Go Back   986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners > Porsche Boxster & Cayman Forums > Performance and Technical Chat

Post Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-05-2010, 03:06 AM   #1
mts
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Lexington, KY
Posts: 312
New Engine Break In Process

My car recently experienced the dreaded IMS failure and was replaced with a new crate engine from Porsche. When I asked about the break in process they simply said drive it conservatively for the first 1,000 miles or so and then I was good. No need to change the oil beyond the standard recommendations.

The car currently has Mobil 1 synthetic in it (they put it in) which I want to get out of the car as soon as possible anyway. I don't want to start a war on oils, but the question is do I replace the Mobil 1 with the synthetic of my choice, or a dino oil for the first 1,000-1,500 miles which I then would replace with the synthetic of my choice?

It seems like everything I've read indicates the dino oil first with a change after 1,000-1,500 miles back to synthetic is the way to go. However, that's different than what Porsche said. Can anyone point me in the direction of a good article or two on the subject or have any thoughts on this?

Thanks in advance.

__________________
2004 550 SE #1081 of 1953 (sold)
1997 911 Targa (sold)
mts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2010, 04:28 AM   #2
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Midwest
Posts: 1,746
You asked for it. Pretty comprehensive article..................


http://www.lnengineering.com/oil.html

P.S. After reading alot of replies and debates on this subject I decided to use Castrol Synthetic (Syntec) 10W40. if you are lucky you can find it at your local Wallyworld in 5 Qt. containers priced reasonably.
coreseller is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2010, 07:43 AM   #3
Registered User
 
BYprodriver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: O.C. CA
Posts: 3,709
Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by coreseller
You asked for it. Pretty comprehensive article..................


http://www.lnengineering.com/oil.html

P.S. After reading alot of replies and debates on this subject I decided to use Castrol Synthetic (Syntec) 10W40. if you are lucky you can find it at your local Wallyworld in 5 Qt. containers priced reasonably.
+1 on all of the above & I am changing my breakin oil at 200 miles. If I were in MTS position with reman engine & mobil 1 synthetic oil in it I would be tempted to stay with full synthetic if I was sure the rings were seated (no exhaust Smoke) I will change the oil around 200 miles to try & purge dust,etc. that got into engine during assembly. I guess to an extent you have to follow Porsche recommendations to maintain Warranty, another good reason to choose Castrol as it is Porsche approved.
BYprodriver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2010, 10:23 AM   #4
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Sanford NC
Posts: 2,533
I'd change at 500 miles

and I'd comply with any Porsche requirements for brand/weight oil to maintain warranty. Then change every 3k.

Full Synthetic? Yes.
Mobile 1? No
0W40? No

IMHO, YMMV
mikefocke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2010, 11:10 AM   #5
Registered User
 
landrovered's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Madison, Georgia
Posts: 1,012
Garage
Interesting thing I was told at the Porsche dealership was they recommend not using the cruise control for the first several thousand miles. They want the engines to change revs. They said you can pretty much do anything else other than that one thing.
__________________
2001 Boxster S 3.6L, Zeintop
"Calling upon my years of experience, I froze at the controls." - Stirling Moss
landrovered is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2010, 01:11 PM   #6
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Depends on the day of the week....
Posts: 1,400
There are two general theories on engine break-in: drive it like you stole it, or baby it. Most race teams go with the former, and there is evidence to support the notion that this will yield a higher power producing engine. The piston aviation industry has probably the most drawn out engine break in procedures, which consist of ever higher engine loading and RPMs over multiple heat cycles. Either way, you do not want to maintain constant RPM for any length of time (hence why not to use the cruise control), and using engine braking also actually helps to seat the rings.

The concerns are twofold: you want to ensure that you get proper ring seating, but you also don't want to cause higher than needed wear. With modern manufacturing techniques, in all likelihood, any new engine is broken-in in within 50 miles no matter how you do it.

Since you are under warranty on the new motor, I would stick with a synthetic oil, both because Porsche says so, and two that you don't need a non-syn break-in oil on this engine. I would, however, change the oil after a few hundred miles, and I would not use Mobil 1 or any 0W40.
__________________
Boxster S
Cloudsurfer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2010, 01:32 PM   #7
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: CA
Posts: 726
i had an engine rebuilt on a car years ago and the mechanic who built it / instaleld it told me to drive it just like I would normally drive it. he didn't want me to try and abuse it, but encouraged me to drive it hard. his only suggestion was to not leave it at the same speed/rpm fro a long period time...he wanted the engine to be moving throughout the revs and not sit at one speed .... kind of like wha thtey told you - avoid cruise.. dont take a 6 hour road trip and sit at 3000 rpm all day..

you are lucky you had it happen "soon" enough that the dealer paid.. they paid for the whole thing?
__________________
_____________________________
Cars:
2007 MDX - Wife's mommy mobile
2006 RL - My daily driver
2000 Boxster - Ocean Blue Base 5spd on Black Full leather. 18" wheels and M030.

Boxster mods I've added: Rear speaker kit, Painted Calipers, Painted Bumperettes, Painted Center Console, 987 Shifter Assembly, 3 Spoke Steering Wheel, Clear side markers, 03+ rear lights, de-snorkeled.
23109VC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2010, 01:58 PM   #8
mts
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Lexington, KY
Posts: 312
Quote:
Originally Posted by 23109VC

you are lucky you had it happen "soon" enough that the dealer paid.. they paid for the whole thing?

Porsche paid for 100% of the parts. I paid the labor.

__________________
2004 550 SE #1081 of 1953 (sold)
1997 911 Targa (sold)
mts is offline   Reply With Quote
Post Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -8. The time now is 08:48 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page