What's new
By:
Ram Heavy Duty Forum

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Engine Break-In

RKCRLR

RKCRLR

Active Member
Messages
212
Reaction score
115
Points
43
I've broken in my share of engines and I try to follow the manufacturer's recommendations but the Ram wording is a little confusing to me. I know to vary speeds and gears, no cruise control, no low gear hard accelerations, etc. but I'm trying to understand their intent.

The wording from the owner's manual is:

"Drive moderately during the first 300 miles (500 km).
After the initial 60 miles (100 km), speeds up to 50 or
55 mph (80 or 90 km/h) are desirable"

What do they intend me to differently within the first 60 miles from what I'll be doing in the remaining 300 miles?
And are they trying to say I should target speeds of 50 to 55 mph but it is OK to exceed those speeds periodically?
 
The break in limits are mostly for the rear axle gears. The engine would benefit from a loaded break in, but the gears may suffer. I ran mine for about 350 miles unloaded, then hooked up to a 20k fifth wheel and gave it hell, no issues since then.
 
superjoe83 said:
The break in limits are mostly for the rear axle gears. The engine would benefit from a loaded break in, but the gears may suffer. I ran mine for about 350 miles unloaded, then hooked up to a 20k fifth wheel and gave it hell, no issues since then.
Click to expand...
Cant compare the hemi to the Cummins the hemi requires a more delicate break in
 
The Cummins requires zero break-in, however, as others have stated, the "running gear" takes a little time to wear in. Since this is my first RAM/Cummins and I bought it used, I was concerned how the previous owner drove it. I looked in the owners manual and Cummins says basically, load her up and go.
 
Break it in the way you plan on driving it.
Me, I drove it like I stole it.
76K miles later and she still runs strong with no issues.
 
H3LZSN1P3R said:
Cant compare the hemi to the Cummins the hemi requires a more delicate break in
Click to expand...
Missed the hemi part, but even with that engine just drive it normally, don't baby it and it should be fine
 
H3LZSN1P3R said:
Cant compare the hemi to the Cummins the hemi requires a more delicate break in
Click to expand...

Delicate like how exactly?

Drive normal, don't tow for the first 300-500, keep the speed down if you're able, vary throttle. That's common break in for any modern gas engine though not really necessary as it's mostly for the R&P.

1732947307217.png
 
Brutal_HO said:
Delicate like how exactly?

Drive normal, don't tow for the first 300-500, keep the speed down if you're able, vary throttle. That's common break in for any modern gas engine though not really necessary as it's mostly for the R&P.

View attachment 79775
Click to expand...
Exactly how the book states thats more delicate than a diesel break in….
 
Thanks for the responses. As I mentioned I'm familiar with normal break-in procedures but Ram's instructions are a little confusing and contrary to what I'm used to. I'm just trying to figure out what they are trying to say.

50 mph to 55 mph maximum for the first 300 miles is pretty slow if that is their intent. I normally vary the speeds and gears and avoid hard accelerations from a dead stop but will still take it up to normal freeway speeds.

They imply something special should be done for the first 60 miles but don't say what.

I'lL be picking it up soon from a dealer that is about 75 miles away. I can't avoid the freeway for about the first 30 miles but then I can get on some side streets which will include stop and go traffic. The final leg to my house will include some steep long grades but that shouldn't be a problem for an unloaded truck.
 
RKCRLR said:
Thanks for the responses. As I mentioned I'm familiar with normal break-in procedures but Ram's instructions are a little confusing and contrary to what I'm used to. I'm just trying to figure out what they are trying to say.

50 mph to 55 mph maximum for the first 300 miles is pretty slow if that is their intent. I normally vary the speeds and gears and avoid hard accelerations from a dead stop but will still take it up to normal freeway speeds.

They imply something special should be done for the first 60 miles but don't say what.

I'lL be picking it up soon from a dealer that is about 75 miles away. I can't avoid the freeway for about the first 30 miles but then I can get on some side streets which will include stop and go traffic. The final leg to my house will include some steep long grades but that shouldn't be a problem for an unloaded truck.
Click to expand...
No need to over think it. These are not engines of the old days just don’t be hard on it by flooring it and you will be fine.
 
H3LZSN1P3R said:
No need to over think it. These are not engines of the old days just don’t be hard on it by flooring it and you will be fine.
Click to expand...

The manual literally says, "brief full-throttle acceleration..."

Flooring it off the line, probably not so much.
 
RAMMITDOWN said:
The Cummins requires zero break-in, however, as others have stated, the "running gear" takes a little time to wear in. Since this is my first RAM/Cummins and I bought it used, I was concerned how the previous owner drove it. I looked in the owners manual and Cummins says basically, load her up and go.
Click to expand...
If you read the rest of the OM, you'll see Ram recommends 500 miles before towing with the Cummins. And the first 500 miles of towing at 50mph or less.
 
jebruns said:
If you read the rest of the OM, you'll see Ram recommends 500 miles before towing with the Cummins. And the first 500 miles of towing at 50mph or less.
Click to expand...

That’s for every truck, not just Cummins trucks. It’s primarily for the drivetrain. It’s in the towing section of the owners manual.

Under the diesel engine break in section it says

“The Cummins® Turbo Diesel engine does not require a break-in period due to its construction.”
 
jebruns said:
If you read the rest of the OM, you'll see Ram recommends 500 miles before towing with the Cummins. And the first 500 miles of towing at 50mph or less.
Click to expand...
If you're implying the Cummins needs break in, that's not true at all.

The Cummins requires zero break in. The bore lining will "finish" to a tighter tolerance over time, accelerated by heavy towing, and generally improves efficiency as it does. Heavy towing, that could be 8-10K. No twoing could be 30K. That's not break-in by any means.
 
Brutal_HO said:
If you're implying the Cummins needs break in, that's not true at all.
Click to expand...
No, that was not what I was implying. Only that the truck does have a breakin. Many people read that the Cummins does not need a breakin and assume they're good to go. I was trying to point out that that is not the case, at least according to Ram.

Is it really needed, or is it just Ram CYA? Valid questions. There are many, many reports of folks buying them brand new, hooking 20K 5th wheels to them and heading out on the interstates. They don't seem to have any more issues than anyone else. I choose to follow the OM recommendations personally. I just feel better about it that way.
 
jebruns said:
No, that was not what I was implying. Only that the truck does have a breakin. Many people read that the Cummins does not need a breakin and assume they're good to go. I was trying to point out that that is not the case, at least according to Ram.

Is it really needed, or is it just Ram CYA? Valid questions. There are many, many reports of folks buying them brand new, hooking 20K 5th wheels to them and heading out on the interstates. They don't seem to have any more issues than anyone else. I choose to follow the OM recommendations personally. I just feel better about it that way.
Click to expand...

Youre also probably a guy that changes the oil in his Cummins every 3k miles.

:)
 
gimmie11s said:
Youre also probably a guy that changes the oil in his Cummins every 3k miles.

:)
Click to expand...
I hear you, but no. I go with the factory recommendations. That means yearly for me, as I don't put anywhere near 15K on it in 12 months.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top