Oil & Fuel proper diesel engine break-in

Soundguy · Oct 3, 2005

Ditto what the others said. My NH owners manual states to varry the RPM, and avoid running at full or set RPM for extended times... etc. ( also mentions break in fluid and filter changes to keep in mind ).

Soundguy

JimMorrissey · Oct 3, 2005

That's a good story /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

MrSteve · Oct 4, 2005

Seeing this thread may me look at my book AGAIN, because I didn't remember what rpm it said to run the engine at for break- end. I am with all that say to very RPM, so I was SHOCKED to see this in my MF-1533 operator instruction book...

"Break-In Period"

"Operate engine at FULL RPM. Avoid EXCESSIVE load. If engine begins to "lug", operate in lower gear to maintain HIGHER engine speed" /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

JimMorrissey · Oct 4, 2005

I just varied mine as much as possible and tried not to worry about it too much. Those diesels are tough and built to last.

cowboydoc · Oct 4, 2005

The first thing we do with a new truck or a new tractor is go out and run them at full load. If it's a truck we hook a trailer to it. If it's a tractor the first ground engaging job that needs done that tractor gets at least the first 50 hours of it. Getting those rings seated is the key to long diesel life and reduced oil consumption. Most people baby a diesel way too much and that leads to alot of problems down the road.

Roscoe · Oct 5, 2005

Agree with cowboydoc, I am an Advanced Trade Certified Heavy Equipment Engineer by the way.

The only way piston rings will bed in is under load, keep the revs at least at PTO speed and start with a lighter load for around 30 min then make it work, dont work it so hard that the revs drop below PTO speed.

Like another member , I used to run an engine reconditioning shop in the Army and all the engines were Dynamometer run in and spec tested prior to storage.

Cheers
Roscoe

Soundguy · Oct 5, 2005

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif So.. are you offering your pro bono services to those that go against manufacture recomendations about their engine break in period? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Soundguy

Roscoe · Oct 6, 2005

I think some manufacturers are over paranoid about warranty claims but diesels in the Agricultural industry are designed to run at maximum governed engine rpm so that speed is fine.

If there is a warranty involved then stick with whatever the manufacturer recommends to protect yourself.

When I used to Dyno the Detroit 2 stroke diesels after a rebuild, after an initial warm of about 2 hrs under a light load, they were run up to max rpm,(3,000) loaded back to 2750 rpm and left there for 50 hrs nonstop.

Soundguy · Oct 6, 2005

( If there is a warranty involved then stick with whatever the manufacturer recommends to protect yourself.
)

Considering the original message by orangealex involves a new tractor, and presumably a warranty issue... I'd say that is the safe advice.

Soundguy

N80 · Oct 7, 2005

I don't remember the manual on my Kubota L4400 saying _anything_ at all about break-in. I'll check when I get home. But for what I use my tractor for there is no way I could keep engine RPM at max for a days work, much less 50 hours. There may be something about _not_ running at full RPMs, but I don't even remember that. I have run at full RPMs on a few occasions driving down a country road a few miles. But that's about it.

But, regardless of the reasoning, it is probably best for us newbie new tractor owners to follow the manual as best we can.

Remember Sarge, the mechanic on that old TV show Black Sheep Squadron? I can just see me getting warranty work and a cigar smoking Kubota mechanic that looks like him saying," You did what, college boy?" when I explain to him my theories on diesel break in. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif