Hi folks.
Have been driving Suburbans for a the last 11 years. Always for towing boats. This in July I got a 24' Sea Ray #5500 with trailer. The 1999 Suburban (now with 116k miles) acted like it was tied to a tree. Comming out of Kentucky, I kept getting passed by diesel pick-up trucks with more than me.
If I get a truck in December, what is the proper way to break it in? I see that 5,000-20,000 miles is the period. But do you drive it real hard during that time. With the other vehicles I had to vary the speed to break in the "gassers", for the first few thousand miles. You could not tow until then. How is it with a diesel? We blast all over for family time. Christmas time, we will be in upper Michigan for Skiing. What if there is no way to plug it in at night? I understand there is a fuel additive for the diesel, but during the break-in still use it.
That would be just great, 1st diesel and need a service truck because I was a knucklehead.

Kevin (foxborough)
Rockford, Illinois

 

Break in is not much. Do not tow for the first 500 miles, it gives the axles a chance to set per the owners manual. After that just drive it, the more you load it the faster it breaks in. Usually takes 20k or so for the millage to settle in and give you the expected fuel millage this truck is capable of. I was worried when I first bought mine and only got 14 or so MPG but now am getting 19-21 highway empty. I have a small towing box from Quadzilla and an air intake installed, otherwise stock. I also use the Power Service diesel fuel conditioner from WalMart and mix in a little Marvel Mystery Oil from there also. Usually 8-12 oz PS to 4-8 os MMO to a 20-25 gallon fillup. Otherwise jsut be patient as this engine is a little slow losening up. The battery powered grid heaters (instead of glow plugs) seem to work well. from 10 degrees or so I would plug it in if you can. If not just cycle the grid heater twice. Most fuels are formulated for winter but if not adding an anti-gel additive, again power service in the white bottle or one of many other anti gel additives works well.

Good luck and enjoy.....

 

I'm just getting as much information as I can. Vehicles are expensive, don't want to mess it up.

Rockford,Illinois

 

Donhov said it right,

Other things to know are up in Rockford you will have winter blend fuel which will also cut into your MPG, but don't fear it will go up come spring/summer and with break it.

My first diesel was a two wheel drive 98.5 24 valve dually that I bought used with 48,000 miles. It was already broke in, and the mileage blew away my 98 Dodge 1500 with a 360. When I picked up my '05 in January, my mileage plummeted. It is slowly working up, and if I baby it (55 mph tops,) I can get 19.2 avg with the tone ring mod and the Power Service MMO combo. My Avg. is about 17 mpg with easy city and highway driving.

About additives, I was very skeptical of MMO, but so many members on DTR claimed improvements, I had to try it. It did work! I am using about 12 oz of Power Service to 4 oz of MMO. Which is two separate 8 oz water bottles (one full of Power Service and the other a 50/50 mix of Power Service and MMO) that I premix in bunches at home and keep in my tool box for fill ups.

Good luck with your purchase,

The only problem is with buying your first diesel, you wont buy a gasoline powered truck again.

Procrastinator

 

You know Fox, you can't beat this truck/engine combo. I just bought my first diesel and I love it, don't know why I didn't do it sooner. And this board is a great place to be, these guys are good. So I would say buy the 05 and start havin fun.

 

I am glad I found this sight, very helpfull.
Hooked after test driving a 2500 Ram Diesel. My 1999 Suburban gets 12.5 city, 16-17 Hwy & 10 pulling. Highway speeds 70-75 mph. have to run in 3rd with automatic. Can only use cruse when level. Looking over all this information. The diesel seems to be much better,the 3.73 ratio would be fine (#5500 lb boat), but the 4.10 does'nt seem out of line. Have to go automatic (wife).

Trying not to do a "paralysis by analysis", but getting some questions answered.

Thank you for the input.

