New truck break-in

Cpl_Punishment · March 17, 2020

1 hour ago, zelmo said:

I hadn't thought of those possibilities. Any of them would kill the deal for me.

Same dealer has a very similar 2020 on the lot with 5 miles on it. The difference in price is $2200. It might be worth that for my peace of mind.

I'd go for the 2020 but in the end it's your money and your ride.

KARNUT · March 17, 2020

My wife was looking for a bigger car about 8 years ago. She keeps her car for awhile. I was glad she was looking bigger. Generally we go with leftovers or CPO. Usually buying those you get longer warranty’s or deals on extended, weird put true. She came upon a vehicle with 1000 miles on it a CPO. A Genesis 2011 at the end of the model year. It’s been the best car we’ve owned to date. I’ve pretty much bought most my new trucks that way. There’s been exceptions 94 Impala ss, 01 Acura type r, 06 trailblazer ss. Those vehicles have or will bring me better returns than normal. Otherwise I’m all for saving money.

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JimCost2014 · March 17, 2020

4 hours ago, zelmo said:

I am 67 and have always bought new, followed the recommended break-in, and kept them about 10 years. I would guess this would be about 10 cars between my wife and I.

I am asking the question because I can buy a 2019 1500 Sierra at a big discount, but it has 1100 miles on it. Salesman said no break-in required. When I showed him the manual he just said the owner had used it. I really doubt the correct procedure was followed.

I think I would be ok with that as long as it wasn't used for towing.

If you have doubts about the truck before you even buy it, you will always be looking and listening for problems, rather than enjoying it.

$2200.00 dollars is really not worth it if you are not sure, buy a "brand" new one.

zelmo · March 17, 2020

3 minutes ago, JimCost2014 said:

If you have doubts about the truck before you even buy it, you will always be looking and listening for problems, rather than enjoying it.

$2200.00 dollars is really not worth it if you are not sure, buy a "brand" new one.

Actually it is more like $3000. To make a comparison of the deal I was offered I backed out the difference in the MSRP from the 2019 to the 2020.

JimCost2014 · March 17, 2020

2 minutes ago, zelmo said:

Actually it is more like $3000. To make a comparison of the deal I was offered I backed out the difference in the MSRP from the 2019 to the 2020.

Ultimately, no one can make this decision for you.

We can offer opinions, past experiences, and some general BS stories, but no one here knows how the truck was driven.

If you really like it, ask if you can do an overnight demo. That way you can put some miles on it like you would normally drive, to get a feel for the truck, listening for odd noises, the way it accelerates, stops and so on.

If it checks out, and you feel comfortable with it, buy it, you will have a full warranty if something does fail.

Good luck, and let us know what you decide.

Grumpy Bear · March 17, 2020

13 hours ago, zelmo said:

I know that I am strange. I often read the manual for things before I buy them to be sure I don’t have any surprises.

Vehicles are on the list of items I research thoroughly before purchasing. The manuals for these trucks have always said for the first 500 miles don’t tow and to keep it under 55 mph. After that keep it under 55 for the first 500 miles of towing. Over the years I haven’t come across any car salesmen who know that.

I doubt that most buyers know that either. That leads me to believe most new trucks are not treated that way. The wording in the manual says it will perform better in the long run if these guidelines are followed.

1.) How important is this? 2.) What does perform better in the long run mean?

1.) This isn't this topics first rodeo and in every case you get pages of 'life experiences' and opinion. When and if the science is brought into the discussion it is drown in 'life experiences' and opinion, ridicule and laughter. Thing about science is, it doesn't respond to any of that. People do. People who don't want to be bothered with it. Who don't understand it. That, and most importantly, never own anything long enough for the "long run' to matter. We are in a throwaway world now where the importance of such things matter little as long as we are not to inconvenienced. Importance has been relegated to a preference. Question you have to ask yourself is, what is your preference. Opinions or science (facts).

2.) For some the long run is three to five years. A few twelve months. You've made note that in your case it means ten years and in my case as long as I can keep it on the road. I expect the phrase as GM intended is for individuals that buy and hold longer than the first two who make up the majority of those who offer opinion and life experience as answers to question one. For me, it's a driveline that is trouble free enough at 250K for me to smile and say....she's just getting broke-in.

Drivelines are made from machined parts and this will always be true until motors learn to procreate. Machined finishes are not running finishes. Another name for 'break-in' in 'running in'. It's a phrase that is more accurate. There is no such thing as a machined surface being the same as a run in surface. There are a few manufactures on a few select products that run the motor in on a dyno. GM is not one of these. They do get a short NG fueled...will it start, not leak and hold oil pressure 'firing'. That is not run in.

BlancoSilverado · March 17, 2020

For Break-in I follow the baby rule. I plan on keeping this truck for 20+ years.

Change the oil engine oil at 500,1000,2000,5000, then 5000 miles from then on.

try to keep it under 3,000RPM for the first 500miles.

NO TOWING for 2,000 miles

I also will be doing;

Change the diff fluid at 10,000,30,000, then every 30k after.

Trans at 30,000,60,000,90,000.....

KARNUT · March 17, 2020

My response to this thread is not meant to be counter productive. Myself as well as the family business have dealt with many vehicles. Cars, trucks, mostly on the performance side. We have vehicles that are old, non over 300K miles. Even my 30 year old truck and my 18 year old truck have under 180K miles. I guess if I was to plan to put more than 300K miles on it ( I wouldn’t ) I guess I go buy the book. Hell I’d put a pre oil system on it and plug it in. But unfortunately the electronics will go and the emissions probably will put them in the junk yard first. Usually I’m the hardest during test driving them. Once I go through the testing the limits stage after purchase. I tend to ease up for the long haul. Totally opposite of what the book says.

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zelmo · March 17, 2020

I realize that asking any question on the internet will elicit many responses, some (perhaps many) will be strictly opinions with no basis in facts. That is ok as real life experiences can be helpful.

Occasionally you get a response from someone who knows the inside scoop. I would love to know the logic behind GM putting that verbiage in the manual.

bshort · March 17, 2020

2 hours ago, BlancoSilverado said:

For Break-in I follow the baby rule. I plan on keeping this truck for 20+ years.

Change the oil engine oil at 500,1000,2000,5000, then 5000 miles from then on.

try to keep it under 3,000RPM for the first 500miles.

NO TOWING for 2,000 miles

I also will be doing;

Change the diff fluid at 10,000,30,000, then every 30k after.

Trans at 30,000,60,000,90,000.....

Absolutely unnecessary. Not even remotely sound advice.

BlancoSilverado · March 17, 2020

4 minutes ago, bshort said:

Absolutely unnecessary. Not even remotely sound advice.

This is what i do with new vehicles and always made it to 200,000miles.

2004 suburban (210,000 miles) , 1995 nissan 240sx(now at 244,000miles). 2005 GMC canyon (sold @195,000 miles, but replaced the head twice).

bshort · March 17, 2020

6 minutes ago, BlancoSilverado said:

This is what i do with new vehicles and always made it to 200,000miles.

2004 suburban (210,000 miles) , 1995 nissan 240sx(now at 244,000miles). 2005 GMC canyon (sold @195,000 miles, but replaced the head twice).

And they all could've made it on normal maintenance intervals.