Date:         Tue, 24 Feb 2004 19:35:16 -0600
Reply-To:     "Warren.K.Lail-1" <wlail@OU.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Warren.K.Lail-1" <wlail@OU.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Break-in oil
Comments: To: John Rodgers <jh_rodgers@bellsouth.net>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

----- Original Message -----
From: John Rodgers <jh_rodgers@bellsouth.net>
Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2004 6:01 pm
Subject: Re: Break-in oil

> 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
> >
> >
> >
>
>
Thanks, John. I called AVP and they told me to use
 dino oil for the first 1000 to 1500 miles, and
then switch if I want, to any 20W50.  I think I'll
 do as you suggest, and change the first oil
 after a little bit of ilding, and then each 500
 miles until I reach 1500.  Thereafte, I think
 I'll go synthetic 15W50 or 20w50 if available.
  I noticed that Redline has a motor oil, but it
 is like 8 bucks a quart.  That must be some
kind of mistake.

Regarding antifreeze, does anyone know if the VW
blue stuff is better than any other phosphate
free stuff?

Thanks!

Warren
88 Westy "Billy Bones" (soon to leave dry dock!)
87 GL