DeTomaso Mailing List: November 99, Message #241

I believe that many of you will find the following mails between me and the Mobil Corporation of interest. First comes the final answer of Mobil, then the previous mails.

Cristiano Rossi
thpnma 02869

----- Oprindelig meddelelse ----- 
Fra: Mobil Oil <mobil@ourdataworks.com>
Til: Cristiano Rossi <rossi@image.dk>
Sendt: 3. november 1999 17:24
Emne: Re: Mobil 1 for breaking in an engine?


 Thank you for contacting Mobil.
Today's engines are built with much tighter tolerances and much improved machining compared to the engines of 10 and 20 years ago. The old concept of "engine break-in" involved two primary elements:
 
 Removing any metal flashing (called swarf) or abrasive material leX-Mozilla-Status: 0009
Allowing valves and rings to "seat" properly.
 
 Today's engines do not require these break-in periods. In fact, Mobil 1 has shown excellent control of oil consumption in the industry standard ASTM Sequence III E test, which uses a completely rebuilt engine for each new test run. This includes freshly honed cylinders, new pistons, and
new rings (compression and oil control). The engine is exposed to only the test oil after rebuild. The outstanding oil consumption control of Mobil 1 in this test demonstrates that the old "seating" issue is not of concern in well machined engines. And don't forget that Mobil 1 is used as
initial fill on Corvette and Porsche engines.
However, if the engine rebuilder is using older machining equipment or lower quality components, it can leave you with an engine containing swarf or abrasive material inside the engine. In this situation, you would be best served by using a short drain interval on your initial oil fill.
Mobil 1 will still work in this situation, but it would be less expensive to use a conventional oil for this first, short duration fill.
 
 If you have any additional questions, you may contact us at our E-mail address: lubes@ffx.mobil.com or by phone at 1-800-ASKMOBIL.
> 
> 
> 
> Cristiano Rossi wrote:
> 
> > To the Mobil Corporation.
> >
> > On 13. july 1999 I sent you the following e-mail:
> >
> > ---------------------------------
> >
> > Mobil 1 for breaking in an engine?
> >
> > To The Mobil Corporation.
> >
> > I have a question that I would like you to answer. You can often read recommendations like the following in the newsgroups etc.:
> >
> > >""One thing that you should be carefull of is the Mobil 1.  It is great oil
> > >and will make an engine run better and last longer.  The problem is that it
> > >is not suitable for CAM break-in.  It lacks the correct extreem pressure
> > >lubricants for this purpose.  I have been advised by Cam makers to break in
> > >about 500 miles with regular oil before mobil 1.  Then Ring makers recomend
> > >2000 miles for proper ring seat before using mobil 1.""
> >
> > I normally use Mobil 1, and I have also used it for breaking in a completely rebuilt engine. Is it true that it was a bad idea to break in the engine with synthetic oil?
> >
> > Thank you in advance for your kind reply.
> >
> > ------------------------
> >
> > On 17. july 1999 you sent me the following reply:
> >
> > ------------------------
> >
> > Mr. Rosi,
> >
> > Thank you for contacting Mobil. Please accept our apologies for the
> > delay in replying to your email.
> >
> > You can start using Mobil 1 in new vehicles at any time. In fact, Mobil
> > 1 is the factory fill  in Corvette LS1,  LT-1 and LT-5 engines. And
> > Mobil and Porsche just announced a new partnership that will also have
> > all Porsche cars manufactured at the Zuffenhausen plant lubricated with
> > Mobil 1. One of the myths that persists about Mobil 1 is that new
> > engines require a break-in period with conventional oil. Current engine
> > manufacturing technology does not require this break-in period.  As the
> > decisions by the engineers who design the Corvette and Porsche engines
> > indicate, Mobil 1 can be used in an engine from the day you drive the
> > car off the show room floor.
> >
> > If yoX-Mozilla-Status: 0009questions, you may contact us at our E-mail
> > address: lubes@ffx.mobil.com or by phone at 1-800-ASKMOBIL.
> >
> > ---------------------------
> >
> > On 17. july 1999, I sent you the following questions (sent to the address  <lubes@ffx.mobil.com>):
> >
> > ---------------------------
> >
> > To the Mobil Oil Corporation.
> >
> > Thank you for your interesting reply to my question. I understand that with the current engine technology it is not necessary to break in an engine with conventional oil.
> >
> > I have breaken in a completely rebuilt Ford 351 Cleveland engine with Mobil 1. The engine has now been running about 10.000 miles, only on Mobil 1. The Cleveland is an engine from the early seventies, and can probably not meet the standards of what you call "modern engine technology".
> >
> > I have two additional questions:
> >
> > 1) Would it have been wiser to break in this old (but rebuilt) engine with regular Mobil oil, and then change to Mobil 1 after the break-in period?
> >
> > 2) If it is recommended to break in older engines with regular oil, can the possible damage now be corrected by using a regular oil for a certain period?
> >
> > I thank you in advance for your kind reply.
> >
> > --------------------------
> >
> > I have not yet received any answer to my last questions dated the 19. july 1999.
> >
> > I would be glad to receive your kind reply.
> >
> > Thank you in advance.
> >
> > Cristiano Rossi
> > rossi@image.dk
> 
> 
> 
>