Breaking In Running In a newly built Healey Engine

BN6 · Aug 23, 2018

Anyone got the best way of breaking/running in a newly rebuilt Healey 3000 engine, to be run off the car first.

What are the best recommended lubricants for the breaking/running in period.

How long would the breaking/running in period be off the car.

I am going to run it off the car incase of any issues that may develop, leaks, changes, adjustments etc. etc.

LarryK · Aug 23, 2018

Start and run at about 2000rpm for 20 mins minimum to 30 mins, Shut down, change immediately to your driving oil and new filter. retorque head gaskets. Install, and change oil again at 1000 miles and retorque head gasket. Any break in oil available at auto parts store of a non-detergent 30W. Watch pressure and temp constantly, if any problems, shut down.

dougie · Aug 23, 2018

BN6 said:
Anyone got the best way of breaking/running in a newly rebuilt Healey 3000 engine, to be run off the car first.

What are the best recommended lubricants for the breaking/running in period.

How long would the breaking/running in period be off the car.

I am going to run it off the car incase of any issues that may develop, leaks, changes, adjustments etc. etc.

I just broke-in my new race motor a couple weeks back. This is about the 5-6 one over the past 15 years, I always run them in with Joe Gibbs
https://www.drivenracingoil.com/dro/br-break-in-oil-16060html/ I have an accusump, so I can prime/pressurize the system prior to turning it over. Once started, I run it at 2500 rpm for about 30 minutes while I check the the temp and oil pressure and adjust timing. I also have an additional fan running towards the front of the car. And good assistant is usually great ideal.

HealeyPassion · Aug 23, 2018

Doug,
I especially like the look on your "good assistance" face.... I've seen that look many times on my lovely assistance's face as she's been summoned to the garage to help.

Steve

steveg · Aug 23, 2018

Friends and I refer to them as the "dreaded assistant" because of the high cost of employing them.

dougie · Aug 23, 2018

HealeyPassion said:
Doug,
I especially like the look on your "good assistance" face.... I've seen that look many times on my lovely assistance's face as she's been summoned to the garage to help.

Steve

You nailed it Steve, I'm lucky she's a good sport.

HealeyPassion · Aug 23, 2018

Steve, I hope you don't refer to them as "dreaded assistants" while they are within hearing distance.... or the cost will go up dramatically!!

Bob_Spidell · Aug 23, 2018

My engine builder used Lucas 30W break-in oil. They primed the oil system with a pressurized container, and he used points so he could static time the ignition system. He said it fired on the first crank (of course, he would :wink-new

. Some say to to run the starter with plugs out to build oil pressure, but some say not to as it scrubs the assembly lube off (I suspect this is a wash). The admonishment to run at about 2K for 20-30mins for proper cam break-in seems to be universal. He said to run the break-in oil for 500m, but I cracked the pan and had to change out at about 250m for my usual 20W-50. I'm assuming good assembly lube was used in your rebuild?

Note ZDDP is critical for break-in--and pretty much always for a flat tappet engine--but don't overdo it as the zinc and phosphorus can get corrosive at too high levels.

BN6 · Aug 23, 2018

Thank you everyone for the quick replies it seems everyone is on the same page, 2-2500rpm for 20-30 mins using running in oil of around 30w then change to normal oil not to long after.

bob hughes · Aug 23, 2018

I would make sure that the oil is in the right places first what ever type you use. Disconnect the lead from the coil to the dizzy and turn the engine over on the battery until you see the pressure building on the gauge, this may take a couple of minutes. Once you get a good pressure then connect everything back and start the engine. I used a cheap 20/50 with the ZDDP and ran it gently without straining for 500 miles then changed.

:cheers:

Bob

BN6 · Aug 23, 2018

For the assembly lube I used semi synthetic Lucas Oils high performance lube and for the initial breaking in I was looking at Millers Classic running in oil 30W.

View attachment 55113

RestoreThemAll · Aug 23, 2018

Is it necessary to re torque the head? Twice? I'm not challenging. Just making sure that I'm doing things right.

Bob_Spidell · Aug 23, 2018

RestoreThemAll said:
Is it necessary to re torque the head? Twice? I'm not challenging. Just making sure that I'm doing things right.

My builder said no; but, it's been common practice for, like, forever. My rebuilt engine has over 10K miles on it, and I haven't re-torqued the head--yet--with no ill effects. It's a bit of a pain on an Austin 6 because you have to remove the rocker shaft to do it*, and I always get nervous messing with a non-leaking feed pipe to the shaft.

* If anything knows of an offset, 'crows-foot' type wrench or extension that can reach the nuts without removing the shaft please let us know.

red57 · Aug 23, 2018

I'm no pro but this is the method I am used to (& was beat into me by an engine guru friend). I re-torque the head once after the initial cam bedding run. That 20+minutes at 2-2500 will give a complete heat soak to everything

(which is what compresses the head gasket and requires re-torqueing) and then after it cools to ambient, change oil and re-torque & adjust valves.

IMO there is no other 'break-in' required, "drive it like you stole it". Additional oil changes are not harmful and may help remove any loose particles and no harm in addition re-torqueing.

The only things that 'bed in' are the cam/lifters and the rings - the cam/lifters were bedded in the first 20 min. The rings, unless you have some old school racing chrome ones, will also be bedded in the first 20 min because they all have abrasives built into the outer edges to facilitate break-in. All bearings and other surfaces are running on an oil film so no metal-to-metal to require 'bedding'. Have followed this procedure for 20+ years and several motors going straight onto the track - never a problem. YMMV
Dave

steveg · Aug 23, 2018

HealeyPassion said:
Steve, I hope you don't refer to them as "dreaded assistants" while they are within hearing distance.... or the cost will go up dramatically!!

