Break in period on 04.5

[hoverlover]

Ordered a new 04. 5 on 2-14-04 and was wondering what DC is recommending (by the book) to break in this new motor? Any help would be appreciated. I am trying to plan a good break in trip with or without new trailer. I sure wish I did not need a 3500 for my new trailer, I just got my 2500 where I want it! Oh well on and up!



99 for sale!

 

[EMD-Run8]

Amsoil told me 5,000 miles would be sufficient provided you're not putt-puttin' around.

 

[DPelletier]

Its recommended that you don't tow for the first 500mi. Break-in depends on how hard you use it, but you're good to haul/tow up to max capacity right away (after 500mi). Personally, I like to change the factory oil fill early, but do a search as their are lots of opinions on that! For switching to synthetic, I would wait until after the first scheduled oil change.



Dave

 

[CFenton]

On the 500 Miles recommendation

Two days after I picked up my '03 HO I conveniently had lunch (longer story) with a DC truck drive train engineer. This guy was out under my truck before I had a chance to ask him any questions. He clearly loved the stuff he worked on.



I asked him about the 500 mile towing limitation, since I was due for a trip out east the following week with our TT. He asked me how much I towed. Since my max (for now) is well under 5K, he laughed and said that would hardly make it sweat. He advised me to do some hard launches to set the bearings and enjoy the truck.



So to be safe 500 miles should be the norm, but if you a light enough, it shouldn't be an issue.

 

[JHardwick]

I've never chimed in on these "break in" threads and I may have done it wrong.



I drove mine just like I was gonna from day 1 ... ... ..... hard!



I do believe in getting the factory fluid out after a good hard "break in", because the initial "break in" is gonna produce more sludge (metal fragments) than at any other time during the operation of the truck.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

One good thing to do for the first couple hundred miles is vary the RPM as much as you can and use all the gears (in other words stay off the freeway). I barely touched 6th gear on mine during the first tank of fuel, and at stoplights ran the RPM up instead of letting it idle (another thing to avoid for the first couple hundred miles).



Don't baby it but don't drive it overly aggressively, some full throttle followed by letting it slow back down.



Just some of my suggestions



Vaughn

 

[Pawpaw]

Re: On the 500 Miles recommendation

Originally posted by CFenton

Two days after I picked up my '03 HO I conveniently had lunch (longer story) with a DC truck drive train engineer. This guy was out under my truck before I had a chance to ask him any questions. He clearly loved the stuff he worked on.

Now that's a story I'd like to hear... OK read.

 

[DPKetchum]

The break in is more important on differential's then engine. I followed the guide lines!

 

[hoverlover]

Thanks Guys!

It sounds like it is the same as my 99. I was wondering with all the wiz-bang stuff on the new motor if anything had changed. Thanks again!