New truck using oil during break in?

MDM · Jul 10, 2009

I have been babying it. I've only goosed it a handful of time just to see what it will do. I will run a hard tank of gas through it and see what happens.

Builder · Jul 10, 2009

Skyco said:
With 1100 miles on it I'd go out and run the out of it, both hard acceleration and deceleration without using the brakes, downshift the trans manually if it is an automatic. Then I'd change the oil and filter.
Sometimes they just get babied too much to seat the rings well.

I was going to recommend the same thing. My mechanic keeps telling me about guys who buy diesel trucks that experience engine problems around 50-60K miles. The reason is because they never get worked like they were designed for. Baby-ing an engine is worse than putting it thru hard (not abusive) work.

My last employee I gave a company truck to ('99 7.3L diesel F-350 superduty) drove it from his house to my shop everyday for years and it started consuming oil like crazy.

Ford said it was "normal", for a 7.3L diesel with 85,000 miles on it to consume 2 quarts between oil changes.

Diamondpilot · Jul 10, 2009

What Builder and the other guys says is true. The guy who does our body work and paint work on boat trailers bought a new Dmax. His dad liked it so much he went and got one later that day. His dad babies his while my paint guy hooked a 12K 5th wheel camper fully loaded to it when it had less than 250 miles and drove it on a 3500 mile trip. Guess which one has the problems. Working them hard is what they are designed for. Maybe that is why I have had such good luck with both my 6.0L PS Fords.

Chris

DieselPower · Jul 11, 2009

Builder said:
My last employee I gave a company truck to ('99 7.3L diesel F-350 superduty) drove it from his house to my shop everyday for years and it started consuming oil like crazy. Ford said it was "normal", for a 7.3L diesel with 85,000 miles on it to consume 2 quarts between oil changes.

You hit the nail on the head with the 444E's (7.3L DI). I have worked at both Ford and International dealerships. In a International that got used they were a very reliable and durable engine. I don't have enough finger and toes to count all the ones that I have seen had problems in P/U trucks that were only used as commuter vehicles. They seemed to drink oil. If the P/U was a work truck that carried heavy loads they seemed to be just fine.

Builder · Jul 11, 2009

DieselPower said:
You hit the nail on the head with the 444E's (7.3L DI). I have worked at both Ford and International dealerships. In a International that got used they were a very reliable and durable engine. I don't have enough finger and toes to count all the ones that I have seen had problems in P/U trucks that were only used as commuter vehicles. They seemed to drink oil. If the P/U was a work truck that carried heavy loads they seemed to be just fine.

You're exactly right. Diesels weren't designed or give low maintenance service if used lightly or as commuter vehicles or if parked for long periods.

Out of the dozens of guys I know that own 7.3's ( or T444E's), or other IH or other brands of light diesels, most own them for pleasure driving and only a few tow. The ones that don't tow unloaded them at ~100K because they were afraid of the excessive oil consumption and leaks at the rear main seals causing more oil consumption.

The ones that were actually used for their intended purpose went way into the 100-200K range with little oil consumption and proved to be decent light duty diesels.

I hate it when I have to short trip any of my trucks or idle for more than a few minutes, I can just visualize the oil slipping past the rings. I make sure to lay the coals to all my different brands of diesels regularly to make sure they stay strong.

Dmace · Jul 11, 2009

The HEMI is a high compression motor compared to other large displacement engines so it takes time to get a good piston ring seal. My truck went through 3/4 quart of oil between each 3,000 mile oil change from new till about 6,000 miles. I now have 78K miles and it does not lose one drop of oil between oil changes, 5,000 mile interval - full synthetic Mobil 1 5W20.

Drive it hard but vary the rpms and do not let the engine get too warm or idle too long until at least the first oil change or 5,000 miles. Which ever is later.

Builder · Jul 11, 2009

Dmace said:
Drive it hard but vary the rpms and do not let the engine get too warm or idle too long until at least the first oil change or 5,000 miles. Which ever is later.

Good advice there. A guy that goes to my gym has a 6L and frequently stops in to flirt with his girlfriend at the front desk. He'll let that poor thing idle for 20-30 minutes at a pop. I can olny imagine the washdown between the rings & cylinders.

FlaDon · Jul 12, 2009

It took over 50K miles for mine to get below 1 Qt every 1K. Now at 86K it is down to 1 qt every 2K. Finally getting broken in even after all the trips to Ohio.

And I've never babied it. Book says 1 qt or less per 1K is normal for the big block 8.1L.