Running in

[zoona]

For those of you not following my nervous breakdown, I am trying to get my car together before shipping it to the US.
Completely new engine build (by me, and it is my first time).


I am now in the position where it starts and idles fine. I have only run it 3 times for 10 seconds at a time, but it starts faultlessly. Other things are also coming along - i.e. gearbox and clutch are installed correctly which is nice.
But i have yet to put it on the ground and run it for two main reasons. 
1) my brakes are being a PITA
2) it is unregistered here, and all hell will break loose if i am caught on the road with it.


So. Running in.

I have wathced videos and read posts until my eyes bleed.
In an ideal world, i think I would do the following:

1) Start it up, run it up and down to 2000-3000 rpm. do this for 20 mins
2) Drive it for 40miles vary speeds and do everything gently letting the engine brake the car to lower speeds
3) Change oil and filter (check old oil) replace with more break in oil
4) Then drive it
5) 500 miles later change oil for normal stuff

Things to watch while doign this: AFR, oil temp, oil pressure, coolant temp

Questions:
 - Anybody see an issue with the above?
 - Given i can't drive this on the road, how much of the above do i need to do before it is shipped? i would like to at least get to step 3. My worry is that it will be abused while being shipped. i..e left idling for a long time, razzed around (I plan to limit boost and revs to avoid this)
 - I am looking for a rolling road to do step 2 on, but i have read that some dynos won't allow it to engine break properly? is there somethign i need to look for? I am also going to see if i can find somewhere i can just drive up and down on somebody's land. My landlord is a mechanic locally and seems to know everybody, so going to ask him for advice.

Anythign else i am missing?

[wannabe]

IIRC I once read there are two schools of thought on breaking in - gently (with gradual acceleration and varying speeds / durations, as you say) or rev-the-rods-off-it, the latter 'apparently' making a quicker engine straight from the off.

I have too much mechanical sympathy for the latter, though... lol


re: getting it running before getting into the US - I'm not sure I'd bother, personally. The US has a strong Miata scene so there should be plenty of places over there if you need any parts or work doing, or (as you're already handy with spanners) there should be support if you need it (don't be a stranger on here! lol).

If you can limit revs/boost in the ECU, I'd stick a 2k rpm limiter on it and cut all boost (or map it out of that range) - that should stop joyriding round the port(s). Idling should be fine, I'm sure - it's low load and although it might get tappety if it gets hot but not moving under load, it shouldn't (I think...) present an issue (as long as the fans cut in/out properly, obvs).

[Horney]

The key is varied rpm and don’t labour it. Modern engines only need a few miles to bed the rings in and you’re good to go.

[zoona]

Ok. I'll so a bit of work on jack stands, then either try to find a rolling road, or see if my landlord knows somewhere I can go for a bit of a run away from the rozzers...

Thanks

[dadbif]

Not labouring it is key, pootling around will glaze the bores, drive it!

Colin Chapman used to put a couple of spoonfuls of brasso in the oil of a new engine, allegedly....

[zoona]

Think I'll skip the brasso... But sounds like my general plan isn't making anybody shriek in terror.

[Zed.]

drive it like you stole it....

seriously though, if it's gonna blow up its gonna blow up

I start an engine a few times to check oilpressure and for oil / coolant leaks then run @ fast idle (unless runnind in new camshafts then ~30 mins @ 3,000rpm) then check evrything again for leaks and tappet clearance if needed.

then drive / dyno....

and give it a clockfull

Rich.

[atlex]

I'd drop it and get illegal. Still got your UK plates ? Sorted.

If not, I can send you some of mine.

I've NEVER had my V5C checked anywhere inside mainland europe.

[Zed.]

May 27, 2021 21:59:31 GMT atlex said:

I've NEVER had my V5C checked anywhere inside mainland europe.

wonder if anyone else has




Rich.

[dadbif]

Not even when you changed to Spanish plates? had to show mine at the trafico office.

[atlex]

May 28, 2021 7:14:35 GMT dadbif said:

Not even when you changed to Spanish plates? had to show mine at the trafico office.

We've yet to see about mine now they're on placas de matricula.

Invariably, one will take interest.

[zoona]

Switzerland.

If there is a minor bump on the road, the police swarm all over it and measure everything.
All about money and fault here

Speeding is punishable by means tested fines as well.

I don't want to find out what happens if I get caught with a non registered, non insured car.
And we might want to come back at some stage. They hold this sort of prarrie canoe against you if you apply for residency...

[zoona]

Ok, i've got it running, and started to do a bit of warming up and it's making a hell of a noise...

The manifold is smoking, but expecting that to burn off rubbish that has collected in it.
There is oil pressure - the oil pressure gauge is reading right at the top of the scale and increases when I increase revs. I remember it always being quite high before the rebuild
Oil level in sump has gone down a little bit, but I have an external cooler that I didn't pre-fill as it is an rear canoe to get to. So was expecting that.
There is a vacuum leak somewhere in the engine bay, but not overly worried about that at the moment
Afr seems to be in the right range.
Nothing leaking on the floor


But the worst bit is the fucking noise. Sounds like a bag of spanners. Is... That... Normal? Please say yes ..


Will put a video up when I get home, but really difficult to diagnose remotely like that ..

[atlex]

Cold oil shows very very high pressure. Nothing to worry about there per se.

As for the noise, well, I think so. Depends on the rebuild rather. It should quiet down once warmed through. I've heard head rebuilds tend to be quite noisy at the start.

Wanna find someone local with a dyno to run it in on ?

Of course, you'll have to tow it there.

[atlex]

If the engine actually runs, check the oil hasn't got that metallic flecked painted look developing after a little while of running