New Engine Breakin

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Squattingdog

Junior Member
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Apr 1, 2014
Posts
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Location
Charlotte, NC
Ram Year
'22 Rebel GT
Engine
5.7 Hemi
Just picked up my Rebel GT from Mark Dodge (great experience, highly recommended with great pricing). Driving home from Louisiana to North Carolina. Any thoughts about new engine breakin? Is it still recommended to drive variable speeds, say between 65-80 mph?

Also, I just sold a '14 Ram with the 5.7, and the 5.7 on this Rebel is running a bit hotter - 220-222 degrees oil temp, and 208-210 degrees coolant temp. Those are both about 5-7 degrees higher than my 2014. Tranny is running a bit cooler though - 185 vs 199 for the old truck. This pretty typical? It's 85 degrees here with high humidity
 

RC Turner

Member
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Dec 17, 2020
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Location
Southern Minnesota
Ram Year
2020
Engine
HEMI 5.7
Drive it normally. No hot rodding or violent braking. Temps look about correct and probably are different due to variation in gauges.
 

KeithP

Senior Member
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Aug 23, 2019
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Location
Texas
Ram Year
2019
Engine
Hemi 5.7 VVT
Engine break in discussions always remind me of when my dad ordered a new F100 in 1969. 302, 4 speed, no extras. This was a farm truck.

Day it came in, the dealer called dad to come get it. When dad got there the dealer told dad to get in for a test drive but the dealer was doing the driving. Dealer hit the highway, ran it up to 100mph and held it there for a mile. Looked at dad and said “well, it didn’t blow up so it’ll be a good one” It was. Never a minute’s worth of trouble, never used oil.

Truck cost $1,900.00 after trading in a 62 Chevy C10, straight 6 and a short box. Sure wish I had that back.
 

turkeybird56

Military Vet 1976-1996 Retired US Army
Military
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Location
Central Texas
Ram Year
2019 Bighorn, 4 X 4, 3.21 rear, Bright Flame Red Pearl Coat, Mopar tonneau cover,Westin Bed rug
Engine
Hemi 5.7
Here U Go: right out of my manual.. 2019 5.7L

RIGHT OUT OF MY 19 MANUAL:

ENGINE BREAK-IN RECOMMENDATIONS
A long break-in period is not required for the engine and
drivetrain (transmission and axle) in your vehicle.
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.
While cruising, brief full-throttle acceleration within the
limits of local traffic laws contributes to a good break-in.
Wide-open throttle acceleration in low gear can be detrimental
and should be avoided.
The engine oil installed in the engine at the factory is a
high-quality energy conserving type lubricant. Oil changes
should be consistent with anticipated climate conditions
under which vehicle operations will occur. For the recommended
viscosity and quality grades, refer to “Fluids And
Lubricants” in “Technical Specifications”.
CAUTION!
Never use Non-Detergent Oil or Straight Mineral Oil
in the engine or damage may result.
NOTE: A new engine may consume some oil during its
first few thousand miles (kilometers) of operation. This
should be considered a normal part of the break-in and not
interpreted as a problem. Please check your oil level with
the engine oil indicator often during the break in period.
Add oil as required.
 

craigsez

Senior Member
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Location
Novascotia,Canada
Ram Year
2016
Engine
5.7
Keep loading(on the gas) and unloading(if it has manual gear change buttons,use alot of engine brakeing sorta speak)engine up to say 75% of max for a 100 mi or so....
Oil change and up the loading/unloadeding for another 500-1000 mi and change oil n filter again then let her rip..
 

Kickboxer

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Feb 18, 2020
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Location
ND
Ram Year
2022
Engine
5.7 Hemi-non-Etorque
Just drive your vehicle normally for the first 1,000 miles, without high
rpm's, etc. Then drive normally until 3,000 miles and change the oil
and filter. Today's engines and oils are much different than the older
models of the past, as you don't break-in the rings to the cylinders,
(that is what break-in means).
A break-in has meant scuffing the rings to the cylinder wall, so they
properly have compression. The problem can be a cylinder can glaze
and have oil loss, and issues.
I recently overhauled a JD tractor with new cylinder sleeves and pistons,
and a special break-in oil is used, it helps with break-in, and then normal
oil is used after that.
I have purchased dozens of new cars, trucks and tractors in the past
45 years. I've never had a single engine issue.
 
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