Frank,

Why are you using a multi-grade oil for break in on a new engine??

In my experiene a straight 30 weight breakin oil was always used for
break in. An oil change was done at 500 miles, along with a new filter,
and again at 1500 mile. After that a switch to what ever oil is to be
used for the life of the engine. In my case, I followed that regimen and
then ran 20W50 until last year when I switched to 15W50 Mobil One
Synthetic .... something I wish I had done earlier. I really think these
engines benefit greatly from the better synthetics. Mine now runs cooler
and uses less oil.

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
Chelsea, AL USA

Frank Condelli wrote:

>In a message dated 21/01/2004 12:07:38 AM Eastern Standard Time,
>LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:
>
>I would  like to hear Frank Condelli opinion on that  subject...
>
>Yes, I'm sure you and a lot  of others would also.  BUT, I'm not about to
>start a war !  I am still  reserving judgement on my Boston Engine engine
>situation until I get more miles  on the one I have going now.  At nearly 2000 miles
>it seems fine BUT the  oil pressure is still not to my satisfaction or what my
>old engine was with  nearly 350,000 km.  Maybe It's because I'm still on the
>10w30 break in oil  and besides it's hard to check the oil pressures properly
>these days when it's -  25 C most of the time and the van rarely gets driven
>long enough to warm  up.  Yes, the oil pressure is nearly 80 PSI at start up
>but what's  that say at -25 C ?  Not much except you should probably go back to
>bed and  wait for spring !  I have been making a survey of the oil pressures
>of  Boston Engine's 2.1 engines and OEM 2.1 engines.  You can see the results
>so far at _http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/survey.htm_
>(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/survey.htm) .  So far my engine has the lowest oil pressure reading of the
>ones  reporting.  What does that mean ?  I don't know as there are far too
>many variables to make a proper conclusion.  Take it for what's it's  worth.
>All I can tell you so far is I've had a whole lot of trouble and  spent a big
>pile of money and time on my engine replacement.  If I had to  do it all over I
>would go with a Subie conversion.  I could have done two  Subie installs
>perfectly with the time and money I have invested so far on  replacing with a
>boxer engine which I was led to believe would be a simple  matter since it was the
>same engine that came out.  Anyway, don't get me  started or we'll end up
>with another conversation like you and I had at  BusFusion last Spring that kept
>up all the other campers.
>Cheers,
>
>Frank  Condelli
>Almonte, Ontario, Canada
>_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
>camping event, Almonte, ON, June 10 ~ 13, 2004
>'87 Westy & Lionel  Trains
>Member: _Vanagon List_ (http://www.vanagon.com/) , _LiMBO_
>(http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/) , _IWCCC_ (http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/)  & _CCVWC_
>(http://www.ccvwc.ca/)
>Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in  the Ottawa Valley
>_STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel  Mufflers_
>(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
>_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
>or  http://frankcondelli.com
>
>
>