Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

I am starting to break in a very early S4 stromberged engine that we recently totally rebuilt. I have 50 miles on the car so far and have checked the valve clearences and retorqued the head. What should the oil pressure run at cold and hot?

I have not been over 3500 rpm and vary the rpm all the time. The engine has been degreed with in 1/2 of a degree of MOP. The valve seats has been converted for non leaded high test. So far I can feel the "restrained" power building. We are use to S 1 and S2 landrover engines being tight for 2000 miles before total break in.

What should I expect for total break-in in miles and how should I proceed?

Thanks in advance
Randy

Randy,
All depends on the kinds of clearances that were built in, type of rings used, etc. I'd say several thousand miles, offhand. Don't bother with valve clearances until about 1k miles. Let things break in first.

Randy Oil pressure depends on pump fitted ,standard pump runs (from memory) at 40psi, high pressure runs at 60 psi, relief pressures. When I ran my S2 in a few years back, I used 3000rev/min for first 500miles then progreesively increased engine speed in around 500-1000rev/min steps, up to 2000 miles at which stage I classed it as fully run in and havent had any engine problems since. I did change the oil filter/ oil at 500ml. In theory a bit of stop start i.e.allowing the engine to cool down doesnt do any harm. The most important thing is dont rev the hell out of it or slog it at low revs. Hope this helps Tony

I'm currently running in a rebuilt engine and the procedure in the book I have is to keep it under 3000 for the first 800 miles, then increase it by 500 rpm every thousand miles. I will also be draining the original oil at about 800 miles, have the head bolts re-torqued, and begin using Mobil One 15W50 oil.

I know it's hard to keep the revs so low - the car wants to rev, but take it easy.

Also, accelerate gently - don't floor the pedal for a few thousand miles.

Good luck,

Steve B.
1969 Elan S4

Thank you all for the great help. Should I use a synthetic oil after the first oil change or wait until full break in?

Randy

Personally, I'd wait a while for the switch to a synthetic to give the rings a good opportunity to bed in...

Regards,
-John