Just got a 03 F-250 with the V-8 and 250 miles on it. I'm going on a fishing trip tomorrow and want to tow my boat of approx 2,000 lbs. Is this bad to do with a new truck?

 

I believe it would be. I read a book back in the late '80s written by an areonautical engineer for McDonnel Douglas. He tested the break in of gasoline engines. His recommended procedure was to not go over half throttle or over 2500 rpm vary the speeds for the first 600 miles. Change the oil at 600 miles and again at 1500 miles. He plotted graphs of the wear and the first 100 miles is the most critical. Between 100 and 600 miles, the graph flattens out and from 600 on the wear was to small to measure. I have followed this procedure on a half dozen new cars since then and none of the vehicles have used oil between changes during the first 100,000 miles.

Does it work? I don't know, but I figured he knows more about it than I do.

 

I'm certaily not an aeronautical engineer (that was tough just for me to spell) but, I'll tell you what I was told. This was told to me by a guy that runs a 600+ cubic inch race motor built by himself, among LOTS of other hot-rods. Break it in like you are going to drive it. If you are going to tow with it, that's how you want to break it in, according to htis guy. Supposedly the makers have gotten this down to a science and the tolerances are such that there really is no break-in now days. I agree with the previous post on getting your oil changed early for the first one though.
This could be one of those questions where you get 20different answers and none of them are wrong.

 

Yeah i have to agree, if your gonna tow with it just tow. There isnt a "break-in" like there was 50 years ago or even 10 years ago. Like cpl said, you could get a ton of answers for this but ive talk to ford techs and they basically say, once its out the lot, its ready to go. I say just tow it, it shouldnt be a problem at all, but a early first oil change is probably a really good idea.

 

This is one of the most grey and debateable topics around

Im in the middle on this. I try to take it somewhat easy for a few heat cycles. Building up loads. Always vary the RPMs and dont maintain high RPMs for awhile.

Before you tow, take it out, warm it up to operating temp. and run it up through the gears medium hard, let it mellow for a bit, run it up hard and change the oil. ~thats a very compressed break-in. But I think there is some truth to 'break it in like your gonna use it'., but most of the guys who say that ARE racers who dont expect to run a motor for 100K without rebuilding it either....

 

You bring up a really good point bikenut, it has been mostly racers that say this!
Another point of interest is that the motor has been run and tested fairly hard while still in the factory. I don't remember the exact amount of hours they have to run but, it is significant.

 

The motors are run, but the books says that even with some miles on the engine, the break in procedure can be followed and pretty much stop the engine at its current state of wear.

Again, I don't know for sure if it works, but I follow it anyway. I figure it is one of those things where it is better safe than sorry.

 

I had a '95 F250, 460, 5 speed. Broke it in like a drove it, ended up with 460 milage and 302 power. Got an ulcer over this one. Traded two months later, will NEVER do that again. You can tow 2,000lbs, just take it easy. Don't work it too hard, let it downshift and lose speed on big hills if it drops. You'll know when you're working it too hard by the throttle application you're using. 2,000lbs is ok. Lock it out of overdrive regularly to vary rpm's, vary your speed.
I had to tow a trailer of 5,000lbs with my SD, also a 5.4L at 1,200miles, never did any damage, motor pulls great now with 11,000miles on it.
Have a good time fishing

 

Well, I did it and it pulled so great. You can tell a big difference from the 150 and the 250 when pulling a boat. I took it easy and it now has 434 miles on it. I think it will be OK. It didn't seem to work hard at all. Thanks

 

434 miles!? 'Bout due for an oil change

 

Yeah, I have a company truck (F-250 V-10) so I seldom drive my truck during the week. I really love is so far and the recent trip I made I was impressed with the gas mileage pulling the boat. The V8 seems very adequate for what I use it for!!