Break in

[firfighter27]

About to start the break in period on my new head on a 200 opti and was wondering if someone could explain the break in process (or link me me to a old post if there is one) a little better than the instructions i got from the mechanic on it

[dbasketman]

Break-in is important to insure correct engine performance and life. Follow the procedure listed in the Operation, Maintenance and Warranty Manual. Generally, for the first two hours we recommend avoiding extended periods of idle or wide-open throttle, or holding the engine at one speed for extended periods of time. New two-stroke engines require additional oil during break-in; OptiMax engines use programming inside the computer to increase the oil mixture during the specified break-in period. Basically i believe it is 180 minutes(3 hours) at negative trim(I trim all the way down) and vary between 3-4,000 rpms, then run as needed without extended periods at full throttle for the next couple hours. Vary your rpms at all stages of the break in every few minutes. But check your manual. You may check the website for more info, D.Last edited by dbasketman on April 15th, 2009, 8:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[WVBassCat]

I just had my 200 rebuilt last summer. I was told to double the oil (add oil to your gas as well as your engine mixing it). I had to idle for 3o minutes to 1 hour. Than idle with engine in gear for 30 minutes to an hour. Than Get boat on plan and run LOW rpms (just enough to stay on plan) for 30 minutes and than slowly start raising rmps. DO NOT open the boat up (wot) If I recall dont go past 3/4 throttle. I cant call my exact rmp lets say 3000 (for barely on plan) than climb slowly to 3300 rpm than hold it there for 20 minutes or so than climb to 3600 rpm for 20minutes than back off to 3000rpm for 20 minutes than climb back up to 3600rpm get it steady at 3600 than climb to 3900 rpm than hold for 20 minutes you want to continue until you get 3/4 throttle. Just keep working your rpm up and down. You will want to do this process for a full tank of gas (I think I did it through two full tanks of fuel). Every once and a while stop and shut down the engine allow it to cool down than do it all again. I was told you what to move the rpms up and down so you dont form rings in the cylinder. This is what I was told, and my engine is running fast and strong! Im sure BCB or others may have a better way of handling this situation. This is what I was told by my machine. I am NO expert by NO means, There are A LOT of other folks on this board that no more about this than I will ever know! But that is my 2 cents Steve

[Bass Cat Boats]

DO NOT double oil an OPTI! The computer will take care of that for you. Trust me I have more than my fair share of breaking in Optis over the past year or so LOL. I have the SC1000 gages in my boat and it takes 120 minutes to get the break in clock off. This DOES NOT COUNT idle time! Your best bet is to find a LONG stretch of water, full trim down and leave it there. Vary your throttle between 2500 and 4500 RPMs with no more than 5 mins at any one setting. It actually took right at 2.7 hours (50-60 miles) to get my break in clock to go away due to idle time, no wake zones where the engine was not under a load etc… I just went out last night with a guy to break in a 115 Opti, he did not have the SC gages, we ran full trim down for 2.5 hours, (57 miles) after he got up on plane before touching the trim. After its done double oiling vary your throttle and you can have short burst to WOT not to exceed 10 mins. for the next few hours. I went through a gallon of oil each time Ive broken in an Opti so buy an extra gallon. Of course I also recommend reading your owners manual

[Bass Cat Boats]

The engine must be set in the double oil mode for breakin. The varying RPMs and no more than 5 minutes at WOT for the next couple of hours after those initial ones. Those first few hours seem like an eternity. BCB

[1bassfan]

I am looking at my Merc Opti manual right now and for the first hour it says “run engine at varied throttle settings, the majority of the time between 3000 and 4500 RPM or 3/4 throttle. Change engine speed approximately 2 minutes, and avoid continuous operation at idle speed for more than 10 minutes. Short bursts of full throttle for periods up to 10 seconds are acceptable. Avoid trimming the putboard out (up) beyond a vertical trim positionduring operation. For the next 3 hours of operation, change engine speed every 10 minutes.” Thats straight out of the manual. The part that I dont understand is when they say “avoid trimming the outboard out beyond vertical trim position during operation.” Does that mean not to trim at all or that you can trim alittle bit?

[Bass Cat Boats]

No trim- have fun plowing like I did last month. Dont think people are staring cause they think youre crazy- they are just gawking at that awesome CAT!

[Bass Cat Boats]

You can use a little, though the ECM reads the amount of pressure and fuel burn the engine is hitting. So if you trim it up slow, you may not go into break in. It wants you to load the engine.

[tswanson]

I had to idle for 3o minutes to 1 hour. Than idle with engine in gear for 30 minutes to an hour NOT a good way to seat the rings. You will totally ruin a 4 stroke engine if you try that. It will end up being an oil burner (4 stroke has the oil control ring). In general you dont what to put a heavy load on your new engine and limit high rpm to short burst as already posted. If you have to, crack it open to get on plane then back off. I dont know beans about Opti but I like to follow the 10 hour rule and yes – the first 5 hrs take forever. The more hours the harder you run it. Make sure it is getting fuel or you will burn it up again. Did you have your injectors checked?

[firfighter27]

Yea got all new injectors, thanks for the help i understand better now. The mech told me it would run double oil on its on. Also curious is it ok to run quickleen during the break in period?

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