First break-in period service

[Dan G]

When is it safe to tow my 6K lbs, 24' boat?

When you have a diesel.. jk

 

[RHOfan]

Hard launches are not recommended for 1st 300 miles, per Ram…NOT for the engine, but drivetrain. Full throttle in 1st gear puts a lot of torque into the diffs & transfer case. Those need time to wear-in.

Ram recommends full-throttle on highway after 60 miles. That will bring the engine to redline (so it’s not about avoiding redline), but it’s less strain on the diffs & transfer case due to the higher transmission gear selection at highway speed.

Remember, we are talking about a high tolerance, plasma spray bore engine. In 60 miles, it will do all the “wearing in” that is needed to safely hit redline. If it won’t handle redline at 61 miles, it’s a poorly built example & needs to be blown up while under warranty.

Now, I will be changing my oil/filter at 1200 miles. Probably don’t need to, but old habits die hard. I’ve looked into changing diffs & transfer case…if anything, an early fluid change might benefit the transfer case as it varies front/rear torque split via drive modes, therefore it must contain clutches & generate heat. Diff failures are so uncommon if used within spec, so I’m going to stick with “severe duty” fluid change schedule on those.

 

[RHOfan]

When you have a diesel.. jk

So true. I pulled a 6K boat with a Hemi once…oil temps got crazy high. My VW 3L diesel pulled it with no apparent strain…almost like no boat was attached.

If you looked at the physics of how a diesel vs gas operates, you’d never tow with gas again. Diesels are just innately designed to pull!

 

[frogjbm]

So you are saying don’t hard launch it but do it 60-100 instead?

Correct, I personally would wait until you hit at minimum 500 miles. Break in period = patience, you can briefly WOT at highway speeds, that's a good thing, but hard launches under this type of mileage I would never. It has always worked out for me this way, allowing the motor to break in and allow the rings to seat well to allow the greatest compression possible. The drive train is more fragile, so handle with care and follow RAM rules. Then...after miles are met, unleash hell's fury AFTER you change your oil/filter. Change your trans/diff fluid around 1000-1500 miles, no more.

 

[tbolts10]

Here's the real question - how long until the tune gets installed

 

[DaddyKaddy]

I've heard nitros makes it break in faster! You just need tremendous nutz

 

[Banger]

I've heard nitros makes it break in faster! You just need tremendous nutz

Or break faster!

 

[gram10]

Correct, I personally would wait until you hit at minimum 500 miles. Break in period = patience, you can briefly WOT at highway speeds, that's a good thing, but hard launches under this type of mileage I would never. It has always worked out for me this way, allowing the motor to break in and allow the rings to seat well to allow the greatest compression possible. The drive train is more fragile, so handle with care and follow RAM rules. Then...after miles are met, unleash hell's fury AFTER you change your oil/filter. Change your trans/diff fluid around 1000-1500 miles, no more.

FYI, ZF has specific guidelines for fluid changes. Need to fill it, get it up to temp while going through gears, park, reverse, etc., and then top off again.

Anybody able to get their hands on a service manual pdf? not the owner's manual, an actual service manual.

 

[Raddonkey]

Here is the procedure for the ZF .

 

[RamFan]

Go easy the first few heat cycles or 500 miles n then hammer time. If the rings are not set by then, they won’t.

The builder of my Dart blocked 363(we’ll known in Ford circles) said the rings set almost instantly . Said to have fun, the new rings and honing sets them right away.

Said OEMS are the same.

Chris

PS, I plan on changing my oil at 1k miles. YMMV