Break-in Process?

[TREMOR_K32E18]

I know this may spark some debate, but is there a generally accepted best practice for breaking in the 3.5 ecoboost?

My concern is that if I order from Granger and have to drive 1,300 miles home that I will not break the engine in properly with all the highway driving without some serious attention to shifting gears and pulling off every X number of exits.

 

[GRB.GEG]

It's not as big a deal as it used to be. I'd just vary your speed now and then.

 

[Brad99superd]

I didn't have a long drive home but I did run around in manual mode a bit to vary the RPMs so you could try that or maybe try some back roads if you have the time?

 

[Escape Hatch]

Drive it like you stole it to seat the rings quickly. I have done that with all my cars to include my previous 450 whp GTI and I never had oil consumption issues with any of them.

 

[Kevin]

Drive it like you stole it to seat the rings quickly. I have done that with all my cars to include my previous 450 whp GTI and I never had oil consumption issues with any of them.

Funny, I use that phrase all the time. “Drive it like you stole it”

 

[zx12-iowa]

For what its worth I bought a 2011 Ecoboost new. I hauled in a 6k pound boat with my 2015 F150 trade in. Unhitched and hitched up to new truck an towed my boat for a collective 400-500 miles with probably 1200 pounds in the bed. That engine never skipped a beat. Never burned oil. Returned great mpg. Had lots of power. Etc.

I wouldnt worry as much about break in as the break in happens in first 10-20 miles. My race vehicles I break in pretty hard but allow cooling between heat cycles.

 

[Wallco1]

It's under warranty. Drive it like you stole it. New motors these days don't need breakin. Manufacturers would love you to baby it forever.

 

[moultrie83]

I have 700 miles on mine and I have babied the hell out of it. Think it’s time to give it some juice…

 

[zimm]

It's not just the piston rings. Everything is getting worn in. When installing new ring and pinion gears, the instructions are very adamant about keeping the speed variable and not just setting the cruise control on the highway, and definitely no towing for the first 500 miles. But it's not like you got a flat tappet cam from the 60's that needs perfect seating. There's not much to worry about.

If you got a road trip- duck off on some state roads and enjoy the scenery. Change the oil after 3000-5000 miles.

 

[Netranger6]

I'm super anal. I break in around town. I drop oil on new engines at 500 then 1000. And I run amsoil signature from that point forward.

I actually use dealer at 500 and request they look at all things. Hoses especially.

 

[villaci]

It's under warranty. Drive it like you stole it. New motors these days don't need breakin. Manufacturers would love you to baby it forever.

Manufacturers want you to baby it during the warrant period, after that they want you to blow the engine