Re: How to break in my new A4?

[Sean Reifschneider <jafo@tummy.com>]

>  1. Do I need to keep the rpm low during break in?
>     I have a manual A4 and I always try to shift before

I've usually heard that you should vary the RPM, never leaving
it at a constant for "too long" (whatever that is).  The owners
manual should say what you should do for proper break-in.  They
often request that you not run it over a certain RPM # as well.

Don't most engines come "broken in" from the factory these days?
Improper breaking in can cause a lot of problems down the line
(mostly minor).

>  2. Is Audi using any special break-in oil in the new car?

Probably.

>  3. How soon should I do the first oil change?

Whenever the owners manual says the first scheduled maintainance
is.  Usually at 1K miles.

>  4. How long is the break in period last?

Until the owners manual says it's over.  :-)

>  5. Any recommendations on the engine oil type/brand?
>     Is synthetic oil any good?

Well, had I read the quattro list an hour later last night, I would be
putting Synthetic oil in our new A4 after the first oil change.  We
decided to wait until the '97 comes out so we can get a trip computer
though.

I like Mobile 1 synthetic, or Valvoil netural.  I believe Castrol is
also good, but I like Valvoil.  Most people don't recommend changing
brands (different compositions) or weights.  You can get away with
running something heavier if it's synthetic.  I use Valvoline 20W50 in
my RX-7 (hard driving, only during the summer), and I usually use
10Wx or 15Wx Mobile 1 in my Audi.

As far as filters, I like Wix or Audi filters.

Enjoy,
Sean
-- 
"We just wanted to give the band a little more thrust than most other bands."
        - Donald Fagen's reply to why they chose the band name 'Steely Dan'
Sean Reifschneider, Inimitably Superfluous <jafo@tummy.com>
URL: <http://www.tummy.com/xvscan>  HP-UX/Linux/FreeBSD X11 scanning software.