You may know this but in regards to seating new rings to a freshly honed
bore, creating enough "brake mean effective pressure" is supposed to help
seat the rings. This diagram image helped me better understand what is
meant by BMEP:

https://cdn.avweb.com/media/newspics//184815_cylinder_break-in_diagram.jpg

So if the van had an added medium weight load, this might help? i.e. at
times, the throttle would need to be opened more at mid range RPM to over
come the added weight? I'd think a heavy load might allow potential for the
engine to be lugged or loaded too hard.

This article was an interesting read. Caveat; this could fly in the face of
what your rebuilder recommends:

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

I'll be breaking in a rebuilt engine soon. (I hope). My understanding is
that after the initial break in for the cam and lifters is done, (assuming
new lifters, cam or reground cam), the worst thing one could do is baby the
engine or let it idle. Doing that won't seat the rings very well.
Miles-wise, the window of opportunity to properly seat the rings is not
huge.

But I'm certainly no expert on this topic and basically repeating what I've
read on the 'net.

Neil.

On Sat, Apr 14, 2018 at 3:55 PM, Dan N <dn92610@gmail.com> wrote:

> hi all,
>
> I will follow the rebuilder instructions for break-in a 2.1 WNX engine..
>
> will it be detrimental to the engine or the break-in process if I put in
> the van a medium load up the van or even a heavy load?
>
> thanks
>
> dan
>

--
Neil n

Blog: Vanagons, Westfalia, general <http://tubaneil.blogspot.ca>

1988 Westy Images <https://picasaweb.google.com/musomuso/New1988Westy>

1981 Westfalia "Jaco" Images, technical <http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/>

Vanagon-Bus VAG Gas Engine Swap Group <http://tinyurl.com/khalbay>