it's not so much that you should drive at say 3,500 rpm for a while, then
3,000 rpm for a while.

it's that decelerating with throttle closed or reduced draws oil up onto the
rings more, helping break-in.  Read that somewhere.

Wouldn't make any difference in a diesel with no throttle, interestingly.

in any case...yes, varying speed some  during break-in period, but I don't
think '60 for a while' then '50 for a while' is the requirement.

it's that you don't drive 'just 60' continuously for long periods of time.
Like slow down some, then speed back up gradually ever now and then.

Scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Williams" <sbw@SBW.ORG>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2010 7:49 AM
Subject: Re: GoWesty 2.4L Engine

> At 05:56 AM 4/13/2010, B Feddish wrote:
>>... I got strict break-in instructions ... that I was not to go over
>>55 MPH for quite awhile.  Doesn't GoWesty have break-in instructions?
>
> http://gowesty.com/library_article.php?id=860
>
>>Can an engine with 34 miles on it like going 85 MPH?
>
> While breaking in the GoWesty 2.3L in my '84 last summer, I drove 75
> mph a lot of the time.  That was about as fast as I could go with the
> stock transmission while staying below their recommended 4,000 RPM
> limit for the first 1,000 miles.
>
>>For the kind of coin the GW costs you are going to want it to last awhile.
>
> I agree.  On the other hand, I doubt a few experimental excursions
> will cause long-term damage.
>
> My break-in was pretty painless.  The engine never did consume a lot
> of oil.  The biggest inconvenience was the recommendation to vary the
> speed every 10 minutes.  On long drives, it can be hard to remember,
> and slowing down for no apparent reason makes other drivers
> unhappy.  But it's no biggie.