New engine first fire & break in tips

[terry06]

Hi chaps, as the title states I'm hoping to get some tips on first fire and break in of a brand new engine (from Mazda)

What should I do in preparation for the first fire?
I'm thinking drop a bit of oil into housings and crank it over with no fuel to build oil pressure, that sort of thing.

Also, what is the recommended break in procedure for a brand new engine?
I can find lots of (conflicting) info regarding rebuilt engines. Is this drastically different for a fresh OEM engine?

Any tips/advice appreciated!

 

[welshkid]

Slightly off topic, but I seem to remember seeing somewhere that some of the mazda engines end up sat for a while after manufacture and testing.

Just found the thread: https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generat...-those-buying-new-mazda-crate-engines-983731/

 

[terry06]

Slightly off topic, but I seem to remember seeing somewhere that some of the mazda engines end up sat for a while after manufacture and testing.

Just found the thread: https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generat...-those-buying-new-mazda-crate-engines-983731/

I've seen that too and will inspect/flush the engine before dropping it in, but thanks for the heads up. Hoping mine will be from a fresh batch so won't have been sat for too long.

 

[GrantFD]

You didnt wait long to get that engine ordered then!... good luck with it all

So much info online about running in procedures and everyone has different opinions
Im sure i heard somewhere that the new engines with new bearings etc. require a longer break-in period.

 

[cib24]

Just turn it on, keep the revs below 4500 for 500 miles, vary the engine load and from 500 to 1000 miles slowly increase the revs to redline as you drive. Then change the oils at 1,000 miles.

 

[terry06]

You didnt wait long to get that engine ordered then!... good luck with it all

Would have ordered it sooner but I had to wait for an invoice from Mazda for ages
It's still a few weeks away from getting here as there were none left in the UK (my mate had the last one!). Hopefully get it in and run in by the end of summer

Just turn it on, keep the revs below 4500 for 500 miles, vary the engine load and from 500 to 1000 miles slowly increase the revs to redline as you drive. Then change the oils at 1,000 miles.

That seems sensible. Good excuse for a late summer roadtrip to pile on the miles, avoiding being sat a one speed/load on a motorway

 

[terry06]

New engine arrived yesterday (unexpectedly). Looks like it was sent via air rather than chucked on a ship, thanks Mazda!

Hopefully making a start on it this weekend and will be back up and running before the end of the month if all goes well. Can't wait

 

[GrantFD]

New engine arrived yesterday (unexpectedly). Looks like it was sent via air rather than chucked on a ship, thanks Mazda!

View attachment 15185

Hopefully making a start on it this weekend and will be back up and running before the end of the month if all goes well. Can't wait

Excellent news!

Just out of interest, how much did the new engine cost in the end?
Best for me to get an idea of how much i need to keep reserved in my savings for future

 

[terry06]

Excellent news!

Just out of interest, how much did the new engine cost in the end?
Best for me to get an idea of how much i need to keep reserved in my savings for future

It came to about £4400 including VAT, but that was with a 10% discount, which was nice of the parts guy
Mazda seem to be quite well priced for most things to be fair

 

[tomCTR]

Awesome mate

 

[terry06]

Got the engine out last night after a bit off faffing getting the AC compressor/PS pump out of the way. Think they will be a bit more of a pain to get back onto the new engine though

Hoping to make a start swapping bits over to the new engine this weekend. All looks relatively straight forward
Is there a recommended order or anything to watch out for that may catch me out when doing this?

 

[terry06]

Bit of an update, with an unexpected find...

Got the engine stripped this evening. Lots of oil found in the front rotor housing and what appears to be chip just above one of the apex seals. The housing looked OK from the limited view I had of it. Turbos don't appear to be blowing any oil so I guess an oil control ring has gone.
Is this as common failure?

The concerning thing I found is that both the wastegate and precontrol solenoids are disconnected!!!
This is to do with the electronic boost controller, right?

I want to run at standard boost levels on the new engine so I assume I disconnect the boost controller, plug the solenoids in and everything should be fine?

 

[Jit]

Yeah just remove the boost controller, that contraption in the corner of the bay and put it back to stock!

 

[terry06]

Yeah just remove the boost controller, that contraption in the corner of the bay and put it back to stock!

Worth using it just as a boost gauge though and just disconnecting the control side?

 

[Jit]

Yes I guess you could do

 

[Copyninja]

Congrats mate, hopefully it all goes well. will you be getting this mapped once run in?

 

[terry06]

Congrats mate, hopefully it all goes well. will you be getting this mapped once run in?

Thanks. And no I'll be running it standard until I can get a decent ECU, will be getting rid of the HKS piggyback it had

 

[terry06]

Well she's alive and seems to be running great

Now I can finally get on with the running in as per the OP

 

[Ceylon]

What turbos are fitted? Make sure you've either got a restriction in the nipples on the compressor housing or pills in the actuator lines or it won't boost right hooked up standard. These are usually removed when fitting a boost controller, so worth checking.

 

[ascari]

What turbos are fitted? Make sure you've either got a restriction in the nipples on the compressor housing or pills in the actuator lines or it won't boost right hooked up standard. These are usually removed when fitting a boost controller, so worth checking.

sorry to hijak, i didn't find any pills in the vac lines or on the turbo actuators on mine. they're 99 spec, which i'm sure i read the pills were built into the actuators. does this sound right?