Engine Break in oil? Question for the gurus

[Chevy305]

So I am about to drop in the new motor I just built. What oil do you guys recomend for initial engine break in and then rest of the life of the motor?

So far I have primed the oil system with 10-30 valvoline synthetic with Lucas Engine break in additive.

Should I run that or run a different oil?

 

[4X4HIGH]

Synthetic oil should never be used in a new engine first off. I use valvoline oil and the VR1 racing oil has plenty of the zinc still so it is the oil you should use for break-in. You don't have to run the high zinc level oil all the time but I would run it for at least the first 500 miles or so at a minimum.

 

[BoondocK5]

Scott speaks the truth, nothing more needs to be said.

 

[George_Pimpdaddy]

I use dino oil and some of the AC Delco break in oil.

 

[USSkoval]

I've been using Accel oil from walmart, it says its SF quality for "1988 vehicles and older". So far, so good.

 

[496truck]

Yup, I wasted a brand new cam without the zinc additive. Learned the hard way about that one.

 

[Chevy305]

Synthetic oil should never be used in a new engine first off. I use valvoline oil and the VR1 racing oil has plenty of the zinc still so it is the oil you should use for break-in. You don't have to run the high zinc level oil all the time but I would run it for at least the first 500 miles or so at a minimum.

Thanks, I like the VR1 racing oil and currently run it in my 305 but autozone only had 20w-50 and 60w. I wanted to find 10w-30 VR1 but settled, I'll be sure to drain the oil start over.

 

[ryan22re]

use 15w 40 diesel oil. Add the zinc for the break in. Rotella T is my choice.

 

[K10 KRAWLER]

x2 on rotella T, and x2 on no synthetics

 

[folkenheath]

So I am about to drop in the new motor I just built. What oil do you guys recomend for initial engine break in and then rest of the life of the motor?

So far I have primed the oil system with 10-30 valvoline synthetic with Lucas Engine break in additive.

Should I run that or run a different oil?

Is this a roller cam or flat tappet motor? If it's a roller then the zink is not near as critical, but I still wouldn't run synthetic for the first 500 miles, like they said.

 

[nvrenuf]

Where are y'all getting these break in additives? Are these readily available at AutoZone, Advance Auto, etc? I guess I've never noticed them on the shelf before.

 

[Smokinthehippies]

i ordered mine from summit when i got my cam and lifters so i'd be sure not to forget.

there's a few different manufacts for break in addit/zinc addit you can get.

not sure if they're ever carried on the shelf. never seen them at a standard autozone, but i know most speed shops have them.

 

[USSkoval]

Sometimes I forget how lucky I am when I need stuff like that. There is a Jeg's in Columbus, so I just stop by there on my way home from work

 

[ryan22re]

GM sells the EOS (engine oil supplement) for engine break in. Used to come in little bottles, but now I see it in full quart bottles.

 

[ScottMH]

http://joegibbsracingoil.com/products/breakin/br30.html

i have used that in the last 10 engines ive built, never had the cam flatten out on the dyno with it. ends up being cheaper than reg oil and a additive, those additives are pretty expensive. but dump the synthetic for the first 3,000 miles.

 

[Thunder]

Use the GM EOS for cam break in as said above. Good stuff! Get it at any GM parts house. For oil. Shell Rotella T is the only way to go.
. RotellaT is the only oil I use anymore in a non roller cam engine. The newer formula oils dont have the additives to protect non roller cam engines. Espically during break in. Yes you can pay big bucks for fancy synthetic oils. Dont use them for break in. Total Waste of money after break in IMO.
Regular use of Rotella will do just as good or better than syn oils in an older non rolller cam engine and save you a bunch of $$$ on oil changes.

 

[Ned Kelly]

As a note.....Rotella used to have zinc in it. The fellow at the oil depot told me the formulation has been changed and zinc was removed sometime last year.

 

[ScottMH]

As a note.....Rotella used to have zinc in it. The fellow at the oil depot told me the formulation has been changed and zinc was removed sometime last year.

yep i used to use rotella, they took the zinc out and no one thought it was necessary to tell anyone. after flatting out two cams on a 496 i built i switched to the joe gibbs stuff. wasnt until later i found out the zinc was out of the rotella.

 

[K10 KRAWLER]

yep i used to use rotella, they took the zinc out and no one thought it was necessary to tell anyone. after flatting out two cams on a 496 i built i switched to the joe gibbs stuff. wasnt until later i found out the zinc was out of the rotella.

uh oh........