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If
you are still idling at least a tank through during
break-in, you're using the old-school accepted
method (still works well for some!) but it's not
the method that the top engine guys (Ron Paris,
Dennis Richey, Rody Roem, Michael Salven are just
a few I've spoken personally with about this)
recommend anymore.
From
the very 1st time you start your engine, plop
the car on the ground & begin running it in a
parking lot in 2-3 minute intervals, tuned only
*slightly rich* getting the temps up in the 200F
range on a normal day. Every 2-3 minutes, shut
the engine down & let it cool completely with
the piston at BDC, and then fire it back up; continue
this cycle until you've run 15 min or so, and
then bump up to 3-4 minute intervals. Vary the
RPM and don't be afraid to get the temps in the
200's. What you want is heat cycling of the components
without the incredible stress that comes with
breaking an engine in when it's overly rich &
cold. After cycling the engine in this mannerfor
about 20-25 total minutes, it'll be ready for
the track and race tuning. I realize this method
goes against the old-school "idle on the box"
routine, but you'll be amazed once you've completed
this break-in routine, your OS will still have
amazing pinch w/out sticking at the top AND your
OS's compression will last far longer than it
will with the "old school" method.
You
say you run the engine at "factory settings" for
the first FIVE tanks? That alone causes lots of
stress, as the factory OS settings are very rich
on every OS I've ever owned or tuned. The piston
& sleeve haven't expanded to operating temps,
and every time the engine turns over, the piston
slams into the pinch zone at TDC. The not-so-surprising
result can be a cracked con-rod at the crank pin--that's
where the majority of the stresses occur as the
engine turns over. I've only heard of about 6-8
OS engines breaking con-rods, and they're ALWAYS
during the first gallon...and almost every time
it's because the guys have performed the break-in
procedure you described. Doesn't seem like a mystery
as to why it's happening. Drawing out the break-in
routine really stresses the engine & actually
wears away compression along the way. This method
I've outlined will feel weird at every step, but
after you try it once, you'll notice a big difference
in your engine's performance & lifespan.
Hope
this helps; give this break-in method a shot--you
have nothing to gain except longer life & more
power :)
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