Breakin-did I botch it?

[JRyan]

I just signed papers on a 2006 3500 dually QC w/ automatic (trading up from a 2500). I'm supposed to take delivery tonight but just realized we are going on vaction in 4 days, pulling a 8,000 (loaded) fifth wheel. I recall the owner's manual (and posts) here recommend against towing heavy for the first 500 miles and there is no way I can put 500 miles on it before we leave. Common sense tells me the 8,500 is in the "heavy" category.



Am I out of options (short of trying to tank the deal)? BTW, the vaction trip destination is about 120 miles away on a state road w/ some stop lights.



Thanks for any input or confirming the inevitable-tank the deal or tank vaction.

 

[gonzo2]

You will be fine taking the vacation. Go for a couple of good cruises if possible but I wouldn't worry too much about it. Many trucks have been broke in with bigger loading over longer drives right away.

The 500 miles is really for the rear end so just take it easy and enjoy your Holiday.

 

[nickleinonen]

best way to break in the engine is to load it up as soon as it is at operating temprature. for the trans and diff's it is better to drive around town stop/go driving through all the gears and making turns both ways. .

 

[JRyan]

What exactly is being broken in on the rear end (it's a 4:10)? Also, for the second leg of the trip (about another 150 miles) I have a choice of state roads w/ some traffic lights or interstate (where I can still vary speed but no lights), what would be easiest/best for the rear end break in given we would be towing the fifth wheel?



Thanks for the input so far.

 

[betterthanstock]

What exactly is being broken in on the rear end (it's a 4:10)? Also, for the second leg of the trip (about another 150 miles) I have a choice of state roads w/ some traffic lights or interstate (where I can still vary speed but no lights), what would be easiest/best for the rear end break in given we would be towing the fifth wheel?



Thanks for the input so far.

The state roads are easier on it. When new, the pinions do not fully contact each other, and the high spots will get very hot. So avoid sustained high speed towing in hot weather. Better yet, take it out for a few minutes empty at high speed, to put a moderate load on first, before the full towing load. Don't touch the hot differential when towing, it may burn your hands.

 

[MMcdonough]

The ring and pinion are wearing against one another. During the initial period, final hardness and surface conditioning has not been reached yet. As a result, extra heat is generated during the break-in period. The suggested break-in process involves varying the speed. I'd want as many miles as possible before towing... make some short trips of varying speeds and distances with cool down periods between each. I usually try to make the first run 15-30 minutes of moderate speed and load then an hour + cooling before repeating.

 

[JStrasser]

In theory I agree with a break-in process for the rear end gears. Makes sense to me and since I had the time, I did go about 500 miles before towing.



BUT



How many companies buy these trucks for business use and have the luxury of breaking a truck in? Probably very, very few. They buy them and put them into service right away. And they drive these trucks for years and hundreds of thousands of miles again probably with very few problems- and employees aren't treating these trucks anywhere as well as we do.



If I was in your situation, I would drive some miles before you leave for vacation, then hook up the trailer and go. And don't worry- have FUN with your new truck!!



John

 

[MRosinski]

I drove my 05' straight home and installed my plow frame and salter. Then went straight to work with 18 miles on it With over 44K of plowing, moderate to heavy towing, and runnin it hard every day she has only had a cp3 replaced at 30some thousand miles. Under stock power, the harder you run them the smoother they run

 

[JERRYKAM]

Do what you will, however many of the replies you have received, in my estimation are oversimplifying the issue.



If you perform a forum search using my user name "JERRYKAM" and read the post titled "How to PROPERLY break in a diesel engine" you will gain insight into the technical issues related to proper breakin.



Make your own decision, but do a bit of research and make an informed decsion based on fact, not one based on what others "think".



JerryK

 

[phloop]

Doesn't it bother any one other than me that term being used is break in? I prefer to run in my new engines. Helps keep the black cloud away :-laf

 

[JRyan]

Thanks to all who replied but it seems the whole damn issue may be moot. The dealer called me and said they can't find the truck! Long story short, it seems they sold it to someone else at the same time it was being sold to me, although the dealer procedures apparently should prevent this. Oh well, now it's head butting time with the dealer. At least I will now have more time to contemplate the breakin issue. I do know that on my current 2500 (2004 model year) I used a light load (2,000 lb trailer) for the first 500 to 1000 miles (but I didn't baby it) then hooked up the 8,000 lb RV and towed mostly in the Pennsylvania mountains. At 11,000 miles, my mileage (empty) is finally gettintg to the 20-21 mpg point. Good, bad, right, wrong, better milage came too late, I don't know. With a little common sense, I'm not sure if there is really a wrong answer.



Anyway, thanks again for the help.

 

[DAmes]

One additional point regarding '06 Dodge manual recommendations for engine breakin: it says not to exceed 50mph the first 500 miles of towing. I have 2000 miles on my one month old 06 48RE 3/4T LB Quad cab, and am scheduled to pick up our first RV-- 30 ft fifth wheel, approx 10k lb ---in 2 weeks. There is no way I see to drive Interstate 5 600 miles from OR to CA at 50mph and not get run over by the big guys.



Can anyone enlighten me on the importance to adhering to this 50mph for 500 mi of towing deal? I'm new to all this RV and HD towing. I recently sold my '92 Dodge Cummins which I used for my bumper pull horse trailer.



Thanks in advance.

 

[pwr2tow]

it says not to exceed 50mph the first 500 miles of towing. Thanks in advance.

The procedure you just described from the owners manual is for the gear run-in. That's why it's there and you should adhere to it when towing.

 

[WhiteSheep]

It is important to follow the break-in procedure for the differentials. The 4x4 shop where I have had several differentials rebuilt on my non RAM hunting truck has horror stories about people not breaking in new gears.



That being said, it really is hard to drive 50 mph for 500 miles. I have broken in all of our family's new vehicles because the wife can't go that slow



With all the other time and money we spend on our trucks, we should grit our teeth and drive the first 500 slow. This is way nicer to your AAM than a $250 high capacity powder coated differential cover we, myself included, all covet.

 

[AMink]

Good info here. I just picked up my MC last Thursday. I'll get the 500 miles in easily. Then we tow to Washington on Sunday the 9th. It will be hard to go 50 mph for 500 miles! I fear getting run over by a Kenworth, or worse yet, being laughed at by a PSD or D/A thinking my Cummins is a wimp! On the other hand, we'll be travelling with my buddy who has a 37' motorhome, so maybe 50 mph can be HIS fault!

 

[Sled Dog]

I just signed papers on a 2006 3500 dually QC w/ automatic (trading up from a 2500). I'm supposed to take delivery tonight but just realized we are going on vaction in 4 days, pulling a 8,000 (loaded) fifth wheel. I recall the owner's manual (and posts) here recommend against towing heavy for the first 500 miles and there is no way I can put 500 miles on it before we leave. Common sense tells me the 8,500 is in the "heavy" category.



Am I out of options (short of trying to tank the deal)? BTW, the vaction trip destination is about 120 miles away on a state road w/ some stop lights.



Thanks for any input or confirming the inevitable-tank the deal or tank vaction.

So what about all those trucks sold off the lot, with a couple hundred miles in test drives? You know good and well those folks went to whipping and spurring just as soon as they were outta sight of the dealer. :-laf

Around here the salesman does not go on test drives. I know I was impressed how fast a Cummins would get to 95.

 

[TX Gooseneck]

When I bought my 04. 5 I was heading to AZ with my 93 when the transmission decided to give up the ghost. I had the dealer install a brake controller, b&w and rolled out of their lot with a 32k gross load. Truck now has almost 250k on it. Drive it like you always will and have no worries.