Right Way To Break In

urbancowboy · April 9, 2008

Picking up my truck tomorrow in minneapolis and have to drive home 350 miles, so whats the best way to break it in. the speed is 70 mph home, do i drive that, under, over, ? read a thread saying to down shift every once in a while, helps break it in...don't think i can drive 55 mph most of the way. looking forward to tomorrow. also should i break it with higher octane fuel, its a flex fuel alumminum 5.3 liter block. also should i change the oil at 1k....

jrrod2004 · April 9, 2008

For me, I would drive it slower and let the engine become accustomed to the loads.....keep your speed constant and as each week goes by, take it up by 5MPH. I would actually change the oil within the first 500 miles and then change it again at 1000 miles. As for the fuel, it does not matter to me.....all of this is based on the opinions of me, others WILL vary

FREAKENHYE · April 9, 2008

The last three 8 i had and currently have 2 from the last 8, i just sat in it and drove it off, didnt care. Not one problem from the vehicles.

ws6_guy · April 9, 2008

Take the trip at 60mph, keep it on cruise control, & along with the things M. Cueva stated and you will be all set

Bish · April 9, 2008

I always thought it was bad to run at a constant speed during break-in or running it much over 60. I would vary your highway speed as opposed to setting the cruise. You want some type of loading to seat the rings. Idling and maintaining a constant rpm is supposedly not good.

As others have said there are opinions all over the place. On my off-road race bikes, I will do 3 heat cycles where I start it, run it up to temp, drive down the street with moderate acceleration, let it cool completely, and repeat 3 times. Once this is done I ride it like I stole it. Not sure if it relates to an automobile though.

jrrod2004 · April 9, 2008

with these new trucks (AFM, VVT) and the 'all new' parts. I would not push it

jrrod2004 · April 9, 2008

This thread will generate more opinions than dino vs synthetic (sorry to the one that I stole that line from)

sam5828 · April 9, 2008

Drive it like you stole it, been working for me for years on everything i own. never any problems. actually run better then one babied

redvett · April 9, 2008

Remember modern day engines are NOT hot tested, they run under there own power at the assembly plant after the gas has been put in so when you get your new vehicle is only got 2-3 miles on it. Drive it easy when new will result in Long life. As for octane use what your owners manual recommends.

sam5828 · April 9, 2008

Remember modern day engines are NOT hot tested, they run under there own power at the assembly plant after the gas has been put in so when you get your new vehicle is only got 2-3 miles on it. Drive it easy when new will result in Long life. As for octane use what your owners manual recommends.

but you have remember they idle alot and them miles they have on them are hard miles. they get the shit beat out of them being loaded and unloaded from the ships and rail cars

Darkanion · April 9, 2008

As far as driving goes... When I got mine, I just drove it. I might have babied it "a little," that first 500-1000 miles, but not much -- if any. Just drive it like you plan to drive it. Get it used to how you drive, not some pre-determined, "this is how you're 'supposed' to do it" thing you read in the internet.

Someone mentioned the all new parts and not pushing it... I don't mean to be contrary or anything, but... It's got a warranty on it. I'm not saying take it to the drags, first thing. But, if something breaks, take it back and make 'em fix it! If it's going to break at 500 miles of "normal" driving, it'll probably break at 1000 miles of babying it around...?

Also... When I got mine out on the road, I varied the speed. I'd drive along at 65/70 for a while, then 75/80 for a while, then 60/65 for a while.. Change it up, just like you normally would, if it wasn't brand-spankin'-new (unless, of course, you normally get on the freeway and set the cruise and let it run like that all day).

As far as the gas goes... I'd use whatever you plan to put in it. If your plan is to run E85, put E85 in it. If your plan is to run "regular" unleaded, then do that.. If you plan to use whatever's convenient, then run a tank of one and then a tank of the other.

But, that's just my opinion... I'm sure there are LOTS of other, differing opinions out there. The bottom line is there probably isn't "one" right way to do it or the manufacturers would tell you exactly what to do and how to do it and they'd put a little black box in there to make sure you do it that way... and, if you don't, OnStar would phone-home and they'd void the warranty...

cambo · April 9, 2008

Remember modern day engines are NOT hot tested, they run under there own power at the assembly plant after the gas has been put in so when you get your new vehicle is only got 2-3 miles on it. Drive it easy when new will result in Long life. As for octane use what your owners manual recommends.

but you have remember they idle alot and them miles they have on them are hard miles. they get the shit beat out of them being loaded and unloaded from the ships and rail cars

I should know, when I take cars off the semis to be lot prepped I give them all hell. But then again its a Toyota and I don't really care.

redvett · April 9, 2008

Remember modern day engines are NOT hot tested, they run under there own power at the assembly plant after the gas has been put in so when you get your new vehicle is only got 2-3 miles on it. Drive it easy when new will result in Long life. As for octane use what your owners manual recommends.

but you have remember they idle alot and them miles they have on them are hard miles. they get the shit beat out of them being loaded and unloaded from the ships and rail cars

Factory inital gas fill is three gallons, there not going to let them idle or run them hard at all.

sam5828 · April 9, 2008

Remember modern day engines are NOT hot tested, they run under there own power at the assembly plant after the gas has been put in so when you get your new vehicle is only got 2-3 miles on it. Drive it easy when new will result in Long life. As for octane use what your owners manual recommends.

but you have remember they idle alot and them miles they have on them are hard miles. they get the shit beat out of them being loaded and unloaded from the ships and rail cars

Factory inital gas fill is three gallons, there not going to let them idle or run them hard at all.

lol wanna bet i work for a rail yard that loads and unloads them the guys that work on that side of the yard beat the hell out of them. watched a guy one day jump in a new toyota/honda i forget fired it up slammed the gas to the floor then the brake to the floor as soon as he got close to the truck to load it. was kinda funny glad it wasnt going to be mine. and if they run out of gas the just put more in and bill it to the correct manufacturer