Break in oil

[Dave Joaquin]

So I'm about to install my new Vanguard 16hp twin cylinder in my Ingersol 4016 tractor. With 843 hours on my old engine I felt it wasn't worth to rebuild it. My question is the engine came bone dry, would you recommend break in oil rather than standard oil?

I will call Vanguard in the morning but I value your opinions.

Thanks,

Dave

 

[Peter 315]

I would just use reg oil and change it in 5 to 10 hours......:2cents:

 

[Dave Joaquin]

Thanks Peter, probably will.

 

[Robin Veerman]

So I'm about to install my new Vanguard 16hp twin cylinder in my Ingersol 4016 tractor. With 843 hours on my old engine I felt it wasn't worth to rebuild it. My question is the engine came bone dry, would you recommend break in oil rather than standard oil?

I will call Vanguard in the morning but I value your opinions.

Thanks,

Dave

You could try AMSOIL SAE30 Break-in Oil. Order it tomorrow and have it by the weekend. Break-In Oil (SAE 3) BRK - AMSOIL
Dutchy

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I would just use reg oil and change it in 5 to 10 hours......:2cents:

I'm with you... That's what I do with all of my small engines, including my Vanguard, and it works out just fine.

I like to change the oil the first time in 5 hrs or so too.

SR

 

[RandyT]

Briggs doesn't recommend the use of break in oil Just use regular oil and with the filter no longer recommends the 5-10 oil change. Just the first schedules change at 50 hours since the filter catches the break in debris.

 

[rScotty]

That sounds like pretty standard recommendation from engine manufacturers these days. I can believe that it works just fine in most cases.

However, sometimes I wonder what drives a recommendation like that? What's magic about 50 hrs that doesn't take place at 5? Is there some problem with doing an earlier change?

And in today's world full of advertising, I've begun to ask myself if a recommendation sounds like something driven by sales or by engineering.

Unless someone can give me a downside, I'll continue to use a light weight oil for break in, and will change it and the filter early.
rScotty

 

[Robin Veerman]

Briggs doesn't recommend the use of break in oil Just use regular oil and with the filter no longer recommends the 5-10 oil change. Just the first schedules change at 50 hours since the filter catches the break in debris.

If you've ever seriously looked closely at the virgin oil in any new piece of machinery you will see that even when the oil looks pretty good due to the low hours/miles you will see what looks like shimmering metal flakes. Like an automotive paint might look like that has a heavy dose of metal flake/sparkle. Change the first oil out early, in anything, always, every time, never wavering...unless the piece is a lease....then screw it. Common practice. However, would you like to buy it after the lessee has returned it..? That's why my maintenance is over the top, just in case I keep something forever. Dutchy

 

[Dave Joaquin]

Hey All,

Thank you for all your suggestions. I did call Vanguard and Briggs, both saying the same thing. Use a high end 30 weight oil (summer) and change it and filter after 5 hours. One more thing, Vanguard mentioned was to not run it at full throttle for the 5 hours. I said well I need to cut 2 acres of grass, he said go slow.

So I'll get it going this weekend.

Again thanks!!

Dave from NH.

 

[shovelmike]

I would just use reg oil and change it in 5 to 10 hours......:2cents:

I agree with the above, catch any random shavings. Manufacturing processes are better these days (with reputable brands) that the "break in oil" routine used in decades past is not needed.