Engine Break-In Procedures per Engine Builders Association.

[Jason Edge]

When I rebuilt my engine in 2012, I found a useful guide by the AERA (Associated Engine Rebuilders)  that I went by when I broke in my engine and thought I would post here and put a link in our Help Topics page since this topic has come up a few times recently.

Here is the main link: http://gafiero.akroncdnr.com/docs/BreakIn.pdf 
Here are some of the main points I picked up from it:

--> You do NOT want to use synthetic motor oil during break in because its ability to reduce wear by between moving parts actually prevents proper break in.

--> you want to run the engine on high idle at 1500 rpm at initial start-up for 30 minutes,  retorque head and manifold bolts, then road test at 30 MPH periodically accelerating to 50 then decelerate rapidly, and repeat up to 10 times.  This allows for increased ring pressure against the cylinder walls and helps to seat the rings.

-->  For the next 500 miles you drive normally but not at continuous highway speeds. Change oil at 500 miles. At 1000 miles retorque head and manifold bolts. from there you can follows a regular oil change schedule.