New Truck

[SKelly]

As a new Cummins owner I am looking for any info, tips , advice on breaking in my 6 speed high output motor. As a Ford PSD owner (still have it) I can now say the Cummins is superior!

 

[5thram]

Congratulations! The owner's manual says your Cummins doesn't need a break in period. I'd say just drive conservatively for the first few thousand miles (stay off the rev limiter) and let'er warm up and cool off properly. Incedentally, if you've been reading the posts here on the TDR, you know you can expect your mileage to be mediocre until you get your truck broken in.

 

[DonBaggett]

Put a good load on it, or behind it, and work it. These great engines will love you for it. I have read posts that say you should drive them like you stole them, or at least like you rented it for the week-end

Don

 

[Oasis-3]

Load it and run the miles up.

H/O 6 speed Your not going to want to drive that other truck any more.

Load it and run the miles up. It's fun and your truck will love ya for it.

 

[Archive]

Yep. Good advice. I wouldn't rap it too tight for a bit, but heavy loads and miles are excellent. Also, always, not just in breakins, allow the Cummins to warm up and cool down!

 

[Rcpilotlv]

Good advice here, only thing to add is vary your throttle a little bit and have FUN! Cant wait till i get mine.....

 

[RustyJC]

OK, when the new 2002 3500 ETH/DEE comes in (next month, please), how long should I wait until I drag our 13,500 GVWR 5ver behind it?



Rusty

 

[Okie-Go]

I bought my truck and drove it 10 miles to the trailer park and hooked up the 5er. Pulled it nearly 1000 miles home to texas. I think it is the best thing I could have done for it. I did vary the speed every 30 minutes or so on the way home. All interstate all 4 lane. Had a good time.

 

[EMDDIESEL]

Dont forget to do an oil change around, 1k-2k miles to get rid of some of the break in lubes. No need to change the filter, just do the oil.

 

[ReggieRam]

Rusty-



If I were you, and I was once, I'd drive the new truck straight home and hook up the trailer and go. Towing right out of the gate is the best thing you can do for these engines. It'll shorten the break-in tremendously, and as you'll find out, your Cummins is happiest whenever it's towing. You'll also get lots of looks like this as you pass PSD's on every hill.



Have fun

 

[LStewart]

As everyone else says, drive it hard. Don't necessarily tear it up but rev it good and pull all you can. The clutch,motor, & trans. are made for it and none of the above will break in right if you don't work it hard when its new. I would have pulled 30,000 lbs. home from the dealer if I would have had a hitch. My brother pulled all the way from Abilene to Dallas when his 99' was new and it was the best thing he could have done; it has always run great; he did the same thing with his 96' and it was the same way. The motor loves to be worked hard.

 

[rono]

I hardly ever pull anything and I've got just over 26k on mine since last November and it is just now breaking in. It sounds smoother and the milage has gone up about 2+ mpg. for the since the last 2 tanks.

 

[Puff]

Everyone forgets about the axle gears. You should break these in before towing. Opinions vary, but 300-1000 miles of easy driving is needed for this. Try to avoid long high-speed stretches. What is bad for new gears is high, prolonged heat.

 

[Steve M]

Just bought my third new Dodge Cummins today. I plan to drive it around town mixed with highway and at the end of the month it gets the 5th wheel for a thousand mile run. The motor loves to work and a good workout will make it run better but like PuffO1 says, the rest of the driveline needs to be worn in properly. Just the same, I brought my 95 home from the dealer and loaded up the TT for a trip the next morning. That was a sweet running Cummins.

Now I need to change my signature.

2001 2500 QC long bed auto/3. 55 SLT and a whole lotta stuff!