Engine Break In & Long Mileage Early

Ive got a trip up to the lake coming up next week and am wondering if taking my new truck is a good idea or not. There is, of course, a lot of taboo about breaking in a new engine.

I do agree that keeping the rpm's reasonable is a good idea, however I am unsure whether or not its a big deal to run the engine at highway-interstate speeds for a few hours is counterproductive to good gas mileage and healthy engine break in.

Thoughts? It would be say a 4 hour trip at a constant 65mph (for all intensive purposes.)

 

I had no problems breaking in my engine on long trips. I have to drive 250 miles round trip to get to a wal-mart! I hit speeds of upto 85mph for the 120 miles just one way.

 

I've heard that it wouldn't be a good idea to have your engine at at particular RPM for a long length of time. Not sure if that's the case now with the newer engines, they're usually broken in the first few hundred miles I think.

 

Yeah but the rpms wouldnt be consistant for the 4 hours. Some mileage at 60mph, some at 65mph, probably 15 or so stops (lights, towns, etc.) so not exactly as I described it...just used it as a ref.

 

I'm not an expert on this but I don't think it's a big deal with some of these new engines. However I would suggest varying your speeds on the highway or roadways up to 500 miles and not to go over 65 mph. Than after that you can work your way up to higher speeds. Also no fast accelerations and no going up high hill grades. I did this and my engine runs like a champ and as far as long mileage early, I don't think it really matters, just remember to vary your speeds.

 

Gotta love the west! hope you stock up when you go man!!

To the op I would not worry a bit the trip on a new engine, in my opinion that's old info, just give-er! If we do an inframe rebuild on truck at work (pistons, rings, rods, liners, and bearings) we don't tell the customer to drive around and break it in. . .nope right back to work hauling loads on the open road!

 

What's the mileage on the truck now?

 

Oh yeah. I stock up as much as I can! Or as much as I can afford too!

 

I agree with some of what you say with these new engines now a days, however you are also breaking in other drive line components such as your trans., rear diff., and anything else that is rolling or moving. Plus it wouldn't hurt to do it anyways.

 

~300mi

 

^ Truck is most likely broken in already, I'd say don't worry about it.

 

Life is too short to worry about such things. Drive it like you want to.

 

You don't need to break in modern engines, they come broken in from the factory. The best way to drive your new truck is to use it normally, don't baby it. As for the other components that aren't pre-broken in, such as the trans and diff, they're not parts that require breaking in to begin with. So, again, drive your new truck normally.

The only exception that I would consider are the brakes. Brake pads aren't bedded from the factory. However, if you don't want to wait for them to bed on their own, a series of 80mph - 10mph panic stops (about 6-8 of them) then a cruise at a steady speed to let the brakes cool, will bed them.