New engine, first oil change?

[simon]

Bearing in mind that oil is cheap and engine's aren't !
When should I make my first oil change?
I've done about seventy miles so far and was thinking of changing oil and filter at 100 and 500 miles. I have a magnetic drain plug that should catch and nasty stuff, bnut I'd rather be safe than sorry.
Simon

[NC427]

Hi Simon,

was pretty much concerned about the same question when I had my new engine installed.

Talked to quite a few people (well reputated pro-engine builders) and following advice was given by the majority:

Start the engine frist time and let it "run" whilst tuning for about 40-50 minutes at approx 1200-2000revs.

Once all tuning has been done stop the engine and change the oil.

This will allow getting rid of most of the "impurities" which have been in the engines channels. They also indicated that this would give an indication how "clean" the engine build was, as the oil should have a honey-yellowish appearance and no greyish film should be visible. (man, was I happy when I saw that the oil was having no greyish film....)

The other aspect was, that quite a few of them said to me that one would not need to "run-in" (sorry for my english) the engine as careful (which I still did)

I acted according to their instructions (also changed oil-filter unit and filters in the dry-sump system which I have installed) and made next oil change after another 750km as I also felt that I´d rather be safe than sorry.

Since then I am having the oil (and filters) changed every 7000km or at least once a year (though my set up uses about 3 gallons:}) as oil is comparably cheap once we look upon the prices of the engines we have got in our Cobra´s.

However, of course I am aware that many others would only carry out the first oil change after 1000km - so I guess also re this issue there is a wide variety "of the one and only way".

At least I was not disappointed that I carried out the oil changes as per the above.

Enjoy your new engine and let it roar{-}

Carsten

[kdavies3]

I would change the just the filter at 100 miles and then oil and filter at 1000 miles.
after that every 3000 miles oil and filter, it depends on your useage profile really.
What engine is it?
What oil are you using?

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Kev Davies
Dax, 383ci Chevy Stroker, Tremec TKO
South Wales

:tu :tu :tu

[simon]

Kev,

331 stroker (Ford 302 based), 20w-50 oil

Simon

[craigh]

on a rebuilt 302,ran it for 500 miles before changing the oil and filter,valvoline 15 50 now being used

[kdavies3]

I think others will agree that the best oil for the larger american engines that we all use is Valvoline Racing 20/50.
Available from Real Steel and others. Not cheap but damn good.

It certainly keeps better oil pressure in my 383 than hi tech oils did. ie GTX etc.
I'm not sure what more modern yank lumps use ie LS1 and LS6 etc.

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Kev Davies
Dax, 383ci Chevy Stroker, Tremec TKO
South Wales