[alfa]Proper engine break in

[Jon Pike <jhpike@xxxxxxx>]

I get the impression this is one of Those Subjects..  But, since I'm 
nearing that time myself,
I wanted to gather more info and opinions..

I'll state what I've heard and read,  so let me know if I'm off track 
anywhere..

From what I've heard and read,  the important things are getting a good 
ring seating, not droning along at the same rpm for long amounts of 
time, and some schedule of taking it easy for some period of time.

For the rings,  it would seem that you do want to load it pretty hard, 
very quickly (as per the procedure on the Hastings site) to get them 
bedded in right.  Idleing for long periods can glaze them.  Apparently, 
running at 2000-2500 for first warmup, isn't risking it though.  Also,  
the bedding in process is a thing you do right when you first start up 
the engine,  then you don't drive like that anymore.  (till it's broken in)

Varying the RPM's prevents uneven wear patterns. ( I guess..)

The Alfa reccomendation for customer break in,  where you stay under a 
certain rpm for a certain time, used to be common in new cars,  and now 
is not.  I've wondered what exactly has changed?  Do they do bench break 
in?  Different materials, or different surface prep?  Different philosophy?

I think I'll lean towards the gentle break in school, (unless I hear 
much to counter that) since it would seem from a common sense point of 
view that some early "fitting" wear of new parts has to happen.
And I'm glad that TJ apparently wasn't as hard with the riding crop as 
it sounded at first post...  ;-)

Jon and Marcia  (we're getting there)
77 Spider
Irvine, CA


> Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 10:44:20 +0200
> From: "Korolyshyn, Dan Mr. DAC DPW ENGR RESOURCE MGMT BR" <Dan.Korolyshyn@domain.elided>
> Subject: [alfa] Rebuilt Alfetta Engine Officially Broken In
>
> IMHO, it is not just the bearings and rings that need a slow 
> break-in period, for engines other than engines built strictly
> for racing, but also the valves and guides, cams, chains and 
> gears, oil pumps and water pumps, etc. that need a period for
> mating and sliding parts to wear in slowly rather than roughly
> in order to have a finer grained mating/wearing surface for longer
> life expectancy.  I would suggest following Alfa's recommendations 
> which are found in the owner's manuals.  Alfa also says to vary the
> engine speed during break in which is very important.
>
> Dan K.  
> Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 20:36:15 -0400
> From: "Brian Shorey" <bshorey@domain.elided>
> Subject: RE: [alfa] Rebuilt Alfetta Engine Officially Broken In
>
>  
>
> > > Fred always recommended hitting an engine hard to get the 
> > > rings to seat.  I think it's more critical to vary the RPM 
> > > than what the actual revs are. Once the rings seat which 
> > > varies from build to build, (according to Fred) you can whail 
> > > on it all you want without fear.
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