Engine break-in Maintenance

[hbleconey]

I've got 500 miles on my 2019 PW, already putting her in 4 hi and low. My plan is change the oil at 1000 or 1500 and then also change both the diffs about 1500 as well. anything people recommend to do or not do for breaking in the motor?

 

[Travelin Ram]

Don’t baby it. Rings need pressure to seat. Occasionally getting on it hard and running it through the rev range will avoid glazing cylinder walls.

Modern engines don’t really need a lot of consideration. But I’m old school so I still do all the usual. Early oil change; I’ll do 500 and then 2k. No sustained higher speeds on the interstate. No long periods at steady speed. No big trailers (more for the gears than the engine).

I do like to periodically hold a lower gear like third and WOT followed by coasting down holding that gear. Maximum cylinder pressure followed by maximum vacuum to help the rings seal.

 

[hbleconey]

Don’t baby it. Rings need pressure to seat. Occasionally getting on it hard and running it through the rev range will avoid glazing cylinder walls.

Modern engines don’t really need a lot of consideration. But I’m old school so I still do all the usual. Early oil change; I’ll do 500 and then 2k. No sustained higher speeds on the interstate. No long periods at steady speed. No big trailers (more for the gears than the engine).

I do like to periodically hold a lower gear like third and WOT followed by coasting down holding that gear. Maximum cylinder pressure followed by maximum vacuum to help the rings seal.

got it, thanks thats helpful. what brand oil and diff fluid do you recommend? just go with mopar recommendations?

Sadly I have to drive from LA to SF tomorrow so the sustained higher speeds is a little unavoidable

 

[bm02tj]

Donot set cruise very your speed maybe drop a gear occasionally to very the rpm

 

[hbleconey]

gotcha, will do

 

[OCDTech]

Sadly I have to drive from LA to SF tomorrow so the sustained higher speeds is a little unavoidable

Even on straight runs, sometimes i will gas on it, get ahead then let off, now if your bumper to bumper this won't be possible, I'm sure the break in of old isn't a thing any more, though i like to do it. More over, stay away from the extremes, 2 miles on the truck and your at the drag strip, red line, things like that, towing 12,000 lbs the first day etc.

Think about it this way probably 99.999% of people buy new cars have never heard of a break in procedure.

 

[Rated R]

Changed the oil at 1,300 miles on my PW. Gives me piece of mind.

 

[OCDTech]

Bought my truck used so i had no say, but on the carfax first service looks like at 10,000 miles which was when i bought it, EEEKKKKK.

 

[Halligan]

Do the engine oil and rear diff fluid. Honestly the front axle fluid will be a waste of money at this point unless you have used 4wd a bunch a times already. With the center axle disconnet the front gears are probably not even turning while in 2wd and if they are it's not under a load so the gears aren't really wearing in yet. I'd just check the fluid level and unless you see a lot of wear metal on the fill plug magnet I'd wait to about 10,000 miles before doing the front axle. However, if your using 4wd often or submerge the front axle in water while "playing" with your new PW then certainly change it out.

The rear axle is really important though. You'll be surprised how nasty the gear oil will look and how much metal sludge will be on the fill plug magnet after 1,000-1,500 miles. Pull the cover, clean the locker magnet with a q-tip and refill. After that initial drain and fill you can follow the recommended change intervals.

In my engine I use Penzoil PUP 0w40 with either Mopar, Mobil1, or Napa Gold filters.

For my axles I use Amsoil Severe Gear oil.

 

[OCDTech]

Do the engine oil and rear diff fluid. Honestly the front axle fluid will be a waste of money at this point unless you have used 4wd a bunch a times already. With the center axle disconnet the front gears are probably not even turning while in 2wd and if they are it's not under a load so the gears aren't really wearing in yet. I'd just check the fluid level and unless you see a lot of wear metal on the fill plug magnet I'd wait to about 10,000 miles before doing the front axle. However, if your using 4wd often or submerge the front axle in water while "playing" with your new PW then certainly change it out.

The rear axle is really important though. You'll be surprised how nasty the gear oil will look and how much metal sludge will be on the fill plug magnet after 1,000-1,500 miles. Pull the cover, clean the locker magnet with a q-tip and refill. After that initial drain and fill you can follow the recommended change intervals.

In my engine I use Penzoil PUP 0w40 with either Mopar, Mobil1, or Napa Gold filters.

For my axles I use Amsoil Severe Gear oil.

I think this is very good advice, on another thread right now is evidence of what you are saying, check it out.
https://www.ramforum.com/threads/ch...ou-havent-yet-and-clean-those-lockers.154492/

 

[Travelin Ram]

^^^ Yeah, from my research the Pennzoil is the most available oil that is certified to meet the Mopar specification. I got mine from Amazon. I'm sure that there's plenty of good oils that just haven't bothered to get certified for this one particular standard, but I'm not going to put my warranty on the line just to fight the oil brand religious warfare LOL. Nothing but PUP and Mopar filters for a while.

And one other thing I like to do on 4x4's for break in is use the 4WD any time the road is wet, or any time I'm on a dirt road. Just so I can load up the front diff and wear in the gears a bit. Spinning under no load in 2WD doesn't get it done, IMO.

 

[hbleconey]

at what mileage do you guys consider the engine broken in?

 

[Trailmaker]

at what mileage do you guys consider the engine broken in?

After my first oil change at 1200 miles. Started heavy towing at 4500.