Break-in Period for New Truck

[seahunter]

Just curious what some of you have done. Ford in one place in the manual says 1,000 miles before towing, and in another place it says only 500 miles before towing. I'm leaning toward the 1,000 to be safe... Besides varying the speed, is there anything else I should be aware of during the break-in period?

Thanks much!

Greg

[ols1932]

quote:Originally posted by seahunter

Just curious what some of you have done. Ford in one place in the manual says 1,000 miles before towing, and in another place it says only 500 miles before towing. I'm leaning toward the 1,000 to be safe... Besides varying the speed, is there anything else I should be aware of during the break-in period?

Thanks much!

Greg

When we bought ours in '95, we were told to drive it right away, don't baby it. So, 206,000 miles later we're still doing just that.

Orv

[lasater]

When we got a new one in '02, we were told, like you, to drive it at varying speeds until until the first oil change (at 1,000 mi) then make it work hard.

When we traded it with 175,000 miles (our mistake) it had never missed a beat. Of course, that was an indestructible 7.3L engine hooked to a manual transmission. The only reason we traded was because it was a 2WD and we wanted 4WD.

[camper4]

I agree with all responses so far. The only other thing I can think of is if your transmission needs any service early on.

[mlh]

Like Brad said in so many words. I think what they wont is for you to go easy on your new engine for a few miles. Don't run it at a constant speed for 500 miles. Don't run it at it full HP. Just use a little common sense and you will be fine.
You have a very different engine than was in your previous truck. All other Diesel engines are nickle cast iron. Your new engine block is compacted graphite iron, its much harder, stronger and more durable than cast iron. The only other truck I know of that has a CPI engine is Peterbuilt's new 7000 series truck. They use it because it makes a better, lighter, longer lasting engine.
Lynwood

[1retired06]

I just bought our truck in November down here in Florida's RV/Snowbird world, and the dealership arranged the reinstallatin of our hitch and stressed not to pull before the 1000 mile mark, to the extent that if we needed to move our fifth wheel, he would lend us a truck rather than use our new one. Whatever that is worth.

[Tom S.]

For what it's worth, I have always changed the oil to synthetic oil after the break in period. Even if you're not a synthetic fan, I would still change the oil to removes any left over manufacturing 'debris' from the engine.

[2007dura]

I went with the 500 mile before towing and vary speed for first 1000 miles. Pulls like a champ.

[Phil P]

Hi

There are different “break in” procedures for different types of engines.

In the Duramax manual GM publishes 500 miles before towing for the purpose of “wearing in” certain parts in the Alison transmission. There are no published restrictions on the engine. There is also no published restriction on engine RPM.

Industrial engines that are rated at 75% maximum continues power don’t recommend more than 3 minutes at max power until oil consumption has stabilized then the limit goes to 5 minutes at max power. Long periods of time at low or idle power settings are not recommended.

Industrial engines that are rated at 100% continuous power only have the restriction of not operating for long periods of time at low or idle power settings until oil consumption stabilizes.

Gasoline piston type opposing normally aspirated aircraft engines rated at 100% continues power hasn’t any restrictions except the use of “mineral” a term for non-detergent oil until oil consumption stabilizes and long time periods of operation below 75% power are not recommended.

So my opinion is to follow the information in the manual for the vehicle. Remember the engineers that designed the unit most probably know a lot more about how to operate it than we do.

Phil P

[sreigle]

My Ford tow vehicles ranged from 1992 through 2005 so maybe it's different on the newer ones. The manuals for mine all said 500 miles before towing. So that's what I did.

This Dodge manual also says 500 miles but then it adds that the first 500 miles of towing should not exceed 50 mph so the rear end will break in properly. We did 465 miles before I got fed up with that speed.

One thing that was mentioned in the Dodge manual but not my Ford manual that I think still applies to all brands is to not switch to synthetic oil until at least 30,000 miles. Dodge says switching earlier will prevent or delay engine breakin. So I waited.

Good luck with your new truck. Those are really nice.

[1retired06]

oh oh. I'd better check with Ford re that 30,000 mile mark on syn oil! Nothing in my manual about that.

