Which Oil to use on a freshly rebuilt motor?

[eclipse_spyder]

What kind of oil is recommended to get the motor broken in a couple hundred miles? A friend of mine said its not good to use synthetic oil right away.

[blageo23]

Use regular oil to break it in then move to synthetic

[eclipse_spyder]

any suggestions in brands?

[Shane@DBPerformance]

Just get some cheap Napa 10w40 non-synthetic or whatever and think about going to synthetic after a 1000 miles. I think I broke my motor in on some Viking crap I found at Holiday.

[JET]

Break in oil doesn't matter. I change mine after 3 startups in the shop, then at 50 miles, 200 miles and 1k miles. At 1k miles switch to synthetic and regular changes.

[blageo23]

I used oil from walmart. its like 8 bucks for 5 qrts.

[eclipse_spyder]

Alright, thanks guys.

[2.SlowES]

Do you really need to change it as often as Ecoli said?
I'm about to start mine for the first time since the rebuild too. Also, by three starts, do you mean you just started it and let it run? Or went and cruised around for a bit? How long untill it's fine to start boosting?

[JET]

That was me and I like to play it safe on an engine, especially one that wasn't fully put together in a clean room. By 3 starts I mean start it, let it get to full operating temp, cool off and repeat 3 times. That will get the big stuff out. Then drive it 50 miles somewhat easy, but no constant speeds. Change the oil and after that I drive it normal.

You will be surprised at how many metal shavings are in the oil. While it may not cause a failure right away, you don't want those metal shaving imbedding in any bearings.

[Speedfreak]

Originally Posted by 2.SlowES

Do you really need to change it as often as Ecoli said?
I'm about to start mine for the first time since the rebuild too. Also, by three starts, do you mean you just started it and let it run? Or went and cruised around for a bit? How long untill it's fine to start boosting?

Yes. I follow a similar routine when breaking in new motors.

[2.SlowES]

Awesome, thanks guys! And sorry for impeding on your thread...

[eclipse_spyder]

Originally Posted by 2.SlowES

Awesome, thanks guys! And sorry for impeding on your thread...

It's a good thing you brought that up cause I didn't know that either.

[Dsmboy1991]

There are quite a few different theories on break in. However I agree with Jet with the frequent oil change method. The luck I had with mine was using a heavier weight 20w 50. I changed, after first day of running, 500, 1000, 1500, then switched to 10w 30 synthetic and regular routine. Like I said though, alot of different theories are out there, ha ha.

[badinblack]

For brand on break in, I have always used rotela 10w30. The properties in it are great for break in. I am suprised no one else has mentioned it yet here.

[Shane@DBPerformance]

I think Hughes was the Rotella master.

[Goat Blower]

Hmmm, I always use straight 30 weight non-detergent for initial break-in. About 20 miles doing some coast downs to seal the rings, then change the oil and put in my usual stuff, now Valvoline Racing 20w-50 and change at 100 miles and then 500 miles.