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Ask TFLTruck: How to Break-In Your Truck Engine? TFL’s Expert Guide (Video)

Truck engine working hard?

This week on AskTFL, we’ll tackle two different questions related to running your engine under heavy load.

For the first time ever, we answered them on camera! Take a look at the video for the explanation, or read on.

The first question comes from Ryan Allen, and seems to be a common one still found on forums on internet threads everywhere. How to break-in your truck engine?

I have seen and heard that you are supposed to break in an engine before doing anything hard like towing. Do you guys get alot of new test trucks and if so do you break them in? Is there a break in period anymore? How do you do it? I am asking about all engines but diesels specifically since I will be getting a new one this year. Thanks!

First off, when we get test trucks, they are always broken in for us. When manufacturers place vehicles on their press testing fleet, they put miles on them just to break them in.

And the short answer to your second question is, yes, there is still a break-in period. It differs by manufacturers, so the easiest way to check your own break-in period is by looking in your owner’s manual. Each process is listed slightly differently, but for the most part, every manufacturer recommends the same things.

Here are each manufacturer’s break-in suggestions, taken straight from the owner’s manual.

From the 2018 Chevy Colorado/2018 Chevy Silverado owner’s manual: 

  • Keep the vehicle speed at 88 km/h (55 mph) or less for the first 805 km (500 mi).
  • Do not drive at any one constant speed, fast or slow, for the first 805 km (500 mi).
  • Do not make full-throttle starts.
  • Avoid downshifting to brake or slow the vehicle.
  • Avoid making hard stops for the first 322 km (200 mi) or so. During this time the new brake linings are not yet broken in. Hard stops with new linings can mean premature wear and earlier replacement. Follow this breaking-in guideline every time you get new brake linings.
  • Do not tow a trailer during break-in.

From the 2018 Toyota Tundra and 2018 Toyota Tacoma owner’s manual: 

  • For the first 200 miles (300 km): Avoid sudden stops.
  • For the first 500 miles (800 km): Do not tow a trailer.
  • For the first 1000 miles (1600 km): Do not drive at extremely high speeds.
  • Avoid sudden acceleration.
  • Do not drive continuously in low gears.
  • Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods

From the 2018 Ram 1500/2500/3500 owner’s manual: 

  • A long break-in period is not required for the engine and drivetrain (transmission and axle) in your vehicle.
  • Drive moderately during the first 300 miles (500 km). After the initial 60 miles (100 km), speeds up to 50 or 55 mph (80 or 90 km/h) are desirable.
  • While cruising, brief full-throttle acceleration within the limits of local traffic laws contributes to a good break-in.
  • Wide-open throttle acceleration in low gear can be detrimental and should be avoided.
  • The engine oil installed in the engine at the factory is a high-quality energy conserving type lubricant. Oil changes should be consistent with anticipated climate conditions under which vehicle operations will occur. For the recommended viscosity and quality grades, refer to “Fluids And Lubricants” in “Technical Specifications”.
  • Do not tow a trailer at all during the first 500 miles (805 km) the new vehicle is driven. The engine, axle or other parts could be damaged.
  • Then, during the first 500 miles (805 km) that a trailer is towed, do not drive over 50 mph (80 km/h) and do not make starts at full throttle. This helps the engine and other parts of the vehicle wear in at the heavier loads.

From the 2019 Ford F-350 owner’s manual: 

  • You need to break in new tires for approximately 300 mi (480 km). During this time, your vehicle may exhibit some unusual driving characteristics.
  • Avoid driving too fast during the first 1,000 mi (1,600 km). Vary your speed frequently and change up through the gears early. Do not labor the engine.
  • Drive your new vehicle at least 1,000 mi (1,600 km) before towing a trailer. Make sure you use the specified engine oil. See Capacities and Specifications (page 424).
  • Do not add friction modifier compounds or special break-in oils during the first few thousand miles (kilometers) of operation. These additives may prevent piston ring seating.

