How should i be breaking it in? New 5.4, My first new truck. I have been babying it and varying the RPM's for 400 miles now. I hear that near 750 miles Its good to make a few runs to redline to 'glaze' the cylinders and set the rings. True?
Grateful for any input.

 

I know when i bought my truck 03 model near end of 04, they said that my truck CPU came with a factory "tune" if you will that limits the power. Which really means, is that my truck wouldnt go into WOT when at WOT. My truck was setup to have its "breakin" period over at 6000 miles.

So basically im saying dont do anything special to baby it unecessarily.

You may call your dealer to confirm ford still does this on 04+ trucks, or even the 5.4 trucks.
-Patrick

 

hmmm OK sounds like a good idea from the factory. Ill call my dealership however the salesmen didnt seem to have a clue. Also, would you recommend towing anything during break in such as a light motorcycle trailer with 2 bikes? Or how about a 2500 lb. boat?

 

hmmm i would worry too much about a 2k pound payload or trailer, but i wouldnt test the limits of the truck during the first 6k miles....

I wouldnt hook up a 6 horse trailer of something to that nature, because just because the engine has components to help saftley break it in, doesnt mean the tranny/ torque convertor, does....

But then again i took my truck to alabama from dallas texas within my first 6k.... fully loaded with 6 ppl and 6 peoples luggage etc.

Its up to you , i would think 2-3k pounds shouldnt be a big deal, but at the same time it would suck to have a new truck, and have to have it sit at the dealer for a week because you pushed it too hard.

When you call your dealer, you could also ask them if they think it would be okay for the payload/ trailer set up you talked about.

Goodluck,
-Patrick

 

I always drive my new autos for about 6k before driving them to redline or changing the oil. I was told that vehicle manufacturers put some kind of "special" break in oil on new autos. I'm not sure how true that is, but the dealers never notified me before 6k miles to take it in for its first scheduled maintenance (I have had three new cars).

 

What??
The only way an ECM can get reprogramed is to load another file/program into it. Did you have to go back to the dealership after 6000 miles and have the ECM reprogramed? I think whoever put that idea in your head should have his examined.

 

That is what my dealer salesman told me, And honestly around 6k i felt the truck wake up, and you can ask others on this board.
It is like a modified redline governor or something like that, that deletes it self once the truck has 6k on it.....
-Patrick

 

The trucks come ready to drive now, you just drive. The truck has to learn your habits, so if you are not a little aggressive with it, it will be programed to be unresponsive. Just drive it the way you like to drive.

 

The most I remember reading about in the manual is that they don't want you to tow anything until after 500 miles.... That's mostly for the rear end gears to seat themselves or harden or whatever....

If you want to redline the engine, then that's your choice, but I've not heard about what you are talking about.

In the "old" days of rebuilding engines, right after the initial fire up, you want to bring the rpms up to around 1200 or so and let it run there for 10 minutes or so to let the rings seat and the cam and lifters to get aquanted or something to that effect....

Good luck!

Mitch

 

Break in periods are for motorcycles and rebuilds. Auto manufactures test and at least run each and every car and truck they build even if it is for a short distance before it is shipped and delivered. That is enough to put the metals through heat cycles and let every thing seat properly, before you buy it. You should drive it the way it was intended, or for the reasons that you bought it for. Period.

 

When I got my truck it said just drive at vairous speeds, until about 750 miles and try not to exeed 70mph until then. The engine will tune itself to your driving habits, like bluejay said if you baby it you could damage it later, unless once you break it in you plan on giving it to your grandmother. all you want is for the seals and gaskets to fully set. which depending on your driving may only take a few hunded miles if not less. I've never heard of 6000.

 

just drive it normally other than that...........Drive it like you hate it

 

Thanks for all lthe input, heres what I found out from my dealership.
1. Drive it like I would normally drive it, no babying.
2. There is no special break in oil that came with the truck, (its semi synthetic).
3. They never heard of the computer programmed to limit WOT, (again this is only what this particular Service Manager says).
4. No limits were given regarding towing.

BTW, This new truck replaced my 2000 Lariat Scab which survived a 55mph rear end collision while I was at a dead stop. The cab never saw a dent. The bed however, not so good. This is one safe vehicle. Thats why I got another just 3 days after the accident.