Break-In

[Cummins2014]

There seems to be some confusion on another forum on the break-in on the newer 6.7 Cummins. My manual on my 2014 states there is no break-in period . Certainly no caution about a 500 mile break-in , in my manual, towing section or otherwise as stated by a member. Its actually a mute point for me, but for others it should be clarified .

My manual actually states , and I quote :

* Light duty operation such as light trailer or no load operation will extend the time before the engine is at full efficiency . Reduced fuel economy and power may be seen at this time.

* Because of the construction of the Cummins turbocharged diesel engine, engine run-in is enhanced by loaded operating conditions which allow the engine parts to achieve final finish and fit during the first 6,000 miles ( 10,000 km )

Sounds to me like its better to put these trucks to work right off the bat.

 

[Newsa]

It's not for the Cummins. It's for the transmission and differential.

It's not in the diesel supplement. It's in the gasser manual

 

[RustyJC]

OP, if you're talking about the discussion on RV.net, I believe the above is precisely what I said.

Rusty

 

[Cummins2014]

OP, if you're talking about the discussion on RV.net, I believe the above is precisely what I said.

Rusty

It is, and I will ask again, please reference any of this in OUR owners manual, not something in a gasser manual which is not supplied with the diesel trucks, at least with my truck it wasn't.

 

[Cummins2014]

It's not for the Cummins. It's for the transmission and differential.

It's not in the diesel supplement. It's in the gasser manual

I have a manual for the Ram Diesels, if its for the transmission ,and differentials then it sure has no reference to it in my manual. I guess that is the confusion as far as I'm concerned. I will ask how would I even know if its not in MY manual, and if it even applies to the 6.7 diesel powered Rams

 

[RustyJC]

It is, and I will ask again, please reference any of this in OUR owners manual, not something in a gasser manual which is not supplied with the diesel trucks, at least with my truck it wasn't.

The 500 mile axle break-in referenced by Newsa was in my 1996 Ram 3500 manual, my 2002 Ram 3500 manual, and my 2011 Ram 3500 manual, all of which supplied general manuals with a diesel engine supplement. Nothing in the diesel engine supplement overrode the 500 mile recommendation shown.

If you have a 2016 truck, the recommendation has been dropped to 300 miles for the transmission and axle(s) and is shown on page 43 of the owner's manual (ref. transmission and axle). The break-in recommendations referenced on page 198 are for the Cummins 6.7L engine itself - they do not address (nor do they override) the 300 mile transmission and axle recommendation shown on page 43.

Rusty

 

[Bob4x4]

[h=1]Towing Requirements[/h]To promote proper break-in of your new vehicle drivetrain components the following guidelines are recommended:
CAUTION!:

• Do not tow a trailer at all during the first 500 miles (805 km) the new vehicle is driven. The engine, axle or other parts could be damaged.
  
• Then, during the first 500 miles (805 km) that a trailer is towed, do not drive over 50 mph (80 km/h) and do not make starts at full throttle. This helps the engine and other parts of the vehicle wear in at the heavier loads.

WARNING!


This is from my online serice info

 

[RustyJC]

Towing Requirements

To promote proper break-in of your new vehicle drivetrain components the following guidelines are recommended:
CAUTION!:

• Do not tow a trailer at all during the first 500 miles (805 km) the new vehicle is driven. The engine, axle or other parts could be damaged.
• Then, during the first 500 miles (805 km) that a trailer is towed, do not drive over 50 mph (80 km/h) and do not make starts at full throttle. This helps the engine and other parts of the vehicle wear in at the heavier loads.

WARNING!


This is from my online serice info

Point #1 - check. I bought the truck in Daphne, AL, and by the time I got back to the Houston area it had over 500 miles.
Point #2A - Ummm, nope. I'm sorry, but I don't have the guts to tow 500 miles in Texas, much of that on the Interstate, at under 50 MPH. You got me on that one.
Point #2B - check. I never start at full throttle when I'm towing. Why do I want to beat up on my equipment doing that?

