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6.4 Hemi break in

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SA58

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Apologies if this has been covered elsewhere. I was unable to find the topic. Curious what others have done to break in their new Power Wagon? Manual indicates a restricted break in period which driving home from the dealer on the freeway would appear to violate. Thanks in advance.
 
Don't abuse it for a few miles. Vary throttle and load. Don't tow for 500 or so. Drive it like you would any other vehicle.

Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk
 
Not a PW, but the same 6.4 in my 2500 CCLB.

I alternated speeds and such for the first 300ish, then started treating just like any other truck. As mentioned above, I wouldn't tow anything too heavy prior to 500 miles, but other than that you should be good to go.
 
The motor is basically broke in by the time you pick it up. The critical part is breaking in the cam, which is done on first start up. The rings will take a little bit to finish seating.
Just dont lug the motor for a few hundred miles
 
When I built a SBC 383 stroker motor with a blower pushing 600 HP for my daily driver, I asked my machinist if I should remove the blower during break in.
He said no, just drive it like you stole it. First start up, run up to 2K RPM and hold for 5 min to break in the cam and set the rings.
Motor was a beast and lasted till I sold it.
 
Thanks everyone. To clarify, my concern is I have around 45 miles of freeway after I pick up the new truck. AZ freeways are 70 to 80 mph. The manual is vague regarding speeds during the first 60 miles. Probably not an issue but was looking for the groups experiance.
 
I picked mine up at the dealer 300 miles away and drove it home on the highway. Seemed fine. Manual says just drive it..
 
I bought my 2019 6.4L truck, drove it 15 miles home, the next morning drove it 70 miles to the RV dealer and hooked up my 13K lb fifth wheel and drove 70 miles home. No F's were given. She runs like a champ.
 
I would say it depends on what "new" means. If you're buying a "new" truck that the dealer has had for a while and it's got 15-20 miles worth of test drives on it, then it really doesn't matter because you don't know how it's been driven before you. Maybe a salesman let somebody take it out for a spin and they redlined it a few times. Or maybe it was putted around and never got up to operating temp several times.

I don't think any damage will be done to these trucks based upon break-in. But, IF it's assumed that damage could be done, then it may have already been done before you sign the dotted line.
 
Foot to the floor. Ha

Seriously, ive never understood the "baby it" for xxx miles. Doesnt make any sense,.

Best way to "break in" your motor is to drive it like you plan to drive it over the life of the truck.


Funny thing.. the owners manual in my 2006 cummins truck said basically to immediately hook it up to the heaviest trailer you could find and go tow the steepest hill in the county. This is proper break in. LOL. True story.
 
gimmie11s said:
Foot to the floor. Ha

Seriously, ive never understood the "baby it" for xxx miles. Doesnt make any sense,.

Best way to "break in" your motor is to drive it like you plan to drive it over the life of the truck.


Funny thing.. the owners manual in my 2006 cummins truck said basically to immediately hook it up to the heaviest trailer you could find and go tow the steepest hill in the county. This is proper break in. LOL. True story.
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This is what I've been told by mechanics @ my work,just drive how you would normally drive it,minus towing for the first 500.
 
I read somewhere that excessive idling is really bad for the first few hundred...I'm not one to idle, lol, but curious if this is a thing?
 
Pasta4lnch said:
I read somewhere that excessive idling is really bad for the first few hundred...I'm not one to idle, lol, but curious if this is a thing?
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The process of breaking in a modern engine as opposed to those of days past can be debated but the idea of not idling a new engine for long periods has to do with varying the amount of vacuum in the cylinders - thereby helping the rings seat into the cylinder walls properly. Usually done by varied driving, varied RPM's and letting the engine do some engine braking down hills in lower gears.

Is it truly needed these days? Who knows. Is it free/easy insurance? Sure is.
 
jetrinka said:
The process of breaking in a modern engine as opposed to those of days past can be debated but the idea of not idling a new engine for long periods has to do with varying the amount of vacuum in the cylinders - thereby helping the rings seat into the cylinder walls properly. Usually done by varied driving, varied RPM's and letting the engine do some engine braking down hills in lower gears.

Is it truly needed these days? Who knows. Is it free/easy insurance? Sure is.
Click to expand...
Wow - great info, thanks!
 
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