Engine Breakin
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 549
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From: Coastal NC
My truck had ~60 miles at delivery in February. I picked it up at night, and the next day had to drive to upstate New York, and to western CT (from central MA). The following week I had a business trip up and around Vermont. So I quickly had over a thousand highway miles on it. I tried to vary the throttle and not let it lug. If you're on the highway, it's easy enough to use the thumb button to downshift to fifth. No issues so far, at 8200 miles now.
Member
Joined: Jun 2015
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Engine Breakin
Also avoid excessive idling. 5-10 minutes here and there ok but should avoid bringing pets and idling while shopping or something like that.
May cause premature engine issues and doesn't help break in at all
May cause premature engine issues and doesn't help break in at all
Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 75
Likes: 51
Engine Breakin
Originally Posted by MNFX4eco
Wow, I didn't know that you shouldn't use cruise control, I've had mine a week and use cruise every day on the highway - for the next 600 miles I won't use it I suppose
Last edited by FO RD; Jul 8, 2015 at 06:34 PM.
Thread Starter
5 Year Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,642
Likes: 651
From: Durham, NC
Just got a new one too. As for not lugging it, I don't think you really can hurt it with the automatic. Remember, these manuals are generic. It mentions shifting early, so I'd guess it's hinting towards a manual. And if that's the case then you can lug the engine in s high gear in a manual. In an automatic, it just downshifts. As for not flooring the engine, how many of you took test drives? Did you floor it? I know I did on every test drive I went on. Several times. Maybe you got one straight from the factory with 0 miles on it, but if not you can make a safe bet the engine was gunned a time or two. I am trying to take it easy. Not flooring it often, and not setting the cruise for too long without getting off at an exit or something. As for towing, I'm skipping the boat trip today because I'm still at 300 miles, but I'll probably tow it before I hit 1000. It's not that heavy, and I don't tow that far. But every situation is different. Remember, it's not only the engine that needs broken in. Also brakes, gears, even the tires, and I'm sure many other things such as sensors to calibrate and on and on. My advice would be to just use your best judgment. You know what the manual says, but the only "solid" statement is towing. Don't go too fast. Well what is too fast? Don't lug the engine excessively. Same thing. They are subjective. 1000 miles is pretty easy to determine.
Probably a little more that $.02, but that's my take on it
Probably a little more that $.02, but that's my take on it
This is why I asked about using sport mode. I would think this would keep the engine from lugging, and keep the RPMs up.
Thank you all for your posts, and suggestions! Very good discussion!
Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 75
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It's not just keeping the rpm's up, you want to vary the rpms and engine load (acceleration). If you want to mash the go pedal, no problem. I just drive it like I intend on driving it all the time, just don't use cruise and vary speeds up and down. It's like stop and go traffic just at highway speed. You can use whatever mode you want the principal is the same.
5 Year Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 272
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From: Mt Pleasant, PA
The manual does not say anything about lugging the engine. It says not to labor the engine. This means light throttle so it keeps the RPM's low and quickly shifts into the next gear. Sport mode would do the opposite of what is suggested in the manual.
Below is from the online PDF manual.
BREAKING-IN
You need to break in new tires for
approximately 300 miles (480
kilometers). During this time, your vehicle
may exhibit some unusual driving
characteristics.
Avoid driving too fast during the first 1000
miles (1600 kilometers). Vary your speed
frequently and change up through the
gears early. Do not labor the engine.
Do not tow during the first 1000 miles
(1600 kilometers).
Below is from the online PDF manual.
BREAKING-IN
You need to break in new tires for
approximately 300 miles (480
kilometers). During this time, your vehicle
may exhibit some unusual driving
characteristics.
Avoid driving too fast during the first 1000
miles (1600 kilometers). Vary your speed
frequently and change up through the
gears early. Do not labor the engine.
Do not tow during the first 1000 miles
(1600 kilometers).
Thread Starter
5 Year Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,642
Likes: 651
From: Durham, NC
The manual does not say anything about lugging the engine. It says not to labor the engine. This means light throttle so it keeps the RPM's low and quickly shifts into the next gear. Sport mode would do the opposite of what is suggested in the manual.
Below is from the online PDF manual.
BREAKING-IN
You need to break in new tires for
approximately 300 miles (480
kilometers). During this time, your vehicle
may exhibit some unusual driving
characteristics.
Avoid driving too fast during the first 1000
miles (1600 kilometers). Vary your speed
frequently and change up through the
gears early. Do not labor the engine.
Do not tow during the first 1000 miles
(1600 kilometers).
Below is from the online PDF manual.
BREAKING-IN
You need to break in new tires for
approximately 300 miles (480
kilometers). During this time, your vehicle
may exhibit some unusual driving
characteristics.
Avoid driving too fast during the first 1000
miles (1600 kilometers). Vary your speed
frequently and change up through the
gears early. Do not labor the engine.
Do not tow during the first 1000 miles
(1600 kilometers).
I don't know what motor you have and I can't give much input for the 1st 1000 miles, but after that, run the crap out of it! Back in summer of 2013 after a few thousand miles on my new '13 with the 5.0 and 3.55, I went on a 600+ mile round trip to the hilly finger lakes region in NY towing an 18' skii boat and a bed full of gear, and was running it hard to keep up with my convoy. After getting home and running the truck for the next couple weeks, the motor just felt stronger and I was getting +1MPG from before the trip.
Then in addition to that, about 20k miles later just this spring, I made a 1000+ mile round trip from NY to WV with a 18' dual axle trailer with 3 full size utility quads aboard. I let my buddy drive since he was better at trailering, and being in love with my 5.0 as opposed to his 4.6 in his '04, he beat the living **** out of my truck, with my permission of course... After that trip, once again the truck was running stronger than before and I have been averaging yet another + ~1.3MPG's ever since...
Then in addition to that, about 20k miles later just this spring, I made a 1000+ mile round trip from NY to WV with a 18' dual axle trailer with 3 full size utility quads aboard. I let my buddy drive since he was better at trailering, and being in love with my 5.0 as opposed to his 4.6 in his '04, he beat the living **** out of my truck, with my permission of course... After that trip, once again the truck was running stronger than before and I have been averaging yet another + ~1.3MPG's ever since...
Thread Starter
5 Year Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,642
Likes: 651
From: Durham, NC
I don't know what motor you have and I can't give much input for the 1st 1000 miles, but after that, run the crap out of it! Back in summer of 2013 after a few thousand miles on my new '13 with the 5.0 and 3.55, I went on a 600+ mile round trip to the hilly finger lakes region in NY towing an 18' skii boat and a bed full of gear, and was running it hard to keep up with my convoy. After getting home and running the truck for the next couple weeks, the motor just felt stronger and I was getting +1MPG from before the trip.
Then in addition to that, about 20k miles later just this spring, I made a 1000+ mile round trip from NY to WV with a 18' dual axle trailer with 3 full size utility quads aboard. I let my buddy drive since he was better at trailering, and being in love with my 5.0 as opposed to his 4.6 in his '04, he beat the living **** out of my truck, with my permission of course... After that trip, once again the truck was running stronger than before and I have been averaging yet another + ~1.3MPG's ever since...
Then in addition to that, about 20k miles later just this spring, I made a 1000+ mile round trip from NY to WV with a 18' dual axle trailer with 3 full size utility quads aboard. I let my buddy drive since he was better at trailering, and being in love with my 5.0 as opposed to his 4.6 in his '04, he beat the living **** out of my truck, with my permission of course... After that trip, once again the truck was running stronger than before and I have been averaging yet another + ~1.3MPG's ever since...