This paper demonstrates the potential of using a multidegree- of-freedom, traditional van der Pol oscillator to model non-synchronous vibration (NSV) in turbomachinery. It is shown that the two main characteristics of NSV are captured by the reduced-order, van der Pol model. First, a stable limit cycle oscillation (LCO) is maintained for various conditions. Second, the lock-in phenomenon typical of NSV is captured for various fluid-structure frequency ratios. This research identifies values and significance of the coupling parameters used in the van der Pol model. These coefficients are chosen to model confirmed instances of experimental NSV, and to develop a preliminary design tool that engineers can use to better design turbo machinery for NSV. Specifically, coefficient tuning from experimental instances of NSV are considered to identify the unknown coupling coefficients in the van der Pol model. The goal of future research will be to identify values and significance of the coupling parameters used in the van der Pol model, to match these coefficients with confirmed instances of experimental NSV, and to develop a preliminary design tool that engineers can use to better design turbo machinery for NSV. Proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) CFD techniques and coefficient tuning from experimental instances of NSV have been considered to identify the unknown coupling coefficients in the van der Pol model. The finalization of this preliminary design research will be completed in future research. Copyright © 2013 by ASME.