I am picking up my new Dakota Tommorrow and I want to know how others broke it in, I have read several articles and I am sure this topic has been done to death. This is what i plan to do to break it in and I just want to know if there is anything I should or should not do,

1) Friday I will drive it to work and back taking the side streets (about 40km round trip - 25miles)
2) Saturday I plan on driving it about 300km on purely secondary roads (no more than 80kph-50mph) and I plan on giving it short bursts on the throttle
3) Sunday drive it a bit on the highway then do an oil change

Now are long trips not recommended during the break in period? I mean as long as I dont keep it at a constant speed and dont push it all that hard, I have always owned older cars so I never had to worry about this before andfrom what I read I really want todo it right.

Any advice would be appreciated as I hope this truck will make it more than 200,000k

 

just drive normal really. i didnt really...if you want to be cautious, just dont get on it for a week or so

 

My personal break-in tips:

The first oil change should be done at 700 miles.

~First and most important, HEAT CYCLES! Try to heat your motor up to full operating temp, then shut it off and allow it to fully cool off. Repeat AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE!
~Second, for the first 700 miles, try not to do highway driving if at all possible. I say this because you want to work your motor thoroughly through all rpm ranges, consistantly. I wouldn't go above 4200 rpm's for those first 500-700 miles though. This helps to properly seat your rings and seals.
~Engine breaking. If your truck is a manual transmission, try to slow the motor down as much as possible with the transmission and not the brakes.
~Slow acceleration. Don't slam the gas for the break-in period. You want to keep your rpms below 4200.
~Make sure you use all of your gears. Switch in and out of overdrive from time to time.
~Most importantly, enjoy your brand new truck.

A lot of people have differeing opinions as to engine break-in. This is my personal way to do it, and I have had great success with it.

Just my $.02

 

mine I went down the turnpike with it the day I got it 70-80 mph, didnt floor it for about a month or 1000 miles though

 

If you have an automatic you could drive in tow/haul mode, this would provide extra engine breaking to help seat the rings. Although, most of the vital engine break in has already been done for you.

 

Thanks for the advice, i will see how it goes over the next couple of days.

 

i beat the livin snot out of my truck as soon as it left the lot. rear tires spinning the down the street. there is no break in period for these trucks. they do that at the factory. thats why people have so many problems. beat it till it begs for more. i still have all the original parts like brakes. tires and what not. have 32000 on it and it still screams. but if you want to talk aftermarket then that will be another day

 

Drive it like you stole it!