How many miles before getting a tune?

**4seasons69** · 02-14-2013

Alrighty this is my first brand new engine. What I'm wondering is those of you who have broken in new engines how many miles did you put on it before you got a good tune and started having fun with the car?

The break in procedure that map gave says after 500 miles it should be ready for normal driving. Then it says I can switch to synthetic oil at 1500 miles.

So would I be good to go at 500 miles to get a tune and crank the boost up or should I wait till 1500 when I can switch to synthetic oil? What do you guys do with your engines? Thanks!

EclipseGST · 02-14-2013

I think we put 100 miles at most on Vassil's car before we took it to Shane.

**Trogdor** · 02-14-2013

Per Ron, when talking about my car.

-Don't be afraid to get on it.
-Use regular oil for the first tank of gas
- Change the oil, inspect the oil, refill using regular oil
- Run for 1000 miles using regular oil, then tune and change the oil with regular again
- Run for 3000 miles, then change back to synthetic
*Using regular because synthetic is too viscous, and doesn't allow the rings to rub enough on new pistons*

**4seasons69** · 02-14-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by EclipseGST

I think we put 100 miles at most on Vassil's car before we took it to Shane.

Hmmm does he do a lot of street driving? There seems to be a lot of controversy on how to break in an engine. I have heard a lot of people say break it in how you're going to drive it. I'm shooting at least close to a similar power level as him so idk how important mileage is to higher hp engines

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trogdor

Per Ron, when talking about my car.

-Don't be afraid to get on it.
-Use regular oil for the first tank of gas
- Change the oil, inspect the oil, refill using regular oil
- Run for 1000 miles using regular oil, then tune and change the oil with regular again
- Run for 3000 miles, then change back to synthetic
*Using regular because synthetic is too viscous, and doesn't allow the rings to rub enough on new pistons*

That's good info! As for the oil I have enough amsoil break in oil for the first 1500 miles

**Kracka** · 02-14-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4seasons69

As for the oil I have enough amsoil break in oil for the first 1500 miles

Amsoil recommends using their break-in oil for 1,000 miles at the maximum. We used it for PlanoEvo's last build and honestly the rings did not seat well with it; we're using Supertech conventional this time around.

**4seasons69** · 02-14-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kracka

Amsoil recommends using their break-in oil for 1,000 miles at the maximum. We used it for PlanoEvo's last build and honestly the rings did not seat well with it; we're using Supertech this time around.

Hmmm my block is a map stage two and that was what map recommended. But that's good to know. I'll probably run that for 1k then switch to a regular oil for 500 miles before I go to synthetic

**Kracka** · 02-14-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4seasons69

Hmmm my block is a map stage two

So are both of his. If you follow Amsoil's recommendations (like we did last time), use their break-in oil for 1k miles, then switch to their synthetic. This time around we're doing 1k miles of conventional then switching to synthetic.

EclipseGST · 02-14-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kracka

we're using Supertech conventional this time around.

This!

All I've ever used and works great. Walmart! You change the oil early enough so it doesnt actually get a chance to break down.

**Shane@DBPerformance** · 02-14-2013

You should be afraid to get on it, if you don't already have a tune for your exact setup. The last thing you want is detonation on a new motor that hasn't has time to seat the rings yet.

**4seasons69** · 02-14-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shane@DBPerformance

You should be afraid to get on it, if you don't already have a tune for your exact setup. The last thing you want is detonation on a new motor that hasn't has time to seat the rings yet.

This is true. This is also kind of why im asking how long I should go before I get a tune because I want it tuned as soon as possible

**Trogdor** · 02-14-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4seasons69

This is true. This is also kind of why im asking how long I should go before I get a tune because I want it tuned as soon as possible

It might be a good idea to have Shane or Ron give your car a break in tune. Low boost, but still correct timing, FTA ratios, etc. That way to don't blow it up. Then break it in for like 1000 miles, and retune it.

Shane brings up a good point of clarification. My car is tuned, just not fully. So, I can get on it a little.

**4seasons69** · 02-14-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by EclipseGST

Did street driving before switching to all slicks... He is also on E98. A lot less chance for detonation.

Gotcha yeah l will be on e85

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trogdor

It might be a good idea to have Shane or Ron give your car a break in tune. Low boost, but still correct timing, FTA ratios, etc. That way to don't blow it up. Then break it in for like 1000 miles, and retune it.

Shane brings up a good point of clarification. My car is tuned, just not fully. So, I can get on it a little.

That is a good idea but the problem with that is low boost on my car with my wastegate setup and a gt42 is like 36psi lol. So i want to get it broken in enough with the gt42 then switch to a pte 6766 and get it tuned

EclipseGST · 02-14-2013

Did street driving before switching to all slicks... He is also on E98. A lot less chance for detonation.

**Shane@DBPerformance** · 02-14-2013

You don't need to boost it to break it in. NA cars don't have boost and they break-in great. You want to pull some really high vacuum as much as possible to help with seating and vary your RPMs and loads.

**4seasons69** · 02-14-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shane@DBPerformance

You don't need to boost it to break it in. NA cars don't have boost and they break-in great. You want to pull some really high vacuum as much as possible to help with seating and vary your RPMs and loads.

This is a good point. How high should I bring the rpms? Red Line is set at 9500 and when we were done on the dyno you said not to bring it above 7k until I had the voltage drop fixed which I'm hoping I should have fixed

**Goat Blower** · 02-14-2013

I'd drive it like a normal car for 500 miles, then bring it to Shane, and let 'er rip. There's no need to do long extensive mild break-ins, the rings seat in the first 20-30 miles. I've always had phenomenal ring seal with this on every engine I've built.

**Goat Blower** · 02-14-2013

I just use Castrol straight 30 for the first 20 miles, Castrol 10W-40 to 100 miles, and change the oil again with 10W-40 at 500. I switch to synthetic at 1000 miles.

**JET** · 02-14-2013

I agree with Steve, change that first oil out quickly. I think I went around 20 miles on mine too, then 100, then 500. At the 500 change I switched to synthetic. Just vary the RPM quite a bit and fully lift off the throttle at 3-4k so you pull a good vacuum.

**4seasons69** · 02-14-2013

Okay sounds good! You guys have been very helpful!

evotuner · 02-15-2013

Good read here