Rusty

 

[Newsa]

The 500 mile axle break-in referenced by Newsa was in my 1996 Ram 3500 manual, my 2002 Ram 3500 manual, and my 2011 Ram 3500 manual, all of which supplied general manuals with a diesel engine supplement. Nothing in the diesel engine supplement overrode the 500 mile recommendation shown.

If you have a 2016 truck, the recommendation has been dropped to 300 miles for the transmission and axle(s) and is shown on page 43 of the owner's manual (ref. transmission and axle). The break-in recommendations referenced on page 198 are for the Cummins 6.7L engine itself - they do not address (nor do they override) the 300 mile transmission and axle recommendation shown on page 43.

Rusty

Yeah, in 2013, they didn’t have a separate diesel manual. (First year of def trucks) Just a gasser manual with a diesel supplenent.

 

[Cummins2014]

The 500 mile axle break-in referenced by Newsa was in my 1996 Ram 3500 manual, my 2002 Ram 3500 manual, and my 2011 Ram 3500 manual, all of which supplied general manuals with a diesel engine supplement. Nothing in the diesel engine supplement overrode the 500 mile recommendation shown.

If you have a 2016 truck, the recommendation has been dropped to 300 miles for the transmission and axle(s) and is shown on page 43 of the owner's manual (ref. transmission and axle). The break-in recommendations referenced on page 198 are for the Cummins 6.7L engine itself - they do not address (nor do they override) the 300 mile transmission and axle recommendation shown on page 43.

Rusty

I will try one more time. I have a 2014 Ram 3500 6.7 Cummins Megacab. I have a manual thats states nothing that you have referenced. From the 2014 to the 2016 manuals things have obviously changed. I will look one more time in MY manual to see if there is anything on transmission ,and axle break-in. I have no doubt about the break-in, but if say a new owner of the 2014's didn't know that ,and read what I read in my manual, it seems okay to just hook up ,and go with towing. Am I right or wrong ????????

 

[RustyJC]

I will try one more time. I have a 2014 Ram 3500 6.7 Cummins Megacab. I have a manual thats states nothing that you have referenced. From the 2014 to the 2016 manuals things have obviously changed. I will look one more time in MY manual to see if there is anything on transmission ,and axle break-in. I have no doubt about the break-in, but if say a new owner of the 2014's didn't know that ,and read what I read in my manual, it seems okay to just hook up ,and go with towing. Am I right or wrong ????????

I told you what was in a 2011 manual and a 2016 manual. Bob 4x4 (who is a Ram service tech) gave you the information he had. I have no idea what's in your 2014 manual - I don't have access to one.

Rusty

 

[Ram4Sam]

I will try one more time. I have a 2014 Ram 3500 6.7 Cummins Megacab. I have a manual thats states nothing that you have referenced. From the 2014 to the 2016 manuals things have obviously changed. I will look one more time in MY manual to see if there is anything on transmission ,and axle break-in. I have no doubt about the break-in, but if say a new owner of the 2014's didn't know that ,and read what I read in my manual, it seems okay to just hook up ,and go with towing. Am I right or wrong ????????

I guessing that you never called FCA and got the 800 +/- pages of other manuals that are available.........for free....

Sam

 

[Newsa]

I will try one more time. I have a 2014 Ram 3500 6.7 Cummins Megacab. I have a manual thats states nothing that you have referenced. From the 2014 to the 2016 manuals things have obviously changed. I will look one more time in MY manual to see if there is anything on transmission ,and axle break-in. I have no doubt about the break-in, but if say a new owner of the 2014's didn't know that ,and read what I read in my manual, it seems okay to just hook up ,and go with towing. Am I right or wrong ????????

