Hello everyone,

This is my first post here, but I have been lurking for a little while during my search for my next truck. Thanks for all the helpfull information, as it helped me to decide on a dodge for my first Diesel truck. I have been a Chevy guy for the last 10 years and four trucks. This is not because I am brand loyal, but because I liked the look and feel the best. However after having my latest Silverado 1500 in the shop 10 times before I hit 40kmi, I have decided that it was time for a change.

I looked at all of the big three and decided on a diesel to tow my (light by comparisson) enclosed 19ft snowmobile trailer. I like the idea of not screaming the motor everytime a run into a head wind on flat ground. Anyway, the Ford was too loud and the Chevy reminded me too much of what I have. The dodge with the Cummins has a great rep for reliability and this truck has to last me a long time this time. After reading about the Powerchoke, I thought it best not to gamble. I like the Duramax... really fast and powerfull, but just too many similarities to want to try again. At first I wasn't considering a dodge, only because no one in my entire family has ever owned one. But my wife brought it up and I thought I would try.... wow, what a nice truck. Short story long, I bought the Mega Cab and pick it up tomorrow.

Having said that... now what do I do? I know there is a recommended break in procedure for the truck, but do the owners have one that is recommended? I have a way that I try to break my motors in (varrying speed and RPM all the time in different gears for the first 500 miles or so), but does the diesel have something special?

What about oil changes... namely the first one? How many miles before dorp it out? Recommended service intervals?

I am driving 3hrs to pick this truck up tomorrow. I am taking the highway out, but I think I will take the back routes over the hills and at slower speeds on the way back. Would this make the best sense? I am also a big believe in heat cycling an engine (stopping every half an hour and letting the engine cool during break in). However doing this with a diesel would take me all day to get home being that it takes so long to cool? Any thoughts?

Thanks for the help (past present and future). I look forward to conversating with you about this monster.

Travis

 

I've always read here and on the TDR that for engine break-in, drive it like you stole it. And vary the RPM's like you said.

I think the only thing DCX says is to NOT tow anything heavy in the first 500 miles to let those AAM axles break in.

 

TDR51...

Good questions. I am just like you, coming from a GMC family, this is my first
Dodge and I too bought the Mega-Cab. Love the handle of it, the driveability, the room(so do my dogs)

I hope you get answers to these questions cause I was thinking some of the same things. A question that I would like to add to your list is this:

What about start ups in the morning? How long do most people let their engine idle before they take off, or do they just kinda start it and go? Living in Colorado with the weather and all, I always let it run for a couple of minutes to get things lubed up, is this right?

Good luck with your truck...

 

welcome to the site. don't worry about the heat cycling, just run it at average speeds like your planning. Always let her cool coming off a run, just monitor the oil level just in case whoever assembled it forgot to tighten something. I probably wouldn't hold it in the corner all the way home, just drive her normally, you know? Good luck and once again welcome, this site is incredible.

Stephen

 

load it up and have fun

 

Don't tow anything for the first 500 miles. This give the tranny/diff time to loosen up. After that towing is nothing but fun.

Follow the recommended service intervals in your owner's manual. I did my first oil change at 3500 although the dealer's service dept. said 5000 was Ok.

Search the forums for more info. Many folks like to change oil every 5K, tranny, rear-end, and fuel filter every 15K. But there are varying opinions so read, read, read, and then decide what is best for you.

 

Welcome Travis! You're going to love this site even more the more you use it.

For break-in:
1) Don't tow the first 500 miles, but DO NOT BABY THE ENGINE. I'm serious. Let the engine get up to temp, then FLOOR IT. Run up to redline frequently.

2) Once the diff gears are broken in, find the heaviest load you can and hitch it up, then (with the engine up to temp) accelerate WOT repeatedly. Find a huge hill and WOT straight up it with the heavy load. Get used to full throttle, as you should use it frequently during break-in.

3) The more and harder you can work the engine, the better it will break in-- and the better your mpg and overall performance will be.

4) ALWAYS ensure the engine is up to operating temperature before you hit it with a load. Full throttle or high loads on a cold engine are a BIG no-no.

5) Stick with a quality NON-synthetic oil for the first 20K minimum. If you convert earlier, the engine can take forever to break in, or may never break in properly. Any of the big three oils are good: Rotella T, Delo 400, or Delvac 1300.

6) Oil change intervals for your truck (per the manual) are 7500miles for severe cycle, and 15K for normal. I'd personally change the first oil change a lot earlier-- say, 1500-2000 miles just to get some of the break-in stuff out. After that, you can go 7K-10K on an oil change pretty comfortably. If you want to know for sure when to change the oil, try an oil analysis service. Unfortunately, oil analysis isn't as accurate until the engine is broken in. However, if you start oil analysis early, you can track the wear metals and when they level off, you will know the engine is broken in, and it's safe to consider a synthetic if you wish.

Important: USE A QUALITY OIL FILTER onthe "approved" list. Do not use FRAM. Stick to something like Fleetguard (which is Cummins-owned), Wix, Baldwin, Donaldson, or Purolator.


Oh, and thanks for giving me a big case of cab envy!

(though I don't have payment envy)

 

Congrats on the new trucks... I looked at a Mega a few months ago just to look. Man those things put my Quad Cab to shame in terms of space.

I concur with everything Hohn said... whatever you do, don't baby the truck. You'll thank yourself later. These trucks are made to work, so work them.

 

Ok guys, thanks for the advice thus far. I am looking forward to picking it up tomorrow. Going to be a long haul out there, but looking forward to the drive back. One good thing... the drive home should put about 200+ miles on the break-in. Nice.

I don't have what I would consider heavy loads, but I know some friends that do. Maybe I will see about hooking up with them after I get about 1000 miles on or so.

Thanks for the advice. I will try and post some pics when I get the chance.

 

Just a quick update. I picked up the new Mega Cab on Saturday and drove it home for a 200 mile trip over the mountains. Have a pic but not sure I can post them on this site.

Anyway, got the truck home and realized it wasn't cleaned very well. There was still a film on the windows, some spots on the leather and some other things. But the worst was the glove box. I opened it up and it looked like it rained in there. Dealer apologized for the cleaning (or lack of) and told me that the truck might have had a window down enough to let the dust fly around inside. Coming from Mexico it would have plenty of time for this to happen. It also seems like it's only on the right side. I asked if the truck was damaged at all in transit or before it was sold to me and he said no. I believe that they have to tell me if I ask (Legally). I ran a quick carfax and there was no files reported on it and everything seems fine.

Has anyone else had this happen?

I cleaned it out and the truck is going great. I am liking this truck more and more the more I drive it. Took some getting used to, but I love the power of the thing. Still breaking it in easy at 312 miles, but plan on putting my trailer on at about 600+ miles and towing it up over the mountains again to get her broke in. Not a heavy trailer, but the best I got at this point.

 

You sure can, as long as you or your wife aren't doing something...ahem...inappropriate.

jh

 

Okay... hmmm... let's.... see if this works....

 

Cool, it worked. Quick pic as we came back through the Moutains of VT.

 

Nice truck, I switched from a bigblock GM dually also, and this Dodge 2500 will out pull my old gasser up and any hill I can find, and doesn't even break a sweat.When I pulled my 8k fifthwheel with my old Gas motor, I had to really keep an eye on the engine temp., and the idle would start to wonder after hard pulls. This Cummins doesn't get hot,it idles the same, and you can't even tell you just pulled the cr**p out of it, Hey Mikey, I think he likes it.

 

Great lookin truck i to went and bought my first dodge and it was a mega cab w/cummins and I love it