Does anyone really do this! And should it really be done? When would you change the oil for the first time? What about the engine run in with a load to finish break in?

 

Welcome to the forums.

I think Cummins says to work the engine hard from the start, but the no towing over 50 mph for the first 500 is generally believed to be for the ring and pinion in the differential to wear in a little. Some folks tow heavy right from the start without problems, but I don't think it's a bad idea to avoid heavy towing at high speed for the first few hundred miles at least.

You will get all sorts of opinions on whether the first oil change should be done according to the service schedule, or earlier. I did mine a little early, but I suspect you would get hundreds of thousands of miles out of the motor either way.

 

Thanks Jeff for the reply. That helped clear up some questions we had, rereading the manual helped too! First time buyer of a new diesel truck, just want to get it right.

RDM

 

Once your past the first 500 miles either load 2,000 lbs in the bed or hook it to a 4-6,000 lbs trailer and drive it for 30+ hours non stop except to get fuel and you will be on your way to breaking in your new engine. We use to break in new or rebuilt semi engines by loading them up to 80,000 lbs and run them for up to 36 hours non stop except to get fuel for break in. My wife and I drove mine 33+ hours non stop from IA to OR and 7 days later on the return trip we broke it up in to 2 non stop drives as we made a side trip in to Yellowstone Park. IMHO its the best way to break in a diesel engine.

As for the first oil change, look and see how old it is, along with how many miles it has on it. I changed mine at 1050 miles but then I found out it was 8 months old when I bought it and 9 months old when I changed it so there is no way I would run 9 month old oil 7500 miles. Some change it out between 1000 and 3000 miles and then run it for up to 10,000 miles their after.

 

this was what I did, bought the truck on a friday night, took it home, loaded up family and stuff, got on the road, drove 225 miles to my friends party in MD, sunday night, loaded everything back up and drove home, werked fer me !

 

Jeff is correct - the 500 miles at 50 mph is towing miles break-in for the rear differential, not for the engine. Does anyone follow this guideline? I do, and I keep a log of those break-in miles as well. A lot of folks do not do this, and experience no problems, but I follow the manual for all my expensive items, not just the truck. Enjoy your new truck.