How many quarts of mineral oil do I need to break in my O-320?

TBH, if your engine was properly built and run on a test stand, and you follow the usual procedures for break-in (minimizing low power operation and running at high power in cruise), your oil consumption will stabilize in a few hours. For my O-320-E2G, I put in 8 qt of 80W mineral, the first quart blew out (as it usually does, and it used under one additional quart in the next 2 hours. After that, oil use was negligible. It didn't get below 6 qt in the first 15 hours. At that point, break-in was complete and I switched over to my usual multi-weight oil. Oil consumption has remained at 10-15 hours per quart since.

If you buy too much straight mineral oil, you can always use a quart for makeup oil later. There is no reason to not switch back to your normal multi-weight oil (and CamGuard if needed) as soon as possible after break-in, especially in cold weather. But of course, follow your rebuilder's warranty instructions in case there is an issue. Avoid cold starts. They are very hard on the engine, and are probably much worse for a newly rebuilt engine.
 
Kiddo's Driver said:
I missed these on my list, thanks!

My list:
New oil cooler. Old one is original to the plane & has around 6,000 hours/32 years on it.
New mechanical fuel pump. 2,300 hours/29 years on the current one.
New Carburetor. Need to order. The rebuilt one was installed about 1,000 hours/27 years ago. I'm going to install a new one & keep the core.
? Magnetos. It's complicated. I'll probably start another thread to ask about my options.
? Vacuum pump. Really don't want to sink money in here since the plan it to go to G5s soon.
I have spark plugs coming out of my ears.
New Hydraulic Hoses. Need to order all new hoses.
New SCAT/SCEET Hoses. Need to order.
Keep Starter. I put in a Skytec starter about 200 hours/10 years ago. I plan on using it.
New Alternator. Need to order. I plan on upgrading my alternator to a Plane Power AL24-P70.
Accessory case gasket. Need to order.
Oil sump gasket. Need to order.
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Not to spend your money but wouldn’t it be prudent and just IRAN the whole engine?

25 years is a long time.
 
bonefishpete said:
Not to spend your money but wouldn’t it be prudent and just IRAN the whole engine?

25 years is a long time.
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UPDATE: I dropped it off last month at G&N, https://gnaircraft.com/services/airplane-engine-overhaul/ , for them to do a IRAN and to convert it to an O-320-D2A. My current engine was making metal, and I do not have the field approval done to put an O-320-D1A & CS prop into the Tampico. Maybe later.
They have it torn down and called to say, "The engine is so clean we are bumping it up to #1 on the build list."
 
Kiddo's Driver said:
UPDATE: I dropped it off last month at G&N, https://gnaircraft.com/services/airplane-engine-overhaul/ , for them to do a IRAN and to convert it to an O-320-D2A. My current engine was making metal, and I do not have the field approval done to put an O-320-D1A & CS prop into the Tampico. Maybe later.
They have it torn down and called to say, "The engine is so clean we are bumping it up to #1 on the build list."
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UPDATE to the UPDATE: It is ready to be picked up.
49 days!
Don't expect that kind of service on everything. They cleaned it up & inspected it, then made the decision to bump it up to first on the assembly list since it needed NOTHING! Just the standard things you change out. $7,926.55 in parts, including two new magnetos and rebuilding my carb. $14,406.55 all in.
 
Kiddo's Driver said:
UPDATE to the UPDATE: It is ready to be picked up.
49 days!
Don't expect that kind of service on everything. They cleaned it up & inspected it, then made the decision to bump it up to first on the assembly list since it needed NOTHING! Just the standard things you change out. $7,926.55 in parts, including two new magnetos and rebuilding my carb. $14,406.55 all in.
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There you go. Just the peace of mind is plenty worth it.
 
Who do you have installing it? I'm mobile if you need an IA.
 
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