To Break in or Beat in - That is the question

[wavemaster]

Maybe someone else here can explain to Nytros rule the difference between breaking in a motor and maintaining a motor.

 

[Nytros rule]

Well I can understand if you can't understand the difference between breaking in a motor by recommended procedure in the manual (by the people that spent thousands of hours designing building and testing the engine and who carry the warranty) or people who have gotten their engineering Degree off a dispenser
on a washroom wall.

 

[wavemaster]

Obviously not.

 

[Nytros rule]

For those of you with new sleds this season, I have some advice that has been working for me for years. Works on any gas motor.

A good read on the hows and why,
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

I have been doing the hot supper beat in for years. Quads, sleds, motorcycles, trucks - doesn't matter. Marry those rings right the first time. The key is to do it when it is BRAND new before the wear surfaces are gone. It is a specific process, not just go like hell, but cycle like hell - read the article to learn how to do it right.

Every time I change my oil, it is ALWAYS cleaner than my buddies after all the same riding and I never have engine issues. He always babies his when new.

Another big advantage of breaking it in hard, if something is going to go wrong, it will go wrong right away, not a month after the warranty expires (Murphy's Law).

Some other sources of information,
http://www.motorcycleextremist.com/Motorcycle-Engine-Break-in-the-Right-Way!.html
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/saturday-mechanic-blog/how-to-break-in-a-new-car
http://www.examiner.com/article/how-to-break-a-new-engine
http://www.ntnoa.org/enginebreakin.htm

This is great news for all of us.
This should mean every engine developer/manufacturer from GM to John Deere to Briggs & Stratton can reduce staff in their R&D department now that they
no longer need to develop a breakin procedure.
That should reduce costs.
And since all of these non manufacturers are so confident in their procedures they should be more than willing to pick up any WARRANTY costs.
That will reduce costs of our favourite fossil fuel burning toys even more.

This could even be a win for the leaf lickers.
All those pages not used in owners manuals may reduce paper demand enough to close a pulp mill.
This just a win win win.

 

[Tedonlin150]

I'm a diesel mechanic. After an overhaul (new pistons/rings and liners) we put the truck on the dyno and beat that engine harder than it ever will in its future life. 1, to seat the rings, and 2, to make sure it's gonna hold together. Now I know this is apples and oranges but I'm just stating for comparison, But to me an engine is an engine.

 

[wavemaster]

....But to me an engine is an engine.

Very true.

Funny how every manufacturer has "their own way to do it". At the end of the day the modern internal combustion engine does the same thing in the same way regardless of the brand. Rings, cylinders, pistons. Manufacturers provide standards to protect themselves, some people get this, some won't ever get it.

 

[OVR4D]

Part of the reason for a manufacturer's " recommended break-in" is liability. They don't want to be sued for advising their customers to do something that could be potentially dangerous ... not because they're concerned about whether the engine will hold up, but because they have no way of knowing whether the customer is skilled enough to handle the performance of the product.

 

[wavemaster]

Part of the reason for a manufacturer's " recommended break-in" is liability. They don't want to be sued for advising their customers to do something that could be potentially dangerous ... not because they're concerned about whether the engine will hold up, but because they have no way of knowing whether the customer is skilled enough to handle the performance of the product.

I understand all that, it is why we have 10 pages of warnings etc. before you even get to the manual. When I say "protect themselves" liability is part of that.

I was referring specifically to break-in, and you are totally right - the manufacturer can't/won't always give the best information for the user. In regards to that and it is more to CTA (cover their a**) than to provide their users with the best performance possible.

 

[OVR4D]

My comment wasn't really directed at you Wavemaster (I know you get it). I agree with the break-in methods described in Motoman's blog. I was addressing those that think the manufacturers write recommended break-in procedures to help the consumer get the most out of the engine. Technical writers are NOT writing those procedures with performance in mind. Here's a good example of how to do it right: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u09IEwC-Leo