Break-in methods
Take it out and beat the crap out of it. Back in January of 2005, I took delivery of my brand new Mustang GT with 20 miles on it. That was a Friday night. Due to the distance from dealership to home and going out to eat that night, it had right around 100 miles on it Saturday morning. I got up the next day, started it up, let it warm up then took it out and beat the crap out of it. Multiple redline shifts, rev limiter hits over and over. I figured if it was gonna break, let's do it under warranty! It had 145K on the clock when I traded it for the F150 and only 1 major engine repair at 75K miles - nothing before and nothing after.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 281
Likes: 147
Sadly, some trucks have the "break in" done already. It is very common for lot drivers, delivery drivers, and dealers to let them idle. I test drove a truck with 34 miles and 8 engine idle hours! If you can look at the IPC/ dash and check the idle hours.
I bought an RV with 500 miles and the engine had run for 33 hours. I'm assuming the coach builder had idled it forever during assembly. Idle isn't exactly anyone's idea of a break in, but the vast majority are just fine even with hours of just sitting. Its data that we didn't get before these fancy dash features.
I bought an RV with 500 miles and the engine had run for 33 hours. I'm assuming the coach builder had idled it forever during assembly. Idle isn't exactly anyone's idea of a break in, but the vast majority are just fine even with hours of just sitting. Its data that we didn't get before these fancy dash features.
5 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 345
Likes: 36
Sadly, some trucks have the "break in" done already. It is very common for lot drivers, delivery drivers, and dealers to let them idle. I test drove a truck with 34 miles and 8 engine idle hours! If you can look at the IPC/ dash and check the idle hours.
I bought an RV with 500 miles and the engine had run for 33 hours. I'm assuming the coach builder had idled it forever during assembly. Idle isn't exactly anyone's idea of a break in, but the vast majority are just fine even with hours of just sitting. Its data that we didn't get before these fancy dash features.
I bought an RV with 500 miles and the engine had run for 33 hours. I'm assuming the coach builder had idled it forever during assembly. Idle isn't exactly anyone's idea of a break in, but the vast majority are just fine even with hours of just sitting. Its data that we didn't get before these fancy dash features.
Socially Inept
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 62
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From: Ozarks
I drive 1000 miles, stepping on it kind of heavy once every couple hundred miles, then have the oil and filter changed. I do exactly the same thing for another 2000 miles and have the oil and filter changed. From then forward I have the oil and filter changed every 3000, I use Ford 5w 20 synthetic blend.
5 Year Member
Joined: Jul 2015
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From: Durham, NC
I deliberately accelerated hard taking the engine up to about 4500RPMs, followed by using manual shift braking with engine compression.
This goes along with cylinder pressure / vacuum previously posted.
This goes along with cylinder pressure / vacuum previously posted.
5 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2012
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Just drive it. Don't tow, haul a heavy load, or drag race it for the first 1000 miles, and vary the speed a little and it will be fine. I tend to use cruise a lot since I do a lot of highway driving, and have done it in most of my vehicles and never had any engine issues.