How to break in a new engine?

[Baron Man]

What's the best way to break in a new engine...and
approx how many hrs should be flown at high power.

i've got a new cont. io 470. 260 hp.

i flew yesterday at 25/25 at relatively lower
altitudes - higher atm pressure.

thanks.

[Thomas Borchert]

Baron,

see www.gami.com

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

[Dan Luke]

"Baron Man" wrote:
> i flew yesterday at 25/25 at relatively lower
> altitudes - higher atm pressure.

You are correct to run at high power settings to seat the rings. Most
authorities I have read also recommend varying the rpm setting on
engines with constant speed props.

It is also critically important to keep the cylinders cool to avoid
glazing. Run rich and keep the cowl flaps open.
--
Dan
C172RG at BFM
(remove pants to reply by email)

[Larry Smith]

"Dan Luke" > wrote in message
...
> "Baron Man" wrote:
> > i flew yesterday at 25/25 at relatively lower
> > altitudes - higher atm pressure.
>
> You are correct to run at high power settings to seat the rings. Most
> authorities I have read also recommend varying the rpm setting on
> engines with constant speed props.
>
> It is also critically important to keep the cylinders cool to avoid
> glazing. Run rich and keep the cowl flaps open.
> --
> Dan
> C172RG at BFM
> (remove pants to reply by email)

We are breaking in channel chrome cylinders by running at 80% power, or 2600
rpm, with redline at 2700 on an O-300 Continental in a Cessna 172. An old
friend and A&P advised running full barrel and monitoring the cylinder head
temperatures with under-the-sparkplug senders until the cylinders begin to
cool. So far we have about 2 hours on the engine and the cylinders are
still not happy.

Steel cylinders usually break right in after only a few hours. Chrome is a
quirkier break-in and sometimes fraught with problems. Keeping the rpms up
and watching that CHT is critical, imho.

[Michelle P]

Follow the manufactures instructions.
Lycoming puts out a Document called key reprints that tells how. Do not
know about Continental.
Michelle

Baron Man wrote:

>What's the best way to break in a new engine...and
>approx how many hrs should be flown at high power.
>
>i've got a new cont. io 470. 260 hp.
>
>i flew yesterday at 25/25 at relatively lower
>altitudes - higher atm pressure.
>
>thanks.
>
>
>
>

--

Michelle P ATP-ASEL, CP-AMEL, and AMT-A&P

"Elisabeth" a Maule M-7-235B (no two are alike)

Volunteer Pilot, Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic

Volunteer Builder, Habitat for Humanity

[Dennis O'Connor]

One Aztec engine with a chrome rebuild reached 27 hours and was still
pumping like it thought it was hooked to an oil well... Mechanic said the
cylinders were glazed and it would require a tear down, hone job, etc...
The owner blanched and plaintively asked if anything could be done to avoid
that expense... He said he would pick up the bills..
Filled it with synthetic oil, took it up it to 8500 feet , full throttle,
redline RPM, leaned to best power, and flew it from Michigan to Mena,
Arkansas.... It was 3 quarts down when landed... Took care of business,
refueled and reoiled, and it burned less than a half quart at normal cruise
coming back to Michigan that night......
Denny
"Larry Smith" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Dan Luke" > wrote in message
> ...
> > "Baron Man" wrote:
> > > i flew yesterday at 25/25 at relatively lower
> > > altitudes - higher atm pressure.
> >
> > You are correct to run at high power settings to seat the rings. Most
> > authorities I have read also recommend varying the rpm setting on
> > engines with constant speed props.
> >
> > It is also critically important to keep the cylinders cool to avoid
> > glazing. Run rich and keep the cowl flaps open.
> > --
> > Dan
> > C172RG at BFM
> > (remove pants to reply by email)
>
> We are breaking in channel chrome cylinders by running at 80% power, or
2600
> rpm, with redline at 2700 on an O-300 Continental in a Cessna 172. An
old
> friend and A&P advised running full barrel and monitoring the cylinder
head
> temperatures with under-the-sparkplug senders until the cylinders begin to
> cool. So far we have about 2 hours on the engine and the cylinders are
> still not happy.
>
> Steel cylinders usually break right in after only a few hours. Chrome is
a
> quirkier break-in and sometimes fraught with problems. Keeping the rpms
up
> and watching that CHT is critical, imho.
>
>

[Ron Natalie]

"Dennis O'Connor" > wrote in message ...
> One Aztec engine with a chrome rebuild reached 27 hours and was still
> pumping like it thought it was hooked to an oil well...

GM's solution in the early sixties Chevys was to tell the dealer to pour
BonAmi in the carburetor.

[Blanche]

When you got the engine there should have been a "user manual" or
instructions how to break in the engine. If not, contact the
seller and/or shop that installed it and get those instructions!

You may be able to find the instructions on the Continental website,
or just call them, they'll send you a copy.

[Orval Fairbairn]

In article >,
"Ron Natalie" > wrote:

> "Dennis O'Connor" > wrote in message
> ...
> > One Aztec engine with a chrome rebuild reached 27 hours and was still
> > pumping like it thought it was hooked to an oil well...
>
> GM's solution in the early sixties Chevys was to tell the dealer to pour
> BonAmi in the carburetor.
>

I have heard of this one but would be reluctant to try it.

IMHO, that solution would be "the gift that keeps on giving," as it
would be difficult to get rid of the BonAmi once the rings have seated.

BonAmi is, essentially, powdered pumice, which is abrasive and WILL get
into the oil! Expect reduced bearing life from this procedure.