The Late John Muir in the idiots guide to rebuilding aircooled VW's wrote
alot about this subject and I think it is still relevant for the waterboxer.
If you can get your hands on a copy it is well worth the read.
Roughly translated, it's an answer of listening to your engine. Warm it up
before you drive (I think most of us let that one slip), don't over rev it
and maybe just as importantly, don't under rev it. A classic example is
lugging up a hill at low revs with your foot flat to the floor in a high
gear. Change down and give it moderate throttle so you feel you have power
in reserve.
I live at the top of a very steep hill and there are two ways people seem to
tackle it.
1. rev out in first, second and lug in third
2. ease it out in first and coast up in second.
Listening to the difference, you have one engine that screams and then
strains and another that sounds like its working but coping easily. The time
difference is about 4 seconds.

----- Original Message -----
From: John Hurley <hurley@ACX.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 1999 3:31 AM
Subject: Re: Waterboxer rebuild survey Update! (more data please!)

Date:  09/07/1999  01:31 pm  (Tuesday)  From:  John Hurley
To:  "MIME :varieze@ASCENT.NET".TFS.ACX_HQ;
"vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM".TFS.ACX_HQ
Subject:  Re: Waterboxer rebuild survey Update! (more data please!)

that said........... What would the "best way to drive" your rebuilt
Waterboxer be?

Is there particular RPM, acceleration patterns etc which are better for the
motor than others?

John Hurley
85 Westfalia
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