Break-in Procedure:

• Initial Startup: Ensure engine is properly installed and no leaks exist. Remove Motronic and fuel pump fuses (#28 and #32) and crank engine, stepwise, until oil pressure is observed. Start engine and bring up to 1500 rpm. Monitor oil pressure gauge and shut down if low oil pressure is noted. Listen for unusual sounds and be aware of normal versus abnormal smells. Additionally, ensure that the CEL is not illuminated. Hold at 1500 rpm until thermostat opens. Run for an additional 5 to 10 minutes and shut off. While hot, drain engine oil; inspect drain plug for wear particles. Allow engine to cool completely, add new oil and filter.
• First Trip: Start engine and hold at 1500 rpm until thermostat opens. Once engine is at operating temperature, take car for initial drive. Vary load and avoid cruising at steady speed. Drive through neighborhood streets and use 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear. Keep this trip short, maybe 15 minutes long. Return home and allow engine to cool. Check oil level and add as necessary.
• Second Trip: Start engine, allow it to idle for a few minutes, and then go for a drive. On an open stretch of road, in one gear, accelerate to 3000 rpm and then coast back to 1500 rpm. Repeat this five to ten times and then return home, avoiding constant speed or load. Drain oil and inspect drain plug for wear particles. When cool, replace filter and add clean oil.
• Third trip: Start engine and take things slowly; drive around town as you would normally. Do this for 30 to 40 minutes and return home. Allow engine to cool and inspect for leaks. Add oil as necessary. Keep strict records on oil consumption. Adjust the clutch as necessary and ensure no leaks of any fluid exist.
• Subsequent trips: Drive the car as you normally would, being careful not to hold a steady speed/load for extended periods. After 500 miles, change the engine oil and filter; resume interstate travel when oil consumption drops. After 3000 miles, repeat engine oil and filter change. After 6000 miles, change oil and filter and switch to synthetic. After this, run and maintain as normal; maintain oil and filter changes at 3000 to 4000 mile intervals depending on condition.

Lubricants used during break-in and oil change schedule:

For the first 3000 to 6000 miles, it is often recommended to avoid synthetic oils as cases have shown that it increases the possibility of the rings not seating properly.  I can't say whether or not this is an urban legend, however, I am going to heed it.  Considering the frequency of oil changes in the first few thousand miles of operation, the likelihood of oil varnishing is slim and using conventional oil reduces this cost by about half.  For the break-in procedure, I used Mobil1 5000 oil, in 5W-30, with a Bosch oil filter. 

During the break-in, I changed the oil as follows: 

• After initial startup:  the oil was changed, hot, after the initial startup to remove the Lubriplate and Cam assembly lubes used.  A new filter was fitted. 
• After the second trip:  the WOT/deceleration technique used causes the rings to load and wear-in.  This produces iron wear particles which end up in the oil.  The oil was changed, hot, after this trip, to remove these particles.  A new filter was fitted.
• After 500 miles:  the majority of the break-in wear of the engine will occur in the first 500 miles.  The oil was changed to remove wear particles and inspect the oil filter for signs of unusual wear.  A new filter was fitted
• After 3000 miles:  The oil was changed again, at the 3000 mark, to start the new oil-change cycle.  Conventional oil was used to fill and a new filter was fitted. 
• After 6000 miles.  To continue with the oil-change schedule, the oil was changed again at the 6000 mark.  At this interval, I resumed using Mobil1 0W40 Synthetic oil and Mobil 1 M102 oil filters.  This begins the normal OCI for the SAAB.  

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