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Toymods member
I supported Toymods
Location:
Rydalmere, NSW
Registered:
May 2002
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Running-in a turbocharged engine..
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Sun, 21 March 2004 04:48
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Hi guys, I'm looking for some help or advice on running-in a turbo engine. Points:
Minimum km's travelled
Oil to be used
Treatment of the engine
Maximum speed when running it in.
I knew the answers to this for an N/A engine, just wanted to find out if anything's changed for a turbo (namely a 3S-GTE).
Cheers.
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Location:
Montrose, VIC
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Running-in a turbocharged engine..
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Sun, 21 March 2004 06:47
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Well what have you been told to do to an NA engine? 
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Toymods member
I supported Toymods
Location:
Rydalmere, NSW
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Running-in a turbocharged engine..
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Sun, 21 March 2004 06:53
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Not to take it over 80km/h or put it under high stress (like carrying big loads and stuff), to use a thin grade of oil and to change it around 1000 - 1500 km's. 
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Toymods member
I supported Toymods
Location:
Rydalmere, NSW
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Running-in a turbocharged engine..
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Sun, 21 March 2004 12:16
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Anyone have any other suggestions that differ between a NA setup and a turbo setup? I'm trying hard to improve my chances to get to Dubbo in time for the Nat's. Any help here is more than welcome.
Only reason I'm asking is because I saw some conflicting info on a US-based site that says a run-in (or break-in as they call it) requires only 500 miles or 800km. Someone want to clarify on this??
Need help....
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Location:
adelaide
Registered:
October 2003
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Re: Running-in a turbocharged engine..
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Sun, 21 March 2004 12:23
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if it comes with warranty who cares just thrash the shit out of it from the word go
i do that with all my motors if then dont brake in the 1st 5mins they will be fine for ever
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Toymods member
I supported Toymods
Location:
Rydalmere, NSW
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Running-in a turbocharged engine..
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Sun, 21 March 2004 12:36
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Don't know about 'warranty' as such... I've sunk ten grand into this engine, and I'm not about to thrash the pants off it at the risk of doing some damage to it during it's run-in period. What I'm trying to clarify is the circumstances of the run-in. The sooner someone can give me some USEFUL information the better...
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Location:
Sydney
Registered:
January 2003
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Re: Running-in a turbocharged engine..
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Sun, 21 March 2004 13:13
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Heya,
Firstly, cant wait to see the RAV4 after this conversion, I saw it stock at Megacruise II, must be mean now 
As per running it in, well I dont know what the book says, but I think as with most things common sense prevails.
- Let it warm up 1-2 mins before driving anywhere
- Dont rev the buggery outa it, just gently accelleration, maybe not past 3-4K RPM
- Dont drive it above 100Km/h
- Drive it around for 1000Km's or so, that should let the parts seat and wear into normal operating position
- Use a good quality thin synthetic oil
- Change oil regularily as parts with clearances just outa whack may start "reshaping" themselves leaving some fine metal shavings in the oil, but I spose the magnet in the sump plug is for this, but a few oil changes might not be a bad idea
Anyway I'm no expert but none of that should really lead you astray.
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I supported Toymods
Location:
Perth
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Running-in a turbocharged engine..
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Sun, 21 March 2004 13:27
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| Alchemist wrote on Sun, 21 March 2004 21:13 |
[*]Use a good quality thin synthetic oil
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I believe this is the antithesis of what you want during run-in. You should use a mineral oil, otherwise it will be too well lubricated to wear into the bores properly.
Don't thrash it without load, but obviously I wouldn't be towing a caravan in top gear up a hill with it  Make sure it is warm before you drive it hard. 
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Location:
NSW
Registered:
August 2003
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Re: Running-in a turbocharged engine..
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Sun, 21 March 2004 22:39
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I'm still running in my fully rebuilt 3SGTE.
Done 1000km, rev limiter set on 5000rpm ( cut out a few times, couldnt resist racing: GSR 4WD, GTR Nissan R32, New BMW M3. ) this was after 800km, still I dont think its wise.
After I did 1000km, I changed the oil (shell 15W-50 plus) its a blue bottle, and changed the oil filter.