I might get ripped a new hole for saying you are correct. But i would say you are correct. And the powertrain warranty will cover any axle/transmission problems that will probably show up before the warranty expires (even if you don't see the 500 mile break-in suggestion or don't have all the manual).

Seems like a waste not to follow the break-in suggestions if you become aware of them on this forum or by talking to someone who knows like Bob4x4. Seems like if you intentionally ignore the the 500 mile suggestion, you are taking a risk that is unnecessary? But if you do disregard or are uninformed, the warranty will still cover it.

 

[Newsa]

What is impressive to me is the Cummins is the only engine (each engine before leaving the Indiana manufacturing plant) that I am aware of in a consumer vehicle that doesn't need a break-in period. It has been tested thoroughly and put through many tests to ensure it meets quality standards before it is shipped to Mexico to be put in the assembled truck. And even after being tested so thoroughly for many hours, it still is expected to go 100,000+ miles farther/1000's of hours further than competing V8 diesels. And many of these Cummins actually go twice as far as the average competing diesels.

 

[MLee]

Cummins2014;
You must be from the SHOW-ME-STATE. Take some advice from the guys who know, of what they are trying to tell you, and saver it and be educated. Thats one reason we all belong to this site, gain what knowledge we can and use it to better ourselves. Look at the post that these guys have, they been around for a long time and are in the know.

 

[jhenderson]

You're wrong. Look in the towing section of your manual. No towing fo the first 500 miles. Differential break in.

 

[gsbrockman]

Towing Requirements

To promote proper break-in of your new vehicle drivetrain components the following guidelines are recommended:
CAUTION!:

• Do not tow a trailer at all during the first 500 miles (805 km) the new vehicle is driven. The engine, axle or other parts could be damaged.
• Then, during the first 500 miles (805 km) that a trailer is towed, do not drive over 50 mph (80 km/h) and do not make starts at full throttle. This helps the engine and other parts of the vehicle wear in at the heavier loads.

WARNING!


This is from my online serice info

This is verbatim from my 2014 RAM 1500 / 2500 / 3500 Owner's Manual (Fourth Edition, page 600) *AND* in my 2014 RAM Truck Diesel Supplement (First Edition, page 223).

 

[Bob4x4]

It all boils down to this,if you do everything in your power to do the right thing the odds are much better your truck will give you better service throughout its life.

 

[TCollier]

I will try one more time. I have a 2014 Ram 3500 6.7 Cummins Megacab. I have a manual thats states nothing that you have referenced. From the 2014 to the 2016 manuals things have obviously changed. I will look one more time in MY manual to see if there is anything on transmission ,and axle break-in. I have no doubt about the break-in, but if say a new owner of the 2014's didn't know that ,and read what I read in my manual, it seems okay to just hook up ,and go with towing. Am I right or wrong ????????

There is more than one manual for our trucks. You should have the general operators manual one AND the Diesel Supplement. The general one has the towing break in that everyone is referring to. You don't have all of your manuals.
From what I remember, there is the "speeds under 55mph for the first 50 miles" and the "full throttle operation" after that. Then there is the first 500 miles of towing thing.

 

[Cummins2014]

Cummins2014;
You must be from the SHOW-ME-STATE. Take some advice from the guys who know, of what they are trying to tell you, and saver it and be educated. Thats one reason we all belong to this site, gain what knowledge we can and use it to better ourselves. Look at the post that these guys have, they been around for a long time and are in the know.

Let me educate YOU here, I've had several NEW trucks, Always ,and I repeat ALWAYS I do at least 500 miles before towing heavy. My point was WHERE in my 2014 manual does it reference this 500 mile thing, it does not . There was a gentlemen on RV Net that stated in a post that there was no break-in required having the same manual as mine , and so I went looking ,and he was correct.

I will repeat for you ,and others there is nothing in a 2014 manual that states a 500 mile break-in . I didn't read my manual when I bought the truck as far as the break-in, I do what I always do vary my speed , and no heavy towing for at least 500 miles.