Engine overhauled- Oil change question!

I rebuilt engines for a living and would never use synthetic oil on a fresh rebuild, I use to recommend the oil filter be changed after the first days work, and then change the oil and filters at 3,000 miles, then add whatever you want, Do not idle for longer that 5 minutes, and if you are stopping down shift and gently slow down and then after a maximum 1 minute shut it off. Idling an engine is the hardest thing there is on it.

 

Following your advice I switch over to Scaeffers samples. The viscosity on the report looks low, but they are giving me attentioncode normal. What you think cowpie1?

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I was around Ruan Leasing Trucks about 30 years ago and they were upset if you did not get in for that first 3,000 mile service and said it was the most important oil change of that engines life, they had about 12,000 of them. I have also read that producers of premium oils spend large amounts of time and money to produce the best product possible just to have someone spend a few dollars on an additive to screw it all up. I do not typically use synthetic engine oil but I have seen engines that used it with excellent results. I have a friend in the custom harvesting business using synthetic engine oil you says they really do not have time for changing oil during harvest. With synthetic's most units can run through the season and then they have all winter for service. They are getting good results this way but I mentally struggle with some of the intervals. when I started oil was changed at 8,000 then big luberefiner filters doubled it to 16,000. Along came twin, and triple spin on's, centerfuse, synthetic media, etc. Intervals went to 20, 25, 30, 50,000? miles. Maybe I am old fashioned but I like to know the old stuff was changed about every 15-20,000. Oil is cheep and engines are not. I found oil samples to be questionable, have had some good early notice on liner o-ring type problems but when serious concern notices were received it blow up last week. I do not do oil samples anymore maybe it has improved.

 

Are they sure it is head gasket? We had a guy that we did basic overhaul for once and he thought the head gasket was leaking. He took it to several shops to "verify" it was head gasket before coming back to us. We cleaned the area and watched closely. It was the front cover. We had to show him before he believed it. His cover actually turned out to be cracked.