How many of you guys are going to break your engine in , or are in the process of breaking your engine in on organic oil, then change to synthetic after 3000 miles? I was told by a very knowledgeble person who works with these cars that it is best to break the engine in on organic....other feedback please.

Percy

 

Just do a search on break in, you will find lots of threads on this topic in these forums.

 

If you put regular, non-synthetic oil in your engine, you will void the warranty.

 

Ouch, that is harsh. Better keep my eyes open for that.

 

Why would anyone want to use oil that breaks down and turns to char to "break in" their engine is beyond my comprehension.

When will people stop propagating "old wives'" tales

And no, I did not just sleep at Holiday Inn Express last night, I really am a chemist

 

Here's the theory:

To wear in an engine, you want to take off any sharp edges, or casting marks from manufacture. With a Synthetic oil, the shear (not sheer, shear) strength of synthetic oils is too great, and so metal never touches metal. Good in normal usage, but if metal never touches metal, then the engine never gets broken in properly.

In real life, I don't know if it's true.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents. My Honda's owner's manual said to use mineral oil for the first 1000km, so I did. I bought my Evo 2nd Hand, so I don't have to worry.

 

"...sharp edges, or casting marks from manufacture..."

With today's manufacturing tolerances? Especially for an engine block - Not likely. And under no circumstance do you ever want metal touching metal.

Lubricity of synth vs dino should be about the same, the main difference is - it does not breakdown. BTW, during the first 500mi or so of the break-in period, when you are not running full blast, dino oil will not break down much and thus will behave just about on par with synth.

"...My Honda's owner's manual said to use mineral oil for the first 1000km..."

And then they got you in for an oil change for which you paid handsomely - right? Those sly

 

I can't comment on the rest. It's just what I've been told. Honda sent a technical service bulliten out on the topic and said to use Mineral for the first 1000km. *shrug*

However, I can comment on this one... No, the first service was free I got a VIP card from the dealership. I think it was because the whole sale took 30 minutes and I paid in cash that same day.