Date:         Tue, 24 Feb 2004 18:01:54 -0600
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <jh_rodgers@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <jh_rodgers@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject:      Re: Break-in oil
Comments: To: "Warren.K.Lail-1" <wlail@OU.EDU>
In-Reply-To:  <dcf552dcf10c.dcf10cdcf552@ou.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed

Ask your re-man shop or engine builder what to use. I had my engine
built locally. My mechanic, an old timer VW guy, said run straight 30 WT
Dino oil for start up, let it run for an hour or so idling, then shut
down and change oil and filter. Refill with straight 30 WT Dion oil
again, and run 500 miles - mostly non-stop if possible, 50 mph or under
if possible, and then change filter and oil again. Then do the same all
over again for the next 1000 miles. After that, go to 20W50 Dino oil or
Mobil 1 15W50 with a new filter. I did what he said, but did go for the
20W50 and haven't had any problems. A little while back, at 40,000
miles, I switched to Mobil 1 15W50. The small oil consumption that
always seems to accompany any VW engine, diminished to the point that I
do not have to add oil between oil changes - which I do at 3000 miles,
regardless.

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

Warren.K.Lail-1 wrote:

>Hi all,
>
>I'm about to put oil in my newly rebuilt AVP engine
>and I was wondering what kind of oil I ought to
>use for break-in.  How long should I run it?
>
>I ultimately want to use synthetic, but I've heard
>that I need to run dino oil to allow the rings
>to seat properly.
>
>Many thanks.  Advice is appreciated.
>
>Warren
>88 Westy "Billy Bones" (in dry dock)
>87 GL
>
>
>