To ensure the long life and performance of your engine ‘running in’ properly is very important! Not doing so will shorten the life and reduce the overall performance of your engine.
To run your engine in, take your car and roll it back and forth to be certain the car’s wheels can turn freely. Place the car in a position so that the wheels are off the ground, for example on a heavy box, and follow the starting procedure which can be found described in 'How To Start A Nitro Engine'.
The engine should be broken-in on a smooth hard surface where it will not be put under any excessive strain. Try to avoid breaking-in the engine on very hot, or humid days. Ensure that the idle speed is not too high or else you will burn your clutch out or snap the con rod, and also make sure that the brake is not applied.
Always break-in your engine without the body on the car, you want as much airflow as you can get to keep the engine cool. Do not run the engine too lean or you will over heat it and cause permanent damage to the internal components of the engine.
It is normal for the engine to consume a lot of fuel during break-in. This is because you are running it "richer" than you normally would to keep the engine cool and to flush out the engine as the parts "seat" themselves. Because of the richer than normal setting the performance of the engine will be limited. After break-in, you will then lean it out to gain performance.
It's always a good idea to get an extra glow plug. It is normal to have to replace it after break-in because of the deposits left on in from the break-in process. Glow plugs are a normal item that needs replacing. Because they have such a huge influence on the way your engine runs it best to always have a few spares.
Once the engine starts and is idling slowly place it on the ground and drive it slowly on a flat surface. For the first use do not let the engine run for more then 3 minutes. Carry on running slowly for short periods until you have gone through 2 - 3 tanks of fuel.
Do not over accelerate at all during this procedure, as it can severely damage the engine. After each idling time, let the car rest for about 10 minutes between each tank. Running in makes sure that the engine is operating correctly before you take it out for a proper run.
Never accelerate the engine while all four wheels are off the ground, as this will break the conrod or other important components.
One important thing to remember when breaking in a new engine, it may appear to not run correctly. It may stall, operate very inconsistently, and may even foul glow plugs. Don't get frustrated with it. Just keep working with it and it will become a smooth running engine.
