I have a freshly rebuilt 22re.

I ran SAE 30 conventional oil for initial startup, and seating the rings. I the drained the oil and changed the filter, replacing with 15w 40 Rotella for the first few hundred miles.

Questions-

How far can I go before I need to change the oil again?

When should I check the head bolts? and is once enough, or should they be checked often?

 

take it real easy for the first 500 and change the oil

 

I did mine 15w 40 at 20, 700, and will again at 3k (been driving it like I stole it so it breaks in like that, break it in like you want it to run when broke in and will run 100%) then I will go to AMSOIL full syn for the life of the motor.

Headbolts should be checked retorqued within the first 1-200 miles, check the valves within the first 1-200 miles and you can check the headbolts at the same time

 

In some areas (e.g., CA), 15-40w conventional diesel/truck oils are the only oils that still retain ANY zinc content, so they are ideal for break in.

I guess I made the mistake of switching to synthetic after ~1200 miles. I am incidentally seeing quite a bit of oil loss, but believe this is due to more significant issues (valve seals)... woh woh wohhhhhhh

 

An article that includes the zinc issue: http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/e...ech/index.html

That sucks.

I saw a post in another forum advising to add a can of GM EOS to the oil for initial break-in. Any thoughts on that?

Any preferences for cam assembly lube?

 

Here is an interesting write-up of what needs to be lubed with what for break-in. It's by a company pushing their products, but the info in general makes sense: http://www.zddplus.com/TechBrief12%2...20Break-in.pdf

 

500 to 700 miles sounds about right. Check it often and when it starts looking dirty, that's when you want to change it.

 

I used rotella 15w40 at first.Its way to thick.Rattled for a couple of seconds at startup.Switched to 5w40 rotella after about 1500 miles.Much better.The zinc content is not what it used to be even in rotella so I suplement with redline zinc additive.Lubriplate makes a good engine assembly lube.I changed engine oil at 500 miles on my break in,then another 500 after that.And I never retorqued my head bolts.Runs like a champ.

 

Is a zinc additive something that is needed only at break-in, or is it something you add occasionally?

 

ENGNBLDR recommended me to use Valvoline 10-30. during initial and really any time because it has a higher zinc content in it than others.

He had also said, change it after the first 20-30 minute cam breakin, then again at 500, and again at 1500, and again at 3000. And do not use synthetic till at least 5000 miles. This would include the 5-40 rotella which is synthetic unlike the 15-40 synthetic.

 

X2 on that one, think about it, when you buy a new car, do you take it in for service after 500 miles to have the head bolts re torqued? Or even valve lash for that matter.