Now I have to do another 1500 to 2000km then change the oil again, filter etc. and set the rev's up and the boost.
I hope that was of some help, but you can ring up any of the performance places that rebuild 4cyl turbos and ask them.
Got another 1000km to go untill the rev's and boost go up
Cant wait.
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Toymods Board Member
Location:
Sydney
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Running-in a turbocharged engine..
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Mon, 22 March 2004 00:36
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Andrew...
you want to be asking your rebuilder who should give you advice based on his (hopefully) years of experience
to add to what has been said (and from when i was running in my 3sgte)...
* you do NOT want a thin synthetic oil (this is only after it has been run in)
* do NOT turn the boost up... keep it stock say 8psi... i avoided going on boost completely for the first 500km
* first oil/filter change should be 500-1000km and i changed it twice more before hitting 5000km... after 5000km i went to syn oil and upped the boost
* take it easy
for the record we have had people run in their engines on the trip to dubbo with no ill effect but i personally wouldn't risk it
i've alse heard it said that its better to run-in with varying speeds and revs rather than something constant like you would find in highway driving
can't wait to see her
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Location:
ACT
Registered:
July 2002
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Re: Running-in a turbocharged engine..
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Mon, 22 March 2004 01:56
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OK you need to obtain a good combustion pressure. This will make the rings and bore wear togther properly.
To do this you need moderate to high load at medium rpm. The days of poor machining tolerances are gone so the old school methods of running in don't apply.
So driving up some inclines in a higher than normal gear may be the go. Keep varying the revs, don't let it sit on one rev for too long. Warm up the engine before you go anywhere. Use a good quality mineral oil. Change at 500Kms, I wouldn't change to full synthetic for 2000KMs. I would keep the boost low.
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Location:
Lost in the K hole
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Running-in a turbocharged engine..
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Mon, 22 March 2004 02:19
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motomans appraoch, which im a big believer in...
FLOG IT
flog it hard, big loads, right up into the rpm range (say 75-80% redline). kep the revs fluctuating, and drive the bejeezuz out of it for the first 20mins of its life (let it warm up for a few mins before doing this of course). then drop the oil and filter. the next 500km again, keep it under 80% redline, and drive it hard (not quite as hard) using the whole rev range.
for this whole procedure id be using a mineral monograde 30w oil (penzoil do a good one).
the whole idea is that the rings bed in the first 10-20mins while the grit of the hone is still at its best... during this time you want the biggest comb chamber pressure possible, over the widest rpm range as possible. sure, the bearings will be tight, but if its built properly, and with the right oil and pressure etc, you should have zero issues going hard right off the bad. it will feel tight, naturally, and this will oosen up over the next 1500km
(and yes, i realise i flogged my engine a bit harder than this when i was running her in )
PS this is the fundamental method concerning internal engine components - i dont know much about the turbos themselves or how they should be treated)
[Updated on: Mon, 22 March 2004 02:21]
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Location:
Adelaide
Registered:
June 2002
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Re: Running-in a turbocharged engine..
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Mon, 22 March 2004 04:09
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Ah-Ed, you beat me to it. Genrating good cylinder pressure is the key. jump in the car with 4 mates, head to the nearest hill (optimal approach is to actually TOW it there-the bores will glase up as you nanna there through the traffic) and then drive it up in 3rd through the max torque revs, but dont redline or lug it, (vary the revs a bit of course-also do this in 2nd and 4th) with a decent throttle opening and a decent #of PSI in the manifold. This will ensure good cyl pressure and proper bedding in of the rings. 30 minutes of this is enough, and then just be sensible for the next couple of weeks-voila!
As for he turbo-there is no run-in period per se, just whack it on, and from there it's just wearing out.
Take it easy-it should be a really nice car to drive!
Sean
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Toymods member
I supported Toymods
Location:
Rydalmere, NSW
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Running-in a turbocharged engine..
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Mon, 22 March 2004 09:14
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I'm not sure if I should be going to the Nationals or not, based on this information. If I can't take my ride, I'm not going. It would break my heart to see that many nice cars being up there without mine and thinking, so close but yet so far. 
