Long Block break in?
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 852
Likes: 90
From: Florida
Long Block break in?
Truck just had a new long block installed at the dealer with 3,700 miles.
When I went to pick it up, I asked to speak with the tech. The service advisor asked why and I said I wanted to get information on breaking in the new engine