Just got my brand new F150 with the 5.4L, a couple weeks ago. I've only got about 400 miles on it, and so far, I've really been babying it. I've rarely brought it over 2000 rpm's from a take off..... maybe 2300 rpm's tops, and that was only very briefly, a couple times.

I know it's not good to beat the crap out of a new motor..... but I don't want this truck to get too used to this type of driving either ;-) .....or else it might be in for a big surprise one of these days soon.

So, how many miles should my motor have on it, before I can really get on it ? ....safely, of course. BTW, what is the redline for a 5.4L Ford motor ? I have a tac, but unlike my car, it shows no orange, or red markers. I'm sure this motor won't turn as many RPM's before redlining, as the little 1.4L 4 cyl motor in my car. That thing is turning 3500 just to go 65mph on the freeway, and it doesn't even start to get into the "orange area" of the tac, until it hits like 5700, while my F150 goes 65mph at 1850....

Thanks,
Fish

 

There is no such thing as "break-in" with these new motors. It was probably dogged at the factory. Just drive it. In fact, what you are doing is teaching the computer that you are a grandma.

 

I don't know for certain because I don't work at the assembly plant. But I have heard also that in the process of building the engines, they are tested up and down the RPM spectrum for tolerances to ensure that you won't have any problems; and in the process they are broken in even before they are installed into your truck.

I wonder if we could get some verification of this.

Myth busted? Or myth confirmed?

 

That sucks ! :-) But Bluejay, I have heard this before. So I wonder then, if I start to drive it like my normal, spirited self, will it adjust itself ? Or should I have my buddy / mechanic clear the memory, so I can start fresh ? {I'm sure he can do this.... vehicle computer diagnostics is just one of his specialties....}

Fish

 

Drive it like you stole it from day one....seriously!!

 

X2- That will seriously produce a better performing engine. I have driven every new vehicle that I have owned from day 1 like I will always drive them- not babied! None have ever used any oil or had any negative effect. I have saved in my archives somewhere a site from a motorcycle performance engine builder that does exactly that (break 'em in like you stole em) and goes into all the reasons why they always perform better than a mild break-in. I am a firm believer in it.

 

IMO, run the motor hard but be nice to the tranny. I like to get on my 5.4 regularly but I attempt to make it run smooth down the gear lines. I run higher RPMs with the motor but I don't slam the tranny around. Nothing good for the tranny by pushing too hard.

 

exactly That is how you do it.

 

that sounds like really good advice. In fact, that is typically how I drive my vehicles anyway.

But hey now, nobody asnswered my question, about having my mechanic resetting the onboard computer, so my truck can learn how I really drive ? Good idea ?

Fish

 

You don't have to have the memory cleared. Just start driving more aggressively and over several drive cycles, it will adapt.

 

Just unhook your battery for about 15 min and start driving it like you want to.

Phil

 

Or give me a day with your truck il break er in for ya. Il even tell you the top speed. RPM redline you know usal thing you find out.

 

You shouldn't abuse it till it has about 1000 miles on it, and try not to keep it at a steady speed, varying rpm's seat things better. The engine is good to 6 grand, but I believe the rev limiter is set to around 5400 to keep you from grenading the torque converter.

 

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

 

yea i heard you need to baby it for about 1000 miles...then gradually get more agressive with it until your drivin it like its a 98 with 215000 miles and has been thru hell and back 9x