Evening all,

I have a VW Golf mk4, last year the engine went bang due to camshaft wear.
I have had the engine rebuilt from a mechanic mate of mine, however we are at a bit of a loss with what oil to use for the first start and running it in.
The engine is an ARL PD150 1.9 TDI
The head has been skimmed, the bores honed and new piston rings.

The engine should have fully synthetic oil usually.

Does anyone have any advice on which oil to use for the first start and running in?

Any opinions on a running in procedure?

Really don’t want to get this important stage wrong after all this time and money.

Thanks in advance

A high zddp mineral running in oil, the zddp will protect the camshafts and injector lobes/followers, the mineral oil will allow the rings to bed in. Give it 250-500 miles, change and repeat once more.
Something like joe gibbs br or millers cro should fit the bill, they are thicker grades but will be fine, i don't think i've ever seen 0w30 running in oil and wouldn't trust it to stay in grade either.

Once run in, use longlife 2 oil (506.01) if you can get it, if not then longlife 3 (507.00) and change according to useage type, don't try to hold out for 20k oil changes.

Dave