Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Break-In

[weatherbyman]

All,



I tried a search, but couldn't find anything, so here goes. Is there anything I should do with my new Cummins to break it in correctly? I am picking it up this weekend and would like to do it right.



Thanks in advance!

 

[Mactruck]

Run it hard

If you have something to tow, Tow it. These like to be broken in pulling.

I would also change the oil in about 1 to 2 thousand miles. Gets all that metal out of the motor. Use either the Cummins premium blue or Delo 400 with a Fleetguard stratapore oil filter.

The brands are my opinion, Just don't use synthetic until about 10 - 15 thousand miles

 

[Bob Wagner]

Hook it up to a load. The Cummins loves to drag heavy objects

 

[Bill_L]

What do you do if you do not have anything to two or pull with it?



I have about 850 miles on my truck so far and am a little worried about breaking it in right.



Should I just BOMB the hell out of it and not worry about break in?

 

[Goddard]

break in

congrads on the new truck! these guys are right, a little warm up time will not hurt at all. don't gouge on it hard until it gets up to temperature and let it cool down before you shut it down-this is mostly to save the turbo. other than that RUN IT!

enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!Oo.

 

[D White]

For the first 1000 miles or so try to vary your speed. If you'll be driving on the freeway much, don't just set the cruise and leave it there. Try every 10 minutes or so changing speeds, letting it run at different rpm's. I like to get that first oil drained at about 500 miles to. A lot of good oils out there, I like Mobile Delvac 1300. You can get it, along with Delo 400 or Rotella T at most Wal-Marts.



Enjoy,

Doug

 

[A Johnson]

Bill, these engines are ran on a dyno before being shipped to Chrysler, for all practical purposes it's broke in allready, run this baby like its the ford you can't stand. Your not going to hurt it. I would take the other guys advice about getting some coolant temp up before working too hard and letting it cool down before shutting it off.

 

[RonaldLarson]

Congrats!

By all means, tow or haul something with it. The sound of the engine under load is close to , well, you know.

The use of the Cummins (Mopar) Fleetguard oil and fuel filters is very important. Very few substitutes are safe in the engine.

Have fun!

Ron

 

[Shooter]

Originally posted by Bill_L

What do you do if you do not have anything to two or pull with it?

Should I just BOMB the hell out of it and not worry about break in?

Borrow/ rent a f/b car hauler ( U HAUL ), with your wifes car( Ford Pick up is best ) on it, take a day trip ( 500 +/- mi or so )head up to the mountains and have an enjoyable day. Just don't lug the engine, 1900 rpm or above. If an auto don't tow in overdrive.

 

[JJW_ND]

Factory Breakin ???

Unless something has changed since the last time I was CMEP in Columbus, they did start every engine, but only to check for leaks. No dyno run.



They do pull ever 1000th ( or some number) engine and run it in a test cell. Those don't leave for installs though.



I concure that pulling something really helps.



You will still break in the engine running empty. Even driving into a good head wind for hours on end will help.



Just enjoy your truck.



jjw

ND

 

[klenger]

I turned over 9000 miles yesterday, and have towed for about 3000 miles. It's starting to run nicely now. I've noticed better and smoother torque at low RMSs.

 

[weatherbyman]

THANKS Guys!!!!!

I appreciate your help and will follow your recommendations.

 

[CoreyPerez]

I'm glad to have found this thread. I talked to some old guy with a 24v'er also and told me "DON'T TOW WITH IT!!!" But the guy kind of seemed like an idot. His truck was all run down and not maintained for anything. (my 1st indication of maintenance is brake dust on the front wheels) this truck was awlful looking.



The conversation started because I was at Flying J in Clearfield UT fueling up and the guy was shaking his head and said that towing with a new diesel was the quickest way to destroy it.



Thanks for the info! I've been towing for atleast 300 miles out of the 1300 on the ticker...



Corey

 

[John Berger]

Just remember that your are also breaking in your transmission and rear end gears, seating brakes, etc.



Don't forget about the muffler bearing, either

 

[swampfox]

Breaking in a 24V

I have about 42,000 on my 2001. 5 When I first got it I didn't have anything heavy to tow. It took about 20,000 to break in. The first few thousand, my milage was 13-15 then it started to gradually incease. At 10,000 the motor seemed to run stronger. At 20,000 I picked up 1mpg. Currently I'm getting 19 mpg.

As others have said vary the speed for the first 1,000 or so miles, let it warm up a bit before you hit the freeway and let it cool down some before you shut it down. I changed oil (and filter) the first time at 1,000 miles, then changed oil and filter thereafter every 3,000 miles until 30,000. I'm now settling on a 4,000 mile oil and filter cycle. Also up here in Minnesota I run dino in the Summer and switch to synthetic from December to April. I am very satisfied with the 5. 9 HO. I've had zero problems with the engine or truck.

 

[ralphr]

Break in!

All good info, run it hard, tow and work it! but do not expect it to fully break in for a while. There all differant, but with mine it took only about 35K miles! One day whil;e running it the engine started to sound differant, can't explain exactly what, but at that point it was clear the engine had finally broke in! Good Luck you should really enjoy it!Oo.

 

[kcook]

Break in

The guys are right, you need to tow, reference this article, it's a good right up about breaking in a diesel.



http://www.ford-diesel.com/contents/getitems.php3?Breaking in a Diesel Engine