Please comment on my break-in strategy

[newbie_101]

Hey guys,
I know this subject has been discussed before. I'm looking for opinions on my process.

I will keep the RPM between 1500 and 1800 for the first 100km. The next 900km I will put on with strictly city driving, stop and go, keeping my idle times as short as possible, trying to prevent sustained travel at a constant speed.

Now, this process will likely take some time. I'm wondering how soon after the 1000km mark would I be safe in towing 14,000 - 15,000lbs? I was a little late in purchasing the truck and have a date with the RV I really can't miss. What is the first recommended oil change? The trip with the RV is only 200km round trip. I was thinking of changing the oil when I return, then picking up with the regular change intervals.

Thanks guys.

[newbie_101]

Quite a few reads and no opinions. I've tried running this by my dealer and they didn't think it even had to be broken in.

I'm also wondering if there is any harm in running the truck during this break-in phase for long periods of time. Is it a bad idea to put say 500km on in a day, following the procedure above, all city driving?

[DirtFarmer]

Hi Cory-

I think that what you've described sounds spot on. Vary the rpm a lot for the first 500 or so miles. Around town is great for that. One other thing I've heard suggested many times is to take her to a parking lot, put her in low gear, run her up to 2500 rpm or so and then let off the throttle and let her wind back down to idle. Repeat until you are good and bored. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] To achieve the same thing around town, you migh shift gears manually to keep it from upshifting when you reach speed between intersections so you can get some engine braking as you slow down for the next light.

Good luck with your new ride.

Mark

[newbie_101]

Thanks for the reply, glad to hear I'm on the right track.

Any comment regarding time the truck is running? I've got a 14,000lb trailer I need to tow as soon as possible so I'm debating whether I should be putting 300 miles or so on per day for the next 3 or 4 days. No doubt that would require 3 or 4 hours of constant driving. Wondering if that will harm the truck.

Boring, yes, worth getting the new toy hauler on the road, absolutely!

[sicaj]

My '08 has 250 miles on it.I towed with it today,I made sure I didn't stay at one specific speed for too long.3hrs round trip.I believe in breaking in a truck the way it is going to be driven daily!To each his own! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[newbie_101]

4613, how much weight are you pulling?

[montanafan]

I think the manual says to put 500 miles on it before towing. My dealer recommended an oil change at 1000 miles. I would have done that anyway. I have built several gassers and have always abided by what used to be gospel: avoid low gear or unloaded revving. Do NOT cause the engine to rev up rapidly. Low gear, hi Revs-no. High gear, heavy load OK. My 6.0 had about 1500 miles on it doing it this way, then I took a Montana trip, 500 miles at 95 MPH. Only got one ticket. Truck only has 42,000 miles on it, but has had zero problems, uses NO oil, original C-94 injectors and has plenty of power.
I suspect everyone has their own opinions and reasons for them, but my idea has always been to give the moving, mating parts time to polish without scoring or gouging. I have had good luck with quite a few engines this way.

[DirtFarmer]

[ QUOTE ]
Any comment regarding time the truck is running? I've got a 14,000lb trailer I need to tow as soon as possible so I'm debating whether I should be putting 300 miles or so on per day for the next 3 or 4 days. No doubt that would require 3 or 4 hours of constant driving. Wondering if that will harm the truck.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have never heard of any need to let her "rest" periodically during the break in. I'd say go out and spend as much time as necessary. Just avoid the temptation to rack up a bunch of miles by getting on the highway and setting the cruise...

Here's a question: When I bought my '01, I bought a little bottle of fuel treatment (from Ford) that was supposed to help "break in" the injectors!?!?! I don't remember hearing about that in years. I don't *think* that I'm dreaming about that...

Aha! My anal nature pays off: Here is some info I have from way back then:

[ QUOTE ]
injector break-in additive: #F8AZ-9C077-AA

[/ QUOTE ]

I wonder if it, or something like it is recommended for the 08's???

[sicaj]

[ QUOTE ]
4613, how much weight are you pulling?

[/ QUOTE ]I pulled about 9400 pounds today(trailer & horses)

[2008TTCC]

I was always told to break it in like you would drive it...

But for the first 500 miles I would take it easy...probably not go over 2k rpm and try not to use the breaks to stop let the engine stop itself, probably use Tow/Haul mode some to accomplish the engine breaking...then get the oil changed. For the next 1k-2k miles I would drive it like I would drive it (minus full throttle) and keep trying to stop without using the breaks and use Tow/Haul mode sometimes, do a little towing to get the engine hot...Change the oil. For the next 2k miles I would just drive it how you would drive it when it is 50k miles on the clock (towing, full throttle (in short burst), whatever)...then get the oil changed...After that use regular oil change intervals and drive her like normal...I would stay away from long idle periods until you get atleast 10k miles on the engine. And I would use Dino Oil until around you get to the regular change intervals, and then make the switch to synthetic... I am going to use diesel kleen fuel additive at every fill up as well...

I will probably do the parking lot idea a little as well as that seems like a good idea to get the cylinder pressure up to mate the rings to the wall...

[texashauler]

I changed my oil at 3K miles and the dealer thought I was nuts, said I was good for another 7k miles, but since I pull a toyhauler at 12K lbs, my idea (right or wrong), is to change the oil on a regular basis. Anyone else have thoughts is the dealer right, and did I waste my money?

[haul_n_horses2]

I changed mine (on my 7.3) after 500 miles. Call me crazy then.

[hitchup]

Our dealer said to wait til 5000 mi to do the first oil change. It doesn't have breakin oil, so he said we were good to go until then.

I thought manual said 1000 mi for towing, but don't have it in front of me to verify. We were well over that when we first towed.

[AllOutFirefighter13]

<font color="blue"> All ,

Keep in mind that the two main reasons for not towing for the first 1K miles is primarily for the differential gears and secondly, the brakes. The brakes should be good after about 200-250 miles, but the differentials need time to establish surfaces together. From information that I've gathered over the years, the engine should be broke in by placing the vehicle in Third (1:1), getting enough speed to reach 2K RPMs, going to WOT until the engine is near the redline or you're too scared to go any faster, letting off and coasting until the engine is back down to around 2K RPMS. This is to be repeated about 10 times. The theory behind this is that the cylinder pressure while under acceleration will force the rings against the cylinder walls, heating them up and shaving off the rough edges, and then cooling them down and lubricating by causing a vacuum on the combustion side of the cylinder which indirectly pulls oil that is thrown onto the cylinder walls around the ring packages (diesels are at a disadvantage b/c they don't meter air, so there's really no vacuum in the cylinder). But, doing this with a new vehicle places extra load on the drivetrain...namely the differentials. So what is a person to do. All we can do today is keep varying the speed, apply light to moderate loads, and avoid WOT take-offs. Us diesel owners are able to benefit from the longer break-in times, so as soon as the differentials have been "run in", I wouldn't hesitate to put the max load on her and drive it like I would any other vehicle. Diesels are made to be worked. When I first got mine, I ran her empty for about the first 20K miles. After that, I've towed various loads, but each time, she runs better, romps less, and actually picks up fuel mileage. First oil changes can be done anytime, but keep in mind that for atleast that first 5K miles, if not more, the engine parts will be wearing together, and that means that there will be shavings in the oil, BUT, it is the job of the filter to remove those. Good luck!

Later, </font>

[newbie_101]

Empty for 20k miles? Yikes, I wish that was an option.

Great explaination by the way!