Date:         Fri, 4 Nov 94 14:10:59 EST
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         dcarment@ccs.carleton.ca (David Carment)
Subject:      Re: First oil change

Dan Houg writes:
> 
> 
> > 
> > For those of you out there who bought your vehicles new, when did you do
> > your first oil change?  After 1K miles, 3K, 5K,...or the VW recommended
> > 7.5K?
> > 
> > I ask because the dealer salesperson backed up VW's recommendation of 7.5K,
> > Conventional wisdom says to change the oil every 3K or so (or 50-60 engine
> > hours), except a lot of folks do their first change at 1K because of 
> > various metallic bits floating around...
> > 
> > So what do you all think?
> I've had one new vehicle in my life so I'm not an expert but that 
> won't stop me from giving my opinion!
> 
> Drain the oil on that new engine after 200-300 miles and you'll see 
> the finest 'metal-flake' suspended in the oil you've ever seen.  Get 
> it out of the engine ASAP!
> 
> BTW, when breaking in that engine, vary the engine speeds (slow 
> acceleration and deceleration) frequently 
> for the first 1000 mi or so.  This puts a strong vacuum in the 
> combustion chamber during deceleration and pulls oil by the 
> not-yet-seating rings and valve guides thereby providing more 
> lubrication during breakin. 
> 
>  I realise engine break-in lore is akin to discussing religion and politics.
>   All ideas entertained!
> 

Here is the advice we followed for VW aircooled vanagon engine
breakin. The advice was provided by a VW mechanic; a FLAPS mechanic;
and the Hayne's manual.

1. Add single grade 30 weight oil only  and run engine stationary for
exactly 30
minutes; no more no less. Vary the engine speed but do not exceed 3000 rpm.

2. Change both oil and filter (using 30 weight oil again). 

Steps 1 and 2 may be unecessary if you buy from VW as they may have
already carried out initial break in (we bought GEX).

3. Drive for 500 miles; do not exceed 50 mph, do not lug engine but
also keep rpms variable.

4. At 500 miles change both filter and oil using regular multigrade 
20W50.

5. Change filter and oil at recommended intervals thereafter (3000miles).


Effects of procedure - compression after initial 30 minute breakin:
 mixed with none exceeding 120 psi
compression after 1000 miles: all cylinders exceed 145 psi.

The implication is that this procedure allows the oil scraper ring and
the two compression rings and the bearings to seat properly. It may
also allow thetwo oil seals to seat properly. DC
----------------------------------------------------------------------
David Carment
School of International Affairs
Carleton University
Ottawa, Ontario
K1S 5B6
voice - (613) 788-2600-6662
fax - (613) 788-2889
Email address: dcarment@ccs.carleton.ca
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