Hey guys, I asked this in the V-6 section, but there isn't a whole lot of activity goingon there. My question is:

I just got a new 2007 F-150 4.2 V-6. What I am confused on is, is there a break-in period that needs to be fallowed, or does the engine come pre broken-in? I'm also wondering if I should wait until my first 3,000 miles to change my oil, or do it at 500 miles. Can someone please clarify this for me? Thank you.

 

I'm sure it tells you what to do in your owner's manual. Mine does. Check it out, and come back and tell us what it says..

 

I've owned about 5 brand new Fords now, I have never had a problem. I do change my oil at 500 and take it easy for the first 3K (my manual says 5K but I just can't wait). I don't know if it makes a big difference to do this, but for the cost of one oil change, and holding my foot off the accelerater for 3K is cheap insurance and it gives me the warm and fuzzies.

Side note, my 07 manual tells you to take it easy for 5K for break in and in the beginning of the manual, there is an ominous page that talks about how there is a black box in the truck and your local dealer will be able to tell everything about you by plugging into it. I would just hate having something blow in the engine or transmission and taking it in for warranty work, and the dealer telling me I've violated the warranty terms because I used maximum acceleration 10 times during the first 1K miles.

 

Again, please read the owner's manual. It's amazing how much information you can find in there.

Barring that, please search. This question comes up once a week or so.

 

Always break in your engine.... It should be done because it will help prevent all the rings, seals and other engine components from leaks or misailignments. Although 5k is a little much for breaking in, you only need about 2000 miles for the actual breaking in period. After all it's really your choice because my main reason for not stepping on the pedal right out of the dealership was because i didnt want to put my hard earned money at risk. There's alot more pros than there are cons on this issue.


P.S I say to all those people who dont want to break in their cars that they should quit their bitchin because you can't go fast.... YET.

 

Umm, not to burst your bubble, but by the time you take delivery of your truck, it's been driven harder in those first 8 miles than most of them will be driven in their lifetimes. Within the first 10 minutes after the engine starts for the first time, they floor it, run it up to 65 mph, then to stop it, they setp on the e-brake. They they scoot around the final inspection line, wrap it, and the loaders load 'em on the train cars like banshees! (They have to load a certain number, so the sooner they make their number, the sooner they can screw around) Sorry to say it, but they don't baby the new trucks.

As for the break-in itself, Ford stopped requiring a break-in on the engines long ago. They recommend not towing for the first 500 miles to allow the ring and pinion to break in, and they recommend varying the throttle and not running at one RPM for an extended period of time for the first 1000 (? IIRC) miles, but what's the first thing most people do? Get on the highway driving home from the dealership and set the cruise control.

It really has no significant bearing on the engine life either way. If you sleep better by babying it for the first XXXX miles, then go for it. It's your truck; do as you see fit. But that doesn't mean that Ford recommends it.

 

It's been years. I've toured the Dearborn plant several times. When they assembled engines I saw first start up on engine stands and they raced the heck out of them until they ran smooth. The completed cars gave off tire smoke as they left the line.

Oh sure they are much more careful now........

But I'm still easy on it for the first 2K

 

Yeah i know they do that, but i still believe it will keep from future problems by staying off the track for a few thousand miles.

 

yeah i know they push em hard. But i still think it's worth it to stay off the track for a few thousand miles.

 

Well the manual says it will be fully broken in at 1K miles. It also says not to change the oil until 5K. I'm thinking I will just change it at 1K, and then at 5K just to make myself feel better. I would like to switch to full synthetic, but from what I have read, it's best to wait a while until you do this. Would it be a good idea to wait until around 10K before I go to full synthetic, or should I just go for it at 5K?