Hello all. Ive been a long time lurker on this great resource of a website and I finally decided to join to ask a fairly specific set of questions related to break-in oils.
Im in the process of installing a rebuilt motor into a 2002 Honda Civic. Im planning on using a semi-hard break-in process to set the rings. Ive been researching and debating in my mind whats the best oil to use during this break-in process. Ill be changing the oil about 6 times in the first 500 miles of this process.
My questions are the following...
1a. Ive read in several places on the web that many suggest using a single weight like a 30W SAE. Most didnt give any specific reasons but a few mentioned that the viscosity modifiers in multi-viscosity oils may effect the rings ability to shear down the high spots on the cylinder walls to mesh the rings and walls for a tight seal and good break-in. What say the people of BITOG?
1b. Related to the above, literally every source on the web that touted a single weight for break-in exclusively talked about 30W and nothing else. Yet, my Civic calls for a 20W. I see that, while rare, 20W single viscosity oils are available but is it really necessary to stay with the factory recommended weights during break-in only? Obviously I would be switching to the proper 5W-20 after the 500 mile break-in.
2. Many also mentioned the use of conventional rather than a synthetic during break-in. Many mentioned that synthetic is too slippery to allow the strong friction needed for a hard break-in. Any thoughts?
3. Additives. I didnt read this anywhere as this is just my thoughts but for the same reasons as mentioned in question #2, should I be looking for a break-in oil that is low in anti-wear additives? It seems like I should since during break-in "wear" is actually what youre trying to achieve by "wearing down" the piston walls and rings so they can mesh. I would imagine that an oil high in anti-wear would work against me here and fight that process. Im also thinking that while I may not want any anti-wear package, my engine may benefit greatly by having a good detergent/dispersant package during break-in to help suspend all the metal particles that are going be sloshing around through the process. Again, what are everybodys thoughts on this?
So to summarize, is the ideal hard break-in oil a conventional, single weight with a small anti-wear package and a large detergent/dispersant package?
Thanks!
Im in the process of installing a rebuilt motor into a 2002 Honda Civic. Im planning on using a semi-hard break-in process to set the rings. Ive been researching and debating in my mind whats the best oil to use during this break-in process. Ill be changing the oil about 6 times in the first 500 miles of this process.
My questions are the following...
1a. Ive read in several places on the web that many suggest using a single weight like a 30W SAE. Most didnt give any specific reasons but a few mentioned that the viscosity modifiers in multi-viscosity oils may effect the rings ability to shear down the high spots on the cylinder walls to mesh the rings and walls for a tight seal and good break-in. What say the people of BITOG?
1b. Related to the above, literally every source on the web that touted a single weight for break-in exclusively talked about 30W and nothing else. Yet, my Civic calls for a 20W. I see that, while rare, 20W single viscosity oils are available but is it really necessary to stay with the factory recommended weights during break-in only? Obviously I would be switching to the proper 5W-20 after the 500 mile break-in.
2. Many also mentioned the use of conventional rather than a synthetic during break-in. Many mentioned that synthetic is too slippery to allow the strong friction needed for a hard break-in. Any thoughts?
3. Additives. I didnt read this anywhere as this is just my thoughts but for the same reasons as mentioned in question #2, should I be looking for a break-in oil that is low in anti-wear additives? It seems like I should since during break-in "wear" is actually what youre trying to achieve by "wearing down" the piston walls and rings so they can mesh. I would imagine that an oil high in anti-wear would work against me here and fight that process. Im also thinking that while I may not want any anti-wear package, my engine may benefit greatly by having a good detergent/dispersant package during break-in to help suspend all the metal particles that are going be sloshing around through the process. Again, what are everybodys thoughts on this?
So to summarize, is the ideal hard break-in oil a conventional, single weight with a small anti-wear package and a large detergent/dispersant package?
Thanks!
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