New 2010 2500 Engine Break In

[gnet158]

Hello boys and girls. I'm going to visit some family out of state and will looking and hopefully be buying a new 2010 Sierra 2500. My only concern is the engine break in procedure. The return trip is 500 miles on a new diesel engine (OUCH). I won't be towing anything and the load will be limited to my family and some luggage. Do I risk any damage traveling that far an a brand new engine? If not, any break in procedure you can recommend?

 

Thanks for your help!

[jro909]

read the owner's manuel, alot of folks blow off the break in period and down the road the motor starts having issues....i think gassers are something along the lines of for the first 500 miles don't tow, go over 55 mph,don't do wot starts...and not to drive at any set speed

[Shatterz]

My advice:

 

Just take it easy, drive whatever the speed limit is and vary your speed, going over 55 mph is not going to be an issue with any modern motor during the break in period, you are not going to harm a dam thing on that duramax, just the fact that you want to "break in" the engine and not harm the truck you are already ahead of 90% of the buyers out there. Heck we have several '10 duramax chassis cabs at work, when they where new they got service bodies put on them, got loaded down with equipment and got worked hard with only 100-200 miles on the clock. Now they are all between 20,000- 30,000 miles and still going strong.

[SWDoodle]

Back when I bought my 05, I had to haul some cattle to a pastuewhen the thing had like 500 miles on it. I was a little concerned because it was a lot of weight, but with 55K on her she still run fine. Actually some would argue that it's better to break an engine in hard rather than soft. I dunno, my 6.0 runs pretty darn good and she doesn't get babied.

[thearborbarber]

It's not so much to break in the engine but it's the drive line that has to get broke in. The gears in the rear end have to wear into eat other and that creates alot of heat.

[RaddHazzard]

+1 I think the engine can handle anything off the lot, but the rear end gets real hot at first couple hundred miles. Thats why i believe they dont want you to tow and put more load on the differential.

[2016 Sierra Owner]

read the owner's manuel, alot of folks blow off the break in period and down the road the motor starts having issues....i think gassers are something along the lines of for the first 500 miles don't tow, go over 55 mph,don't do wot starts...and not to drive at any set speed

 

What happens when you get a truck and it has to be picked up from another dealer? My truck was in another state and had 200+ miles on it when it was delivered. I don't know anything about the first 200 miles. Should I take it back and say you ruined my truck by driving it the first 200 miles not by the owners manual? That's what the 100K warranty is for.

[gnet158]

Thanks for the advice folks, if I'm lucky enough to score a 2010 D-MAX I'll keep it above 55 mph and vary my speed the whole way home.

[Chevyguy85]

you'll be fine. When dad bought his 2009 dmax last year his break in period was driving it the 1100+ miles home from texas where he bought it to orlando. a year later it runs fine and has over 11k on it. Just made the trip back to texas and will shortly be making the trip home again. In my family the only time we did the break in period was if we were towing and then we only did 55 like the manual says otherwise its game on and we've never had a problem with our trucks yet

[jro909]

the negative effects of a poor break in will show long after the warranty....i mean if your going to keep the truck for a long time then do it by the book, if you plan on keeping up with the jones and trading it in in a year then by all means full speed ahead captain...

[2016 Sierra Owner]

Nope not keeping up with the jones. I had my last truck for 8 1/2 years and only put 76K on it. Yes it is my only transportation too. I live 3 miles from work and only work 1/2 the year. I'll be up on the 5 year time limit before 100K.

 

As far as the OP. I don't think you will have any problem driving it back just keep it at hwy speed and it should be fine.

[gnet158]

the negative effects of a poor break in will show long after the warranty....i mean if your going to keep the truck for a long time then do it by the book, if you plan on keeping up with the jones and trading it in in a year then by all means full speed ahead captain...

 

I always follow the owners manual for all my vehicles, but may not have a choice in this case. I'm not keeping up with the Jones', but in a position to afford a D-MAX that doesn't use DEF (which I am not sure about, even with the performance gains).

[dogzapper]

Gnet,

 

One thing missing from the manual ... and that is for you to simply love and enjoy your new truck to the absolute fullest.

 

Good luck with her, my friend.

 

Steve

[uh6tdrvr]

i bought mine and the next day drove it 1200 miles on the interstate from tx to tn. With they tight tollerances you should be fine, just drive it like you are going to drive it. There are going to be a thousand different OPINIONS here but just do whatever you feel is best. Mine's a 5.3 but just as long as you dont get it hot or hold it to the rev limiter, you should be fine. My first oil change was at 2k to synthetic and the oil looked as good as it what i was putting in it. I can remember building engines and changing the oil at 100 miles and it look like it had 5k on it, these new motors are nothing like days of old but thats must my opinion

[gnet158]

Thanks for the opinions and advice!

 

 

Victory,

 

I do enjoy them to the fullest! Even if I don't find the one I want I'm still very blessed to be driving my 08.