Running my new 3.4 DOHC: Advice, suggestions pls.

[Denis.V]

Hi,


Finally I'm running my new 1995 3.4 DOHC in my Chevrolet Lumina. I'm using mineral oil for the first 3,000 miles, but someone could give me more advices, warnings, suggestions for the "first time period" when the engine is running new?.


Thanks in advance,


Denis V.

[Schurkey]

AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, drive ~20 miles out of town on a deserted highway. This fully-warms the engine. Turn around, put trans in "D", go as fast as you need to to get into third gear, and then stab the pedal as hard as you can while KEEPING THE TRANS IN THIRD GEAR. Accelerate to legal speed limit...or more. Depending on vehicle gearing, you may get 3rd gear hard acceleration from 30mph to 80mph. When you get to the top end, pull your foot off the gas pedal, coast to 30--40mph, and do it again. Repeat until it stops being fun.

Hard acceleration in high gear results in lots of cylinder pressure, forces the rings into the cylinder wall for quick break-in. Coasting brings oil up to wash away the wear particles. About twenty miles of STAB...coast...STAB...coast should do it; but more is better.

Once the rings are seated, you're pretty much done with break-in.

Remember, you need heavy throttle but NOT high rpm. Third gear is fine.

[Denis.V]

O.K.,

Thanks,

I will try this weekend


Denis V.