Whats the proper break in procedure?

[etang789]

Hey guys I have just finished reading the owners manual, and here is what I found about break in procedure. Is this what you guys all do to ur brand new PCM engine? Seems scary to me flooring it with so little hours on it

Break In Procedure
Make sure all your passengers are properly seated before starting
the break in procedure. After the engine is thoroughly warmed up
and you have driven the boat into a large open area, advance the
throttle to wide open until the maximum rpms are reached. DO
NOT exceed 5,000 rpm. Reduce the throttle to 2,800-3,000 rpms
and cruise at or below this speed for 30 minutes. Reduce the speed
to idle, advance the throttle to wide open and operate at that speed
for one minute; reduce to the previous cruising speed for a few
minutes and repeat. Accelerating from idle speed to wide open
assists in seating the piston rings. This cycle can be repeated from
time to time during the first five hours of operation. DO NOT
operate engine at full throttle for longer than one to two minutes.

CAUTION: Follow these procedures only when
conditions are such that you can drive the boat safely.
DO NOT attempt to break in an engine by letting it idle at
the dock.

[NautiqueJeff]

That's what I have always done.

[etang789]

That's what I have always done.

It didnt say in the Owners Manual... but can you tow a wakeboarder during the break in period?

Or when are you suppose to start wakeboard/ski behind the new boat? how many hours?

[bobchris]

It didnt say in the Owners Manual... but can you tow a wakeboarder during the break in period?

Or when are you suppose to start wakeboard/ski behind the new boat? how many hours?

I wouldn't when your breaking in the motor you don't want to run it at a constant speed like you would boarding or skiing, you need to be varying the RPMs all of the time and using WOT to seat the rings otherwise your just going to be leaving horsepower on the table because you didn't seat the rings and have some blow-by and slightly lower compression due to loses past the rings because they are not seated.

so run it like you stole it just don't over rev it or stay at one rpm for more than a minute or two.

[etang789]

I wouldn't when your breaking in the motor you don't want to run it at a constant speed like you would boarding or skiing, you need to be varying the RPMs all of the time and using WOT to seat the rings otherwise your just going to be leaving horsepower on the table because you didn't seat the rings and have some blow-by and slightly lower compression due to loses past the rings because they are not seated.

so run it like you stole it just don't over rev it or stay at one rpm for more than a minute or two.

The dealer just called me that they have finally water tested the boat, and did a run in of the engine did hit the top speed of 62knots with hitting the max RPM around 6000+rpm .... seems like they didnt follow the manual of not exceeding the max RPM of 5000rpm... Did they do something stupid? Or am I worrying too much?

The engine have 2 hours on it so far...

I found this on PCM site, it differs from Nautiques break in suggestion...

The break-in period of your engine is the fi rst 25 hours
of operation. Proper engine break-in is essential to
achieve maximum performance, longevity and minimum
oil consumption. During the break-in period, the
following operation guidelines must be adhered to:

• After the engine is thoroughly warmed up, and
the boat is underway, open the throttle to wide
open throttle until maximum RPM is reached. DO
NOT EXCEED MAXIMUM RPM. (RPM should
cease climbing after 10 to 20 seconds).

DO NOT operate at full throttle in neutral at any time,
or at sustained full throttle during the fi rst 5 hours
of operation. Thereafter, use sustained wide open
throttle in the event of an emergency.

Reduce the throttle to 2800 - 3000 RPM, and
cruise at or below this speed for 1/2 hour.
Reduce the speed to idle. Go to wide open
throttle until maximum RPM is reached and
operate for approximately 1 minute. Reduce
throttle to 2800-3000 RPM and operate for a few
minutes. (Bringing the engine speed from idle to
wide open throttle will load the engine and assist
in seating the piston rings). This cycle should be
repeated from time to time during the fi rst 5 hours
of operation, but wide open throttle should not be
sustained for more than 1 minute.

• During the remaining 20 hours of break in period,
the engines can be run at cruise speeds that are
approximately 75-80% of the wide open throttle
RPM, occasionally varying the cruise speed by
100 RPM.

• During the early part of the break in period, the
correct propeller selection can be confi rmed.
(With a normal load aboard, the engine’s RPM
should reach, but not exceed, the maximum RPM
as listed in the specifi cations section).

• During the break in, all gauges should be
watched carefully, and the speed should be
reduced if abnormal readings become evident.

[steve-o]

Drive it like you stole it.

[DanielC]

You need to vary the RPM and the throttle position when breaking in a motor. Wide open throttle forces the piston rings hard against the cylinder walls, and mates the parts to each other. This creates wear particles of metal. Closing the throttle, creates a high vacuum in the cylinder, and tends to pull oil in to the cylinder, and that helps wash the wear particles back into the oil, and the oil filter.
Due to the forces involved, the pistons actually go a very small ways higher in the cylinder at max RPM. that they do at cruising RPM. You need to start wearing the upper parts of the cylinder wall, from the beginning, to avoid forming a pattern that will suddenly be exceeded it you do not run the engine to the RPM limit from the beginning.
In new engines some tolerances may be very slightly tight, or close. These closer tolerances create localized heat. You need to avoid this heat. Putting a load on a new engine, with ballast, or boarders is not good, because this also causes the engine to run warmer, and this is the time you need the engine to run cool. Do not let the engine run long enough to get hot, and avoid a constant pull.

You also need to make sure you get the boat and engine in for the 25 hour service. It is extremely important you get the oil used for break in changed, because it contaminated with a lot of the wear particles from the new engine.

Having said all that, If you have a slalom boat, I would not hesitate to start using it for some course work after about 7 to 10 hours. Think about a slalom run. Open throttle, to pull a skier up, part throttle for 17 seconds, shut down. While doing this, I would throw in a WOT Max RPM run every 5 or ten passes. Maybe pulling smaller skiers, or beginners at first, before you pull adult males capable of going into deep shortline.

Break in time is a special time with you and your new boat. you get to drive it, and learn how it handles. You can do this without the added pressure of a boat load of people criticizing you every time you get close to a dock. You can learn how to dock your boat.

I did do the "hard" full throttle max RPM break in procedure with my 1997 Ski Nautique. A lot. My boat currently has over 2245 hours on it, and still runs very strong, and no hint of burning any oil.

Do not be afraid of flooring it, and going to max RPM. Just do not hold it longer than 5 or ten seconds at first. Floor it, get to max RPM, hold 5 or ten seconds, close the throttle to idle, cruise a little, varying the RPM almost constantly, back to idle, in neutral, wait until the boat stops, go back in gear, check ahead of you, floor it again, to start the process over.