Does a new boat/engine need run in?

[Ali]

Topic says it all. We will have a new club boat for the start of next season. Are all the beginners and trick skiers going to be running the boat in and for how long before the slalom guys get at it?

 

cheers

Ali

PS Forgot to say it will be a malibu lx

[DW]

There are certainly break in recommendations listed from the engine supplier so those should be followed.  I wouldn't be surprised if you could find them on the website.  With that, I will say that break in procedures have improved significantly over the years and you will find a minimal amount of reduced throttle time required.  The engines are run at the assembly plant prior to delivery.

[ForrestGump]

Our new CC200 hit the water 4 weeks ago with .2 hours on it as delivered. By the time it had .3 hours on it, it was already pulling someone through 38 off. 

[jdarwin]

Shane - you're driving this weekend - work on your weave!

[Ali]

Had a look at the Malibu and INdmar sites and couldnt find anything about running in. I dont like tricking !

 

Ali

[GAJ0004]

With my boat (1994 ski Nautique) we changed the engine oil at 15 hours, and then at 50. You can pull a couple of slalom sets per day until it is broken in. Just don't run it ALL day pulling slalom skiers until it is broken in. With the newer boats, follow the engine manual instructions on break-in.

[ForrestGump]

Because of the way a prop loads the engine of a boat, that engine is broken in by the end of your 3rd pass down the lake.  If it's not, it will never be broken in. 

[RichardDoane]

Shane's correct, after .5 hours it's good to go.  Most new and reman engine builders recommend avoiding  prolonged time at the same rpm, so pulling skiers through the course then decelerating is perfect.  Oil change at 10 hours, then after another 25, then every 50 and it'll be fine

[DW]

Here are the break in procedures from the GM Performance Parts Website for the basic GM crate engine which is the base for most of the GM small blocks installed but not the LS series.  It is only page 4 of 24 which has all the part numbers and all that.  There is a lot of extra stuff here that does not concern you, but you can see the recommended break in cycle where you steadily increase engine speeds and loads over a pretty short time interval, items 7, 8, 9.  I would also recommend item 5 as a good idea.  The marinizers also tend to recommend a different oil viscosity than GM suggests for the small block application.

Start-up and Break-in Procedures

1. After installing the engine, ensure the crankcase has been filled with 10w30 motor oil (non-synthetic) to the recommended oil fill level on the dipstick. Also check and fill as required any other necessary fluids such as coolant, power steering fluid, etc.

2. The engine should be primed with oil prior to starting. Follow the instructions enclosed with the tool. To prime the engine, first remove the distributor to allow access to the oil pump drive shaft. Note the position of the distributor before removal. Install the oil priming tool, GM part number 12368084. Using a 1/2" dill motor, rotate the engine oil priming tool clockwise for three minutes. While you are priming the engine, have someone else rotate the crankshaft clockwise to supply oil throughout the engine and to all the bearing surfaces before the engine is initially started. This is the sure way to get oil to the bearings before you start the engine for the first time. Also, prime the engine if it sits for extended periods of time. Reinstall the distributor in the same orientation as it was removed.  After the engine has been installed in the vehicle, recheck the oil level and add oil as required. It is also good practice to always recheck the ignition timing after removal and reinstallation of the distributor. See step 4 or engine specifications for the proper timing information.

3. Safety first. If the vehicle is on the ground, be sure the emergency brake is set, the wheels are chocked and the car cannot fall into gear. Verify everything is installed properly and nothing was missed.

4. Set initial spark timing at 10º before top dead center (BTDC) at 650 rpm with the vacuum advance line to the distributor disconnected and plugged. This setting will produce 32º of total advance at wide-open throttle (WOT).  The HEI vacuum advance canister should remain disconnected. This engine is designed to operate using only the internal centrifugal advance to achieve the correct timing curve. Rotate the distributor counterclockwiseto advance the timing. Rotate the distributor clockwise to retard the timing.

5. When possible, you should always allow the engine to warm up prior to driving. It is a good practice to allow the oil sump and water temperature to reach 180°F before towing heavy loads or performing hard acceleration runs.

6. Once the engine is warm, set the total advance timing to 32° at 3000 RPM.

7. The engine should be driven at varying loads and conditions for the first 30 miles or one hour without wide open throttle (WOT) or sustained high RPM accelerations.

8. Run five or six medium throttle (50%) accelerations to about 3000 RPM and back to idle (0% throttle) in gear.

9. Run two or three hard throttle (WOT 100%) accelerations to about 3000 RPM and back to idle (0% throttle) in gear.

10. Change the oil and filter. Replace with 10w30 motor oil (non synthetic) and a PF454 or PF1218 AC Delco oil filter. Inspect the oil and the oil filter for any foreign particles to ensure that the engine is functioning properly.

11. Drive the next 500 miles under normal conditions or 12 to 15 engine hours. Do not run the engine at its maximum rated engine speed. Also, do not expose the engine to extended periods of high load.

12. Change the oil and filter. Again, inspect the oil and oil filter for any foreign particles to ensure that the engine is functioning properly.

13. Do not use synthetic oil for break-in. It would be suitable to use synthetic motor oil after the second recommended oil change and mileage accumulation. In colder regions, a lower viscosity oil may be required for better flow characteristics.

[ForrestGump]

Smokey Yunick used to say that an engine was broken in after a 1/4 mile full throttle run and then coast down in gear. I was a drag racer, so we lived by those words with every engine we ever built.  The last 3 years, those 1800hp turbocharged small block fords got broken in when they hit the burnout box before a 7 second quarter mile pass. :)

[Ali]

SOme great info there guys. Thanks.

cheers

Ali

[Kelvin]

From the PCM owners manual:

The break-in period of your engine is the first 25 hours of operation. Proper engine break-in is essential to achieve maximum performance, longevity and minimum oil consumption. During the break-in period, the following operation guidelines must be adhered to:

WARNING Use this procedure ONLY when conditions are such that it can be done in complete safety.

• After the engine is thoroughly warmed up, and the boat is underway, open the throttle to wide open throttle until maximum RPM is reached. DO NOT EXCEED MAXIMUM RPM. (RPM should cease climbing after 10 to 20 seconds). 

• Reduce the throttle to 2800 - 3000 RPM, and cruise at or below this speed for 1/2 hour. Reduce the speed to idle. Go to wide open throttle until maximum RPM is reached and operate for approximately 1 minute.  Reduce throttle to 2800-3000 RPM and operate for a few minutes. (Bringing the engine speed from idle to wide open throttle will load the engine and assist in seating the piston rings). This cycle should be repeated from time to time during the first 5 hours of operation, but wide open throttle should not be sustained for more than 1 minute.

• During the remaining 20 hours of break in period, the engines can be run at cruise speeds that are approximately 75-80% of the wide open throttle RPM, occasionally varying the cruise speed by 100 RPM.

The engine oil level should be checked often and oil added when necessary. It must be understood that every internal combustion engine will use a certain amount of oil during operation to act as a lubricating and cooling agent, especially during the break-in period.  Oil consumption should decrease and become stabilized after approximately 100 hours of operation. At the end of your 25-hour break-in period, contact your dealer and have the recommended 25-hour inspection done.