http://www.bostonengine.com/articles/fresh.html

Check the archives:
http://gerry.vanagon.com/cgi-bin/wa.exe?S1=vanagon

Look for discussions on this, particularly those in which Bob and others get
into more detail and elaborate on some finer points of startup ceremonies.

Good luck,
Robert

----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Diehr" <md03@XOCHI.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, January 02, 2006 12:22 PM
Subject: New engine decision and break-in questions

> Hi All,
>
> First, I wanted to thank everyone for all the suggestions about how
> to deal with my 85 Westy with the blown engine.   After considering
> the whole range of options (from selling it, to putting in a used
> motor from a donor van, to putting in a TDI) I decided on having a
> rebuilt 2.1 installed.     Total cost was a little under $4000, and
> the shop turned it around in about 4 days.   So far so good.   The
> repair included some unusual items (motor mounts, bad distributor and
> a failed ECU, and a requested transmission service) that bumped the
> price up a bit.  Would have been closer to $3300 had I got a stock
> 1.9 installed instead of the 2.1 and not had all the extra broken parts.
>
> Questions about the break-in procedure:   As I understand it, one
> should run regular (non-synthetic) oil, and try to avoid driving at
> the same RPMs, to help the rings seat in better.       Can anyone
> explain the theory here?  Is it really just RPMs you want to vary?
> Or do you want to have a range of RPMs, loads, temperatures, etc?
> What are the critical DOs and DONTs?    For example, would it better
> to do a bunch of short, in town trips?  Or maybe a mix of in-town
> trips with some longer highway driving?    Or, if I was on the
> freeway, should I go steady, or occasionally speed up & put it in
> neutral and coast for a bit (i have an auto tranny).
>
> -mike