6.4L Power Stroke Engine and DrivetrainDiscussion of the 6.4L Power Stroke diesel engine and drivetrain in the 2008 Super-Duty trucks. No gas engine discussion allowed except on transmissions and drivetrain that pertain to all models. Please confine discussion of topics in this forum to those items that are specific to the 6.4L Power Stroke engine.
I read (and can't remember where) that you should put a heavy load on a new 6.4L engine after the first 1000 miles. Unfortunately, my 5th wheel will not be in until I hit 6000 miles. Will this impact my engine breakin? Should I just go get a load of dirt and haul it around for a few miles?
I have never read that about the heavy load at 1000 miles. I would just drive it and not worry about it. Just don't tow anything for the first 500 miles and you should be all right.
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I read (and can't remember where) that you should put a heavy load on a new 6.4L engine after the first 1000 miles.
Perhaps from Jay Chlebowski's article on breaking in a diesel engine? Jay (DieselJay) is an expert and includes in the article, "4. DO put a load on the engine at around 1000 miles, and get the thing hot!" Even to the point of dragging a heavy trailer up a mountainside.
If you don't have a heavy trailer handy at about the right time, then I'd try to borrow one. Then find a long 7% grade to drag the trailer up. Simply hauling a bed full of dirt probably won't be enough of a load to get the exhaust gas temp (EGT) up over about 1,200º. And "hot" is 1,200º EGT for several minutes to get the engine cooking.
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My Sierra Blanca is a '99.5 PSD CrewCab hot-rod Towing Machine! BTS tranny; TurboRamAir intake and 4" stainless turbo-back exhaust; DP-Tuner tunes flashed into an Edge Evolution tuner; ISSPRO EV gauges and TTM; AIC; SP-Diesel exhaust brake and torque converter controller. I special-ordered it new and plan to drive it until it quits.
smokey, that is a bit odd, can you explain why?
Some of us dont live anywhere that has even a slight hill, let alone something 7%.
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500 miles is suggested before pulling. The engine will take a lot more than that to actually break in, we're talking 10's of thousands of miles.
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Some of us dont live anywhere that has even a slight hill, let alone something 7%.
Have you never been up to Ski Bluewood? If that's a nice flat road, then maybe go around to other roads into the Umatilla National Forest. But if that entire part of WA is flat, then go west to near Mount Ranier. And then of course there's always the Cascades south of Mount Ranier.
I was out in that neck of the woods a coupla years ago, and drug my 5er from Clarkston, WA up out of the Snake River Valley to Moscow, ID. There was a nice grade on that road as you climb out of the Valley from Lewiston that is guaranteed to get the EGT up if you have an 8,000 pound trailer tied on.
Have you never been up to Ski Bluewood? If that's a nice flat road, then maybe go around to other roads into the Umatilla National Forest. But if that entire part of WA is flat, then go west to near Mount Ranier. And then of course there's always the Cascades south of Mount Ranier.
I was out in that neck of the woods a coupla years ago, and drug my 5er from Clarkston, WA up out of the Snake River Valley to Moscow, ID. There was a nice grade on that road as you climb out of the Valley from Lewiston that is guaranteed to get the EGT up if you have an 8,000 pound trailer tied on.
clarkston is 100 miles away, and no where near anything i ever go. I dunno, my truck has 10K on it now, so i am not worried about the break in. I dont tow very often, and the heaviest **** i do tow might weigh 7000lbs.
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2008 Ford F-250 CC SB
Dark Pearl Blue(complete repaint under warranty)
6" Stage II Pro Comp Lift
17x9 Pro Comp 7189
37x12.5 Pro Comp Xtreme Mud Terrains Try the SEARCH Button Because It's Probably already been asked
Perhaps from Jay Chlebowski's article on breaking in a diesel engine? Jay (DieselJay) is an expert and includes in the article, "4. DO put a load on the engine at around 1000 miles, and get the thing hot!" Even to the point of dragging a heavy trailer up a mountainside.
If you don't have a heavy trailer handy at about the right time, then I'd try to borrow one. Then find a long 7% grade to drag the trailer up. Simply hauling a bed full of dirt probably won't be enough of a load to get the exhaust gas temp (EGT) up over about 1,200º. And "hot" is 1,200º EGT for several minutes to get the engine cooking.
Thanks for the link it was very helpful. One question I have is how long do you let the 6.4 warm up in the morning? I agree with not to letting it idle for long periods, but wouldn't you want the oil to get a liitle temp for you just take off ??
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In your neck of the woods, start it and go. In my neck of the woods, a 10 minute warm up is not unheard of. Of course, there's a 50 degree temperature differnce this time of year.
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2003 350 Lariat FX4 Short Box 6.0L *SOLD*
2008 FX4 F350 6.4L Dually Long Box, Black on Black PICTURES
2007 Keystone Raptor 3712TS PICTURES
Wow!!! this article was very useful. Hope I havn't damage my engine at all by driving it as a daily driver? I have not needed to tow yet, so maybe I will ask my buddy to let me tow his trailer for a short period, to aid in break in. I have 2800 on mine so I hope I'm not glazing the cylinders. I don't really beat on it, but do get into the go pedal once in a while. Let me know if any of you think that this daily driving has harmed anything.
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2008 F-250 Lariat Crew Cab, 6.4 diesel, moonroof, reverse sensor, tow command power mirrors, snow plow prep!
As soon as I reach my 500 miles I'm hooking the Toy Hauler up and away we go. At least that's my plan. I tried giving myself enough time before spring but Truck will probably be in late March or early April.
The book is written for idiots as well as those who have some sense.
Ford says not to pull for the first 500 miles because if they did not, some idiot would hook up a trailer with his back hoe on it, 50 miles on the truck, and strike out from KN to Denver, keeping up with the 75 mile an hour interstate traffic.
If you live in ordinarily hilly country, hook up to say a horse trailer with 1 or two horses, drive 45 or so, slow down long before the stop signs and move off slowly, there is no way you can hurt a new engine.
In other words, be gentle.
I have owned 5 Ford Diesels and I pulled with them all before the 500 mile mark, but I was very easy with the power and the brakes.
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