Date:         Sun, 28 Jul 2013 11:22:27 -0500
Reply-To:     JRodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         JRodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: What Oil to Use on Startup?
Comments: To: Paul Rogers <wognacious@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <9B9AFBD0-BDBA-4AE0-83DF-A083123F8F07@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

In 1999, the engine in my '88 GL  burned a piston - melted a hole
through it, scored the cylinder walls, damaged the head, put chunks of
metal into the crankcase. When torn down - it could be seen it was a
mess. A local trusted re-builder happened to have a 2.1L he had just
finished rebuilding so I bought it. His instructions were followed for
startup and break in. A straight 30 wt oil was used. The engine was run
at idle until warm, then cycled up and down from idle to 1500 and back
to idle. This was every few minutes. After two hours of this - watching
the engine closely - it was shut down and the oil drained, a new filter
installed, along with 15W50 oil. I drove it for 500 miles locally - no
extended high speed runs - mostly 30 to 50 mph. At 500 miles changed the
oil and filter. After that - I drove it at speeds up to 65 for 15 - 20
min at a time, and at the 1000 mile mark after the initial startup -
changed oil and filter again. Then drove normally there after. This was
in year 2000. I have never had any trouble on the internals of this
engine since the rebuilt. While cost is always a factor - investment in
the oil and the filters used to get the engine properly broken in was
small for having an engine that would get a good start on a full life.

John

On 7/27/2013 11:49 AM, Paul Rogers wrote:
> Howdy, I'm preparing for starting up, hopefully, my new to me motor. According to the seller it has around 900 miles on it. But it's been sitting around for a while. I know it's been over 1 year minimum. Long term I'm going to use Mobil 1 but I'm thinking for the initial start up using something less spendy in the event something doesn't go as planned. I'd really hate to waste $30 plus $$ of the Mobil 1. Any thoughts on this matter would be gratefully appreciated. Wish me luck.
> Paul in Tracy
> I don't think it matters but the motor is a 2.1
>
> Sent from my iPlace
>