From the 2018 Ford F-150 owner’s manual: 

  • You need to break in new tires for approximately 300 mi (480 km). During this time, your vehicle may exhibit some unusual driving characteristics.
  • Avoid driving too fast during the first 1000 mi (1,600 km).
  • Vary your speed frequently and change up through the gears early.
  • Do not labor the engine.
  • Do not tow during the first 1000 mi (1,600 km).

From the 2018 Nissan Titan owner’s manual: 

  • During the first 1,200 miles (2,000 km), follow these recommendations to obtain maximum engine performance and ensure the future reliability and economy of your new vehicle.
  • Failure to follow these recommendations may result in shortened engine life and reduced engine performance.
  • Avoid driving for long periods at constant speed, either fast or slow, and do not run the engine over 4,000 RPM.
  • Do not accelerate at full throttle in any gear.
  • Avoid quick starts.
  • Avoid hard braking as much as possible.
  • Do not tow a trailer for the first 500miles (805 kilometers). Your engine, axle or other parts could be damaged.

By now, you should see the pattern, and here are the basics. Don’t run your engine hard for long periods of time at the beginning, with no wide-open throttle starts (although Ram recommends brief full-throttle applications while cruising, just never from a standing start). Vary your speeds and don’t run at high speeds consistently for long periods. Don’t tow until the truck is broken in, usually at 500 or 1000 miles. Basically, keep the strain off your powertrain for the first 1000 miles in general.

And want proof that break-in is important? Acura breaks in every single engine that it puts into the NSX sports car before customers get them by running them at varying speeds for the equivalent of 150 miles, never exceeding 4000 rpm. So if you buy an NSX you can head straight to the track on day one because your engine is already broken in.

So ask yourself, if Acura didn’t think this was important, would they spend the time and money it takes to break-in every NSX engine?


 

The second question we’re tackling today is also about the engine of your truck, and comes to us from Matthew Medina.

I was always told never run your truck at high rpm’s for a long period of time.
Question: is it safe to run your truck for long periods of time at a high rpm?

Good question Matthew, and the answers we have received so far aren’t exactly cut and dry.

We asked the question of Sheldon Brown, Chief Engineer at Toyota Motor North America, to get his thoughts on running an engine at high rpms. “As a general rule the higher the rpm, the more wear, friction, heat, etc your entire drivetrain is subjected to. So as a rule of thumb, yes its good advice to follow with any automobile,” said Brown.

That’s the simple answer: running your engine at higher rpms will put it under more strain and therefor cause driveline components to wear out quicker. But it’s not entirely that simple. “That said there are circumstances like engine braking down a hill to avoid over heating the brakes. This is a good exception and advisable (assuming you are not bouncing the engine off the redline),” said Brown.

“In general we subject our engines to a lot of abuse during our testing to ensure their performance in the field, but like any machine, or good for that matter, the better you treat it the longer it is likely to last and preform as you expect.”

We also asked the same question of Ram, and got a similar response.

“‘A long time’ is a relative phrase. If by long time you mean three years, then yes that’s not a good idea. However, Ram tests trucks to run at the RPM limits in the harshest conditions for normal operating cycles. A good example is the Davis Dam run. The grade is rough and the heat makes it worse. We test Ram trucks to run the hill at max tow with foot to the floor the whole way up. Temps are in the 100s and the AC is blowing. Your oil change intervals my increase but the truck is engineered to tackle it.”

This makes even more sense if you watch the video clip of Ram engineers dynamometer testing a 5.7-liter HEMI (included in our video above). The engineers are able to run the engine in extreme conditions that a customer won’t even be able to achieve, as the dyno can push the engine from 0 rpm to redline almost instantly.

So here’s the answer: yes, your truck’s engine is designed and tested to run at high rpm’s for a long period of time. But it is also true that running it hard for longer periods of time will put more wear and tear on your engine.

If you do use your engine in extreme conditions regularly, consider doing more frequent oil changes and decreasing your intervals between services.