I just bought my first Ford F150 today!! She's a pretty truck. I was so dazed by the dealer's paperwork, I forgot to ask any questions before I left!! The details of my purchase (and my question): I bought a 2000 Ford F150 XLT from a ford dealer.
He told me the truck had 2 owners (as confirmed by Carfax) and upon inspection I saw it looked nice -hardly any wear on things like the seats, break pedal, paint, etc. I could see the bed was used quite a bit, but was still in excellent condition. The only exception was someone had obviously put down the tailgate and backed into a pole, but the damage wasn't bad.

In addition the dealer explained the original engine had "blown". He told me he had a brand new ford 5.4 8 cyl. engine in the shop and since the truck was in such good condition, he had his maintenance guys install this brand new engine.

Since I just got the car today (Saturday) I made the deal contingent on my mechanic giving it the once-over on Monday.

My question is: I want to know how I must treat the engine during its "breaking in" period. Was this done at the factory? Do I need to do the usual (ie. change oil every 1000 miles, not cruise at a set speed for very long, etc.) or is a new engine, bought by a dealer directly from Ford already "broken in"?

Also, can I haul a load with this truck before the first 1000 miles? My daughter is moving in a few weeks and she wants to use the truck. I have soil to haul for my garden, etc. Can I do this?

Thank you for any opinions, or any directions to a web page that describes what is best to do in this case.

Thanks to all, Granny Moira

 

I would be weary if the bed of the truck was beat to snot... and a blown motor... Low miles or not, it tells you how it was driven or maintained. Granted, mine has some scratches, and had a bed liner in it, but the rest of the truck does show the same age as the rest, minus the interior. There are some scratches, some rust under the panels, etc...

Have your mechanic give it the once over first, from a different dealership, and then discuss the breakin with him.

Mine had low miles when I bought it at 123,000 for a 97.... What does this have?

 

Don't be affraid of the new engine. Just drive it normally. Wouldn't advise smoking tires with the load, just drive it at all speeds and engine RPM. DO NOT MAINTAIN ONE RPM OR HIGHWAY SPEED. Vary it around a little. The days of not going over 50MPH is such old school that its older than I am.

 

Granny,

There are several schools of thought on the "break-in" period of an engine.

The most common perhaps, or what I've always known to be true is that you don't drive over 55mph for the first 500-1000 miles, you don't tow or haul anything heavy in the bed, and you change the oil after the first 1000.

Many manufacturers nowadays have much closer tolerances than the days when the breakin was so vital, but I ALWAYS follow the traditional advice anytime I'm driving a new engine. I think you'll find that most knowledgeable car types will tell you the same thing.

I am sure we will get a response recommending the "heat cycle" type break-in an it does look promising with good data to back it up, but I have yet to be able to trust a brand new engine to that method.

Good luck!

 

Just drive it. No burnouts, powersliding, etc. Be smart.

 

Thanks to everyone who replied! No, I won't be doing any speeding, tire burns, etc. I really am a gramma, I just got the truck to haul compost for my garden, etc.
I bought the truck, but I have a contingency that if my mechanic finds something wrong, the deal is off (I may be old, but not senile. LOL). He's coming this afternoon to check it.
My old truck (dare I say it? Was a Chevy S10) that just didn't work for me. No room in the back to put the grandkids, made funny noises I found out was a bent drive shaft.
Oh, and the bed is fine - just a bit of normal wear and tear on the liner. It is about the same as the carpet, etc in the cab. Nicer than I would have thought for a 9 year old car, but who knows...the former owner probably didn't use it much? But it fits my needs..I don't drive a lot nowadays.

 

Should work out fine you, just see what your mechanic says.

Like you said, I doubt you will be lighting the tires up. Just drive it normally and you be fine, vary the speed a bit like Bill above said, that's about the only thing I'd offer for a suggestion.

 

You are the coolest granny ever. I've never seen an F-150 driving granny. Awesome.