UNDERSTANDING YOUR NEW TRUCK’S BREAK-IN PERIOD: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

 

A GUIDE TO BREAKING IN  YOUR NEW TRUCK - What You Need To Know

Buying a new truck is a big deal. The truck is your most expensive purchase so it's important that you are not going to have to spend a lot of time getting your truck to drive right. The first step is to take your truck out for a drive and see if it drives well. A good way to do this is to drive it to your nearest dealer and they will be able to tell you if your truck has any major issues. This is a good time to have a mechanic check out the truck.

New trucks are generally expensive, and they have a breaking-in period. To make sure you're properly breaking in your truck, here are a few guidelines for you to follow:

What's New About the New Truck Break in Period

Vary Your Engine Speeds

Even when your truck is brand new, there are some rules that you need to adhere to for your engine. You need to avoid staying at a constant RPM for long periods of time. If you drive your truck regularly, you will need to get it serviced.

Every new truck needs to have a lot of miles before you can start your long trips. This is a test for your engine and helps its valves and rings seat correctly. This experience is critical for your truck and you can lose engine performance if you don’t work out your engine.

AVOID TRAFFIC DANGERS

There is no need to drive a new truck on the highway. The engine and transmission will be used at high speeds. So, it is better to drive the truck at moderate speeds for the first 300 miles and then switch to a lower gear. Avoid driving your new truck on the highway for the first 500 miles, as this will cause the engine and transmission to be used at high speeds which will cause unnecessary wear and tear.

No Towing For At Least 500 Miles

Towing is one of the most useful applications for truck owners. The manual of your truck should have all the details about towing. If not, make sure to check out the manual.

The recommended mileage for a truck towing a trailer is 1,000 miles. The best way to get the miles in before towing is to drive the truck, not pull the trailer.

Check for Warning Signs During the First 500 Miles

The vast majority of trucks are assembled without any defects. Even the 1% of trucks that are assembled with a defect will most likely have these problems caught pre-delivery. You should check under your hood and look for any problems early on. Catching any warning signs early on will reduce the odds of a major failure later.

The Rules Are Different for Diesel Owners

Gas trucks usually have a shorter break-in period than diesel trucks. The break-in period is when the truck is used for the first time. Double check the mileage figures mentioned in the sections above. Always check your truck’s manual for the most accurate information.

How the New Truck Break in Period Affects Your Monthly Payments

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