I had another thought, but don't know if it's worth considering... has anyone run-in their car on a dyno before? What's the deal with this? I hear it only takes two hours, then it's run-in. Anyone want to clarify on this?
I originally got Pennzoil 0W/40 grade, but by the sounds of it I should be using this much later. So the changing of oil intervals - 500km, 1500km and 5000km? It's been a while since I last ran in an engine, and it was completely different to this.
I will have a boost gauge on mine, as well as a turbo timer (which I plan on hooking up to the alarm). 
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Running-in a turbocharged engine..
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Mon, 22 March 2004 11:15
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I'd follow Ed and Sean's advice, flog the ring out of your new engine for the first 30 minutes or so to bed in the rings, then drive the car sensibly for the next couple of thousand km's. And yes, driving sensibly can include the trip to Dubbo and back.
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
February 2003
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Re: Running-in a turbocharged engine..
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Mon, 22 March 2004 11:41
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I agree - you need a quick, hi-rev, but avoid generating power from low revs encounter to bed in the rings, then go easy on it until bearing tolerances are at operating gaps (instead of goddam tight).
Also, minimise getting the turbine housing very red hot to prevent the oil getting too runny - you need that thicker oil around the bearings so they wear in evenly. If you've got a decent oil-cooler then ignore this bit - but i'd err on the side of caution and find a hilly bit of highway that lets you wildly vary engines and load but gives you decent airflow.
Also, talk with your engine builder , but i'd avoid running-in an engine with oils that have many friction modifiers
use Penzoil running-in oil for a few hundred kays, dump it and the filter then onto Mobil1 or MobilS for the rest of the engine's life. probably dump the first Mobil fill after 1000k
How was mine run in? on a dyno at the engine builder - who ran it hard enough to start burning the paint next to the dump pipe. Other engines? Tractor - tow'd a roller around the paddock in low gear to keep the revs up. Galant - drive out to BNE airport and cane it around industrial streets until top radiator hose fell off. Cortina - cane it up/down dirt road outside property, constantly going up/down thru the gears. None of these died from stuffed rings - cortina got t-boned, Galant dropped a valve, tractor still running when sold, current 18R has max 5psi difference dry/wet in recent comp test and is at 27000k engine life
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Location:
Montrose, VIC
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Running-in a turbocharged engine..
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Mon, 22 March 2004 12:14
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Another thing - when 'warming up', don't take the traditional Greek approach of starting the car and letting it idle for an hour before you go anywhere - one of the worst things you can do to a fresh engine
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I supported Toymods
Location:
Sunshine Coast
Registered:
March 2004
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Re: Running-in a turbocharged engine..
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Tue, 30 March 2004 13:41
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thanks for the info..im currently rebuilding my 3sge..so will be running it in in about 2 weeks..im kind of confused tho..half the ppl said to go granny style for a whyle..while the other half are saying to thrash it
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Toymods member
I supported Toymods
Location:
Rydalmere, NSW
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Running-in a turbocharged engine..
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Tue, 30 March 2004 13:44
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Yeah, you're not the only one. 
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Location:
Forrestfield, WA
Registered:
August 2002
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Re: Running-in a turbocharged engine..
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Wed, 31 March 2004 07:13
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in regards to the turbo, its a a rebuilt or 'dry' turbo i was told that before you start the car pull the plugs and crank it over (most likely connected to battery charger) for 30seconds to a minute to get oil up the lines to the turbos before you start it up.
not sure on the accuracy of this information but makes sense in theory.. wet the turbo bearings before they start spinning.
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Location:
Camden, NSW
Registered:
June 2002
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Re: Running-in a turbocharged engine..
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Wed, 31 March 2004 08:23
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Im picking my car up 2morro after a rebuild (7mgte)
Do i thrash it or just drive normally? One mechani says thrash it, while the other says take it easy? What should i do?
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Toymods member
I supported Toymods
Location:
Rydalmere, NSW
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Running-in a turbocharged engine..
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Wed, 31 March 2004 11:26
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Hi thug,
Glad to see I'm not the only one with this moral dilemma. Check out my other thread here (running-in method).
Some good advice on that page, I'd be going by that too. 
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