Engine break-in schedule

My 03 Vintage just arrived and I am thrilled with it! I could gush, but if you are reading this, you probably understand when I say that it is all that I hoped it would be. The engine only has 800 miles on it...can you guys suggets a tried-and-true engine break in schedule (x miles at y speed, ect)? Or, if I just drive it carefully (under 65) for the next few thousand miles, will I be OK?

Thanks for all the help - this site really helped make the purchase of this car possible.

Brian

Brian - congrats on your purchase; you will really enjoy having a replica Speedster.

With 800 miles on your engine, it's almost "broken-in" already. Good general advice is to avoid the extremes - don't redline it frequently, don't lug it (below 2000 rpm), don't stay at one speed too long. In other words - move it through the gears and rpm range giving the engine lots of exercise.
And don't forget your brakes need "breaking in," too. Don't stomp on 'em too hard or too often at first, but let them "season" as you drive by using them in moderation whenever possible.
Keep an eye on your oil level - and make sure your oil & filter get changed at regular intervals (six months or 1500 miles are good benchmarks).
Others will chime in with more, but those are the basics. Don't baby your car; drive it and enjoy it.

Someone posted this link before, but here it is again. Hope this helps:

http://aircooled.net/gnrlsite/resource/articles/engnbrkn.htm

Pat

Brian, also get your transaxle fluid changed now if it hasn't been changed (you're supposed to change it at the 600 mile mark; as recommended by VW for rebuilt transaxles which yours certainly is).

Thanks for the posts and the tips - very helpful. I'll have the transaxle fluids changed immediately. One more thing, I've only had the car for a short while, but I've noticed that the needle on the engine temperature gauge on the dash does not move at all, even after the car is warm. It's pretty cold outside, but where should the needle normally rest? Do you guys check the oil temperature manually during drives? Thanks!

Brian, If your vintage has the China manufactured (non VDO) repro gauges like most of ours, the temperature gauge does not move much. You could shift the position of the needle on the scale by varying the resistance but the deflection wont be much anyway. This temp gauge is more a "cosmetic" thing than a true temp gauge... MX - ~jJ~

You can get the Gene Berg oil temp dipstick ($19.50) which is a contraption that will turn on your oil idiot light whenever your engine temp gets dangerously high. It won't affect the conventional operation of your oil idiot light but adds a sense of security. It's only a 5 min. hookup job.

My experience with our VS was that the guage on the dash deflected considerably, nearly to the top of the range, then, after a while, it stopped working altogether (bad sender, I guess). I purchased a cooking thermometer of good quality and began checking it at the conclusion of my drives. I found that on warm days (mid to high eighties) the temperature was between 209 - 212 degress F. Since this seemed to be an acceptable range, I stopped routine checking, but the temp readings I did take remained fairly constant.

On our '63 VW, after an eightyish degree day drive last September, I checked the temperature in the same manner. This test followed a mostly expressway drive from the Atlanta area. I was amazed to find that the reading was only 176 degrees. Very cool, so to speak. This engine is just a run of the mill 1641cc engine with a standard sump and no additional provisions for cooling. We were very pleased with this result.
Hoss

Agree at 800 miles you can't undo any breaking in the previous owner did to really make it better or worse. I'd change the oil if it hasn't been done in last few months and adjust the valves and brakes but that's about it. Why not by pass the current temperature gauge with another until you are comfortable its operating in the proper range (even if new gauge is temporarily mounted in the engine compartment).