughts on the matter, just out of curiosity more than anything!!

iv heard of test being done of running two identical motors and one is run in very gentle and the other rag from the word go and the rag'd one will develope more power and but wont last as long at the softly softly gently gently one.. is this just a load of shite? i thought it would be a interesting discussion

[Greenie]

I'm running in my 1293 and new gearbox and have done 500 miles at 3000 ish changed the oil and filter and checked for leaks etc. Changed oil to semi synthetic and running for 1500 at slightly raised revs (not all the time) and after that torque the head down check the carb and go and have some fun.

[COOPERCO]

I use 'Running in Oil' use to be Castrol running in oil No. 2, but now Millers.

I run a test route which has gentle climbs to make the engine work a little to push the rings out at settle the bores, the engine has a recovery period going down the other side of the hills. Like you say don't labour the motor. I have a circular cross country route, enough straight sections so impatient people can get by. Run the route for about 4 hours, keep the rev's below 3,000. Change to your 'Normal' oil, job done, go and do what you like! I use this method on all my new builds, we have done 20,000 hard miles in the last 6 years on a 1293 S motor mostly in France up & down Cols We were at 9,000 feet+ this time two weeks ago. On the entire round trip, including 5,000rpm for hours on the Auto Route we probably used less than a litre (1 litre max) of top up. Guess it works!

Col de Bonette 9190 feet!

[tomkidd]

Awesome photo

[AndyB72]

I use cheap supermarket oil when running in, I also change the oil for another batch after the first 10 miles or so. I figure this clears out all the build up lubricants and any nasty bits that might have crept in during buildup, I know there shouldn't be any in there but it's serves as an extra check. Then covering 300-500 miles trying not to go over 4000 rpm or labour the engine too much, driving like a granny will probably do more harm than good. The mix of hills and long A roads round here are perfect.

[mk1]

Mike,

That is a staggeringly good picture!

Good advice on running in too!

[COOPERCO]

Thanks Tom & Mark about the comments on the photo.

It was starting to run a bit rich in the thin air, can recommend Mintex 1144 pad material for the way down

[pad4]

I would let you know but i managed about 4 mile before the brand new gears i bought from MINISPORT gave up the ghost and trashed my new engine - next attempt at running in will be to drive to MINISPORT and give them back a bag full of dog shit bits of metal....

[COOPERCO]

We fitted this car with a SCCR 3 sync gear set from MiniSport for its first outing. Turned into a 2 sync bow by Dover! we were great at double declutching after a couple of thousand miles. When striping out to replace the problem parts & the box was locked in two gears to undo the pinion nut, a tooth sheared off one the gears It appeared to be through hardened rather than case hardened. MiniSport did replace the offending item but we put the kit on ebay & fitted one of the last Jack Knight kits, excellent stuff & a shame they are no longer about!

[ace01]

.

It was starting to run a bit rich in the thin air, can recommend Mintex 1144 pad material for the way down

Green stuff is also good for non fade on 998 brakes, shame about the fluid boiling though.

[Simon776]

Nice looking car at the front in that picture!

[COOPERCO]

Nice looking car at the front in that picture!

Did see that car the day before in the snow, only 8675 feet up!

[Etienne B.]

Superb pictures Mike
My running in period is much longer than what you all describe,
but basically, it is very close to Mike's, with just NEVER running the engine SLOWER than 1500 RPM - say after the few early hours of running in.
I progressively let it go higher in the revs using long straights for short but repeated times.
I always double declutch for downshifting, couldn't certify it has any influence on the engine/box longevity, but my previous 1275 lasted 150 000 km (9 years) on the same clutch.