Is there a break in period after a valve job?

Post by **rguzz** » 30 Jan 2017, 18:23

Just had 3 valves, one burnt through, replaced in my 850t runs great. Entire head was machined properly, etc. New seals. Question is should I drive especially carefully (basically I do anyway), change the oil and filter in a few miles, what if anything should I be mindful of.

Post by **rspi** » 30 Jan 2017, 18:59

After I replace a head I run cheap oil for 50 miles, change it with cheap oil, run another 100 miles. Then change it and the filter with my good oil. No real break in period.

Post by **abscate** » 30 Jan 2017, 19:07

Neil will sell you his oil from his last oil change. Drive a hard bargain, though.

Post by **rguzz** » 31 Jan 2017, 16:45

Okay! I figured I'd change the oil you guys are suggesting sooner rather than later. I asked them to put dino oil in after the valve job which is what is in there so I'll replace x 1 then put my high mileage Mobil One 10w-40 in and monitor oil consumption!

Post by **misha** » 31 Jan 2017, 17:31

No breaking in period required after a valve job.
Regular oil change interval like nothing happened.

Post by **erikv11** » 31 Jan 2017, 18:15

I do like what rspi says. One or two quick changes of cheap oil.

Post by **rguzz** » 31 Jan 2017, 19:10

It's interesting the re-builder didn't have anything to suggest and shrugged when I started to come up with a post rebuild frequent oil change scheme. I'll most likely change what they put in after a few more miles, replace with my usual synthetic oil x 1 and call it quits.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 31 Jan 2017, 19:12

Back when I was building race boat engines (outboards that ran on alcohol / castor oil) the ruling philosophy was that if you break them in hard they run hard. We would light them up with the assembly lube and pretty much immediately run them up to 10,000 RPM. That usually worked out fine but there were a few notable exceptions.

...Lee