[jks67SS396]

Guys,

heres my next anal question on my first engine build: the Mahle piston instructions say to use a coat of non-detergent oil on the rings for break in. well, is that necessary or am i ok with some 10W-30 valvoline?

if i have to, ill run over to Napa cause kragens sure doesnt have non detergent stuff.

by the way, how do i know whether its non detergent or not?

thanks guys
jeff

 

[bdc1013]

yes, it is necessary. Go get that and also a can of GM eos. parts stores rarely carry it but your local gm dealership will.

 

[496blaze]

Guys,

heres my next anal question on my first engine build: the Mahle piston instructions say to use a coat of non-detergent oil on the rings for break in. well, is that necessary or am i ok with some 10W-30 valvoline?

if i have to, ill run over to Napa cause kragens sure doesnt have non detergent stuff.

by the way, how do i know whether its non detergent or not?

thanks guys
jeff

SRP pistons also recommend using non-detergent oil during assembly also. I read this on their Tech section on the web.

 

[von]

Some engine machinists use automatic trans fluid on rings during assembly.

 

[jks67SS396]

ok,

so how do i know if its detergent or non detergent?

also, my motor is a solid roller... do i still need the GM EOS? i thought that was for flat tappet break in....

thanks

 

[engineguy]

Jeff,
Non-detergent motor oil is generally only available in straight 30W. The can will be clearly marked as "non-detergent". You might have to ask the counterman where it is.

 

[jks67SS396]

Thanks Bill.

Do i still need the EOS for my solid roller break in?

thanks

 

[engineguy]

I personally have never used EOS for any cam break-in, but there are many who swear by the product. The stuff is not necessary for a roller cam, but it surely can't hurt to use it though.

 

[383Malibu]

Any good non-synthetic oil is fine for breaking in the motor and seating the rings. And additives or other "babying" procedures are not necessary when breaking in a solid roller cam, regardless of spring pressures involved.

 

[jks67SS396]

ok, i just went and bought 7 quarts of napa non detergent 30W oil. is that good enough?

thanks guys

 

[engineguy]

Jeff,
That will work. NAPA oil is actually Valvoline, so it is good stuff.

 

[RB69SS396Conv]

For rings, I use 2-stroke oil. (it's ashless...)

For bearings, ATF or 0W-20 synthetic.

For roller cams, and push rod ends and rocker tips, white lithium.

For roller rockers, the same oil.

Flat tappet cams, what the cam mfr says... in case I need to warranty it.

I have not used non-detergent motor oil for ANYTHING in an engine build for at least 30 years.

I think I quit doing stuff like that about the time I figured out that that, along with about 90% or more of the rest of what I heard on Friday nights in the McDonalds parking lot, was pure monkey-spank. Then when I went to see an assembly plant, and noticed that the factory doesn't do any of that "old wives' tales" stuff and yet 99% or more of their motors crank up and meet spec the first time and then last for hundreds of thousands of miles, I felt pretty sure I could ignore it all.

Nowadays, I build them exactly as I just decribed, fill them with Mobil 1 (if they're roller cams), and change the oil at a normal change interval (3000 miles or whatever). I'll change the filter at about 500-1000 though, just to get rid of all the shop towel lint, bits of squeezed-out sealant, and leftover schmutz of all sorts.