[Art-n-Marge]

I did my break in at 500, then another 500 before towing. We did these miles in a week, driving everywhere we could, then varying speeds (rpms), up and down hills. Got the oil changed (ouch! that's when I found out I needed almost 4 gallons and this one wasn't on the free service for 2 years) We were going away in a week and we had a planned RV trip and this needed doing pretty quick. It all worked out.

Still use Dino oil, don't know if I'll ever convert. The two service places I've used here are still not on the synthetic wagon, and when I bring it up they frown. Since using dino oil means I'm under the truck every 5,000 miles, I use the time to check everything out. I found a rear seal leak this way and some other minor things that needed attention.

[jimcol]

Our truck was stolen in Az. in 09 four days before we were scheduled to head home. Went and bought our current truck an 09 dodge. Ask the dealer what were the towing restrictions. Manual said 500 miles. He told us to get a couple of hundred miles of start and stop to seat in the rear end and transmission. No break in period on the engine just go for it.The guy staying next to us in the RV park was a diesel mechanic for the logging industry. His company used the Cummins diesel on all their equipment. He said in the woods they uncrate these engines, hook them up to cranes or whatever, check the oil level and start using them full bore. We left Phoenix with just over 200 miles on it. Babied and varied the speed for the next 300 miles then hit it hard the rest of the way home. 3 years and 46,00 miles later the truck is still performing like new. Jim

[HOOK]

After owning a fleet of tow trucks for 30+ yrs. I recommend you break it in doing what you intend to do with it. Drive as you intend to for the life of the truck. My current TV has 81000 on it and doing excellently. Hope to get at least 250000 out of her and wouldn't be surprised to go way beyond that. Oil service means life to engine. Larry

[sreigle]

quote:Originally posted by 1retired06

oh oh. I'd better check with Ford re that 30,000 mile mark on syn oil! Nothing in my manual about that.

Just to make sure I didn't confuse this issue... that's not 30,000 miles without changing oil, it's just stay with dino oil for at least the first 30,000 miles.

Since breakin requires friction, that tells me synthetic reduces friction. Since reduced friction means less wear and thus potentially longer engine life. That's good enough for me. I switched to full synthetic shortly after the 30,000 mile mark. But which oil to use is a personal preference decision.

[seahunter]

Thank you all for the replies! It is so nice to be able to hear from people who have done this before. I think I'm going to "split the difference" and shoot for somewhere between 500 and 1,000 and use common sense like some of you mentioned. Good excuse for a couple trips to the beach before we tow, and getting used to the wide-body rear end. I see now what you mean about parking as I could only visualize before. But at about 22' you just have to park in the back forty of the lot and hike in as it takes up four spaces in the smaller parking space lots.

Thanks again! Appreciate the advice.

[stiles watson]

Ford is not an official fan of synthetics. They recommend changing oil at the regular schedule even if you use synthetics. I change oil at 7000 miles on this 6.7 L PSD.

[HOOK]

We change oil every 5000 or as near as travel allows.

[seahunter]

I am reading too that because towing is considered "severe service operation" in the owner's manual Ford is recommending SAE 5W-40 instead of 10W-30. It does state to expect 5000-7499 miles for "moderate to heavy load/towing" (severe service) and 3000-4999 miles for "maximum load/towing" (extreme service use).

[stiles watson]

Yes, there are 3 levels of service. You have to determine which level is yours. Even though I tow from time to time, the majority of my driving is light duty, so I settle for medium duty protocol. My message center is supposed to be a "smart" system. It will tell me whether the oil needs to be changed. It processes how the truck has been used and starts putting up alert messages as the need for a change approaches.

Old habits die hard. I still use a schedule to change my oil. However, if I got an alert prior to my schedule, I would go with the alert. As to the DEF fluid, it gets filled at oil change or earlier if I get an alert. By-the-way, DEF is about $18.00 for 2-1/2 gallons at the dealership while Auto Zone wants $11.00 per gallon. The boys at Walmart didn't have a clue when I asked for DEF or urea. Maybe the Chinese don't make it......yet.