Yup, we keep that under our hats. No need to artificially inflate the market. It's like "War Emergency Horsepower" - you don't like to use it but when you need it you really need it. (out of ammo with a Focke Wulfe on your tail.)

Randy Forbes · Aug 23, 2018

Another vote for Joe Gibbs, has all your vitamins Z, D, D & P in it!

NOTE: I felt the JG oil was enough, but the client insisted on the RedLine additive too. The customer isn't always right, but they're always the customer...

Thread starter	Title	Forum	Replies	Date
	no sound when breaking the christmas bulbs???	Austin Healey	16	Dec 13, 2018
1	Wedge Breaking Into a Trunk Boot	Triumph	3	Mar 18, 2018
	100 Record Breaking Montlhery	Austin Healey	3	Apr 21, 2014
	No sound affects when breaking those little Christmas lights!	Austin Healey	16	Nov 29, 2013
	TR2/3/3A Tips for Breaking in a Rebuilt TR3 Engine	Triumph	6	Sep 4, 2013
T	TR4/4A Breaking in a new rebuilt engine	Triumph	7	Jul 15, 2013
P	Breaking in a new convertable top	Triumph	4	Feb 12, 2013
	Breaking in of a new engine.....how to do....	Triumph	8	May 1, 2012
	to brake with out breaking	Jaguar	6	Mar 30, 2012
	TR2/3/3A Questions about Breaking in a refreshed TR3 Engine	Triumph	13	Sep 19, 2011
J	cloisonne badge is already breaking off	Austin Healey	15	Sep 5, 2011
K	Method of breaking stuck clutch disc free?	Triumph	10	Dec 28, 2009
	wire wheels/breaking spokes	Racing	3	Sep 27, 2009
	Breaking with tradition.....	MG	10	Mar 31, 2009
J	Speedometer angle drive keeps breaking	Austin Healey	10	Sep 25, 2008
	Breaking In Bearings	Triumph	14	Jul 2, 2008
	How do I open my tach without breaking stuff?	Spridgets	2	Apr 28, 2008
T	Engine breaking down	Triumph	28	Apr 14, 2008
	Breaking news	Spridgets	4	Apr 5, 2006
D	Bad breaks with brakes breaking	MG	7	Oct 15, 2003
K	TR2/3/3A What are the running symptoms........	Triumph	21	Nov 25, 2023
T	General Tech Running hot	Triumph	8	Oct 5, 2022
J	TR4/4A 1964 Triumph TR4 - Not Starting/Running	Triumph	3	Aug 30, 2022
	Running well, then no fire	Spridgets	7	Aug 2, 2022
C	Rough-Running 3000	Austin Healey	29	Jul 10, 2022
S	MGB Running poorly	MG	7	May 21, 2022
	TR6 TR6 rough running - what can it be?	Triumph	17	May 4, 2022
	TR2/3/3A Winter engine running in - icy	Triumph	7	Feb 5, 2022
R	running car on jack stands	Spridgets	16	Nov 23, 2021
	TR6 TR6 Running Rough	Triumph	5	Oct 17, 2021
	TR6 Quit running after a few minutes - need advice	Triumph	15	Sep 24, 2021
B	For Sale 57TR3 Small Mouth with OD Project. 12 yeqrs running. I'm not going to finish	Triumph Classifieds	14	Jul 19, 2021
	Trouble running hot	Spridgets	10	May 23, 2021
T	TR2/3/3A rough running after 20 min shutdown	Triumph	9	May 17, 2021
S	TR2/3/3A Running rich SUs.	Triumph	25	Jan 15, 2021
Y	Wanted Looking for running 3.5L MK V engine	Jaguar Classifieds	0	Aug 6, 2020
J	Spitfire 1979 Spitfire Running rough [sputtering, exhaust poping] at start up	Triumph	2	Jul 26, 2020
	Starter keeps running	TVR	20	Mar 11, 2020
	MGB Running out of gas symptoms	MG	21	Feb 1, 2020
K	TR2/3/3A Anyone running NGK spark plugs?	Triumph	26	Aug 15, 2019
T	TR2/3/3A Anyone running tubeless radials on TR3 steel radials?	Triumph	2	May 5, 2019
N	Running Cold	Austin Healey	12	Feb 28, 2019
	Car running poorly	Spridgets	7	Jan 13, 2019
	Running hot/Overheating	Austin Healey	44	Jan 3, 2019
	SU carbs lose fuel prime when not running	Austin Healey	3	Dec 9, 2018
	For Sale 76 TR 7 project car [non running]	Triumph Classifieds	0	Nov 1, 2018
N	Stuck Needle Valve - Rough Running	Austin Healey	15	Oct 29, 2018
J	For Sale 1976 Sptifire with 1.8L Miata engine/5-speed [running like a boss!]	Triumph Classifieds	0	Sep 10, 2018
R	TR2/3/3A TR 3A running hot at high rpm	Triumph	12	Jun 20, 2018
M	Proper running temp for 1275	Spridgets	28	Jun 20, 2018

Breaking In Running In a newly built Healey Engine

Share this page

BN6

Member

LarryK

Yoda

dougie

Luke Skywalker

HealeyPassion

Jedi Warrior

steveg

Yoda

dougie

Luke Skywalker

HealeyPassion

Jedi Warrior

Bob_Spidell

Yoda

BN6

Member

bob hughes

Luke Skywalker

BN6

Member

Attachments

RestoreThemAll

Jedi Warrior

Bob_Spidell

Yoda

red57

Jedi Knight

steveg

Yoda

Randy Forbes

Yoda

Similar threads