Kevin
Illinois

 

I just bought my first diesel as well, been around them for awhile but the $$ killed my chances untill recently. I had a 5.4 F-250 and about the same weight as you behind it, used to run about 9mpg towing if I was gentle and hills were hell on the truck and my ears. I hooked up the new Ram to the trailer and set the cruise at 70 up and down hills without downshifting like it wasn't even trying and I get better mileage towing than you old truck gets driving aroun the city, about 14 with the trailer and I can get 19 without if I don't screw with the little sports cars! Buy one, you'll LOVE it!

 

Just a quick note also. If you tow heavy and frequent go with the 4.10 gears. If infrequent and/or light the 3.73's are fine. I tow 9800# and still am amazed at the power the Cummins has. I am more than satisified with the 3.73 but if I was towing much more I can see the 4.10's might be an advantage.

again JMHO....Don

 

DITTO.....3:73 are great unless you want to make a living towing FEMA trailers. I tow some big loads over some steep passes and the 3:73's do fine. It will pull 10,000lbs just fine. If I towed 75% of time I would have a dually and 4:10's! Still might get a dually......with 3:73's cause I like em!

 

You'll never drive another gaser if you get the cummins. Don't baby it even if it becomes your baby. Drive it. They hate sitting around. After you drive for about 15 hours you'll feel like the engine is just getting ready to live.

Dave

 

The only problem now is the wait.
The plan was to get a vehicle when some expected money comes at the end of November. There is always the extra 2 weeks for the actual $. I dont want to take the money out of savings so I'll just pace the floors till then. There are some nice deals on the 2005. I can will wait till December. I hope the old Suburban can hold on till then whithout another $800 tab. Looking at new vehicles really makes the old one look bad.
At least the boat is in storage till May. otherwise would really go crazy.

Thanks for the help
Kevin
Illinois

 

You could probably make an even better deal by selling the sub straight out instead of trading it in. Just a thought.

 

Fox,

I tow 5-6k daily, and 10k+ occasionally, with my 05, 4.10's, auto. I usually set the cruise at 62-65 mph and let'er run. I'm still amazed that the truck very rarely shifts out of overdrive, using the tow/haul mode, even while climbing the Sierras.

Fair warning! If you get the 1 ton in any configuraion you will find yourself wanting a bigger boat!

Rick

 

I am afraid right now with a vehicle with some towing power, I'll start thinking about bigger boat. The only thing to quench the idea is the $. Bigger boats more money. We went from a VIP cuddy cabin , 21' 4.7L V6 to a Sea Ray cuddy cabin 24' 7.4L. We had a blast with it this year. Nothing better than 45mph+ with a #4400 lb boat. The new one really sucks the gas but it sure is fun.

One thing I noticed is the difference in horse power from the 2005 to 2006. 300 hp to 325hp. Should I be smarter to get 2006. The difference may not even be noticable. What does anyone else think. It is early for a 2006, run the risk of recalls and all that goes with that.

Kevin
Rockford, Illinois

 

I have been wanting to buy a new Dodge Cummins powered pickup since 1995. I could have justified the purchase during the 1970's when pulling 24K on a tri-axle fifth wheel 24' flat deck with a gas job. (shudder - broke oil control rings) Unfortunately, only the 6.2 and 6.5 GM diesels were available in a pickup at that time. This past late summer I made the plunge into $1609.88 monthly payments for three years with nothing down and 0% interest. The truck ($48k - employee pricing) plus some accessories came to around 56 grand and I still can't justify the purchase. Nevertheless, I sure am glad I finally bought an I-6 diesel. I am not partial to any make of truck, but I would not get any diesel with a V8 configuration. I have towed 10k with this Cummins and could not even tell I was hooked to a load even in the hills. The engine is not broken in yet, but the transmission was never taken out of sixth gear while at highway speeds on grades. I will never need anything bigger than this 5.9 liter diesel. There is always power to spare.

I am a fanatic about not operating a diesel engine at high rpm when the coolant is cold. We live on a farm located on a busy highway; therefore, I plug my diesel in before using it even in the summertime. An Espar diesel fired coolant heater was installed for when I am not near a plug in.