Hey guys this is my first turbo build. Brand new engine with brand new turbo. Ive broken in my share of engines, but never with a turbo. Do I break it in all together? Or do I break the engine in by itself, then throw the turbo on?

 

Just make sure there is fresh clean oil to the turbo and you are good to go. Prime then fire.

 

Just put the boost settings as low as you can. And like mentioned above, prime the turbo.

Other than that, the turbo helps seat the rings faster, just be careful not to boost for too long right off the bat. It puts a ton of heat on the rings and can score the cylinder walls.

 

When brakeing the motor with a turbo what is a good pis to start of at.

 

just about everyone one ive broke in i do just like a cam break in.


first i crank it over with no ignition fire bringing oil to top of motor and to turbo, ill check the oil lines on turbo after that to make sure there was flow.
initial start up i immediatly bring the motor up to 2k in neutral, no load on turbo or motor and keep it between 2k-2500rpm for about 20 minutes. durring this time listen for any misfire or engine problems and check all lines for leaks. i use regular water for coolant that way of i need to drain, i dont need to worry about anti freeze everywhere i can just drain and then fix.
if no problems i shut it off and let it cool until there is no longer pressure on the radiator, drain water put in antifreeze. if the hood was kept open the whole time the turbo turbine housing should be around 200* which is well below operating range, thats one heat cycle on the turbo seals.
Now i start it up and drive it, crusing, i dont even boost it, i keep it under 3500rpm and keep the turbo under vacuum. i usually drive across town (20m staying off highways) to a restaurant sit down and eat. Now everythings cool thats heat cycle number two. time to head home i drive until everything is up to operating temp, pull over and set boost controller to around 20% psi of what your going to run normally and drive it. usually i cruise highway now keeping rpms in the compressor maps range to prevent surge i will boost it for a couple times (5-10 times) no longer then 5 seconds each time. get home let it cool and change the oil to remove any assembly lube. next day i check over all clamps and hoses look for leaks if everythings good start car let it come up to temp set boost controller to around 60-70% of total boost and drive it, really drive it tho, i stay like this for about a week if i can last that long, usually i wind up going 100% boost about the 4th day of a build and setting a solid tune.

this might be in more depth and detail then what you want, and i know quite a few boosted cars that go 100% boost day of install and most do just fine, some puff on shifts from the journal bearing seep on pressure drops. I try to break things in for longevity, expecially of its a DD or somthing i want reliable. Ive blown a couple turbo seals on break ins, one was from overpressure on oil and second i didnt let the oil seals seat good in the turbo before boosting hard, which just caused it to smoke slightly when boosted.

 

I rather like this method ^^

My biggest problem and I assume others is not having a tune good enough to drive or boost on.

 

1.) Prime engine.

2.) Get engine up to temp and shut off. Double check all seals and re-torque all bolts.

3.) Drive around town, then hit the highway in high gear and just cruise for a few miles. (This assuming tune is good)

4.) Get it home and recheck bolts, seals and check for leaks.

5.) Get into some boost and check AFR's and monitor temps. (Best to have a ride along partner)

6.) Change oil, filter and check plugs for any signs of problems such as detonation, oil on plugs or lean/rich conditions.

7.) Done.

 

I like this , Awesome read.

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

 

Hey thanks...This is exactly what I am doing. I appreciate this, thanks. Boost controller is a great idea.

 

good info about breaking in a turbo motor

 

soon ill have to run in my new 408, new turbo;s and new ecu...all at once. Im not looking foreward to it!

 

cool now i know the best way to break-in the setup ,,Thanks

 

I had a carb when i put the first 200-500 miles on my new motor and i beat the shit out of it. Then i put the turbo on with megasquirt II and resumed beating the shit out of it. It never smokes, doesn't consume oil and runs good.

 

that's how I did it Charles. Beat on it like a red headed step child, with respect for the parts.

 

If it is a roller cammed engine. Warm it up to operating temp, running it from 15-30 min. Let it cool.
Drain the oil cut open the filter and look for issues. New oil and filter and run it how your going to run it.
For me first trip down the road 7800 and 24 psi. No issues. EVER.

Without a flat lifter cam the only thing that need to seat are the rings. If they don't seat in the first couple of minutes they never will.

 

3 heat cycles here. Just warmed it up, revved it up a few time to check for leaks and good oil pressure then let it cool back down to the touch.***Oh, the first time was WITHOUT any water or coolant. After the 3rd time, change the oil. THEN, load that bitch up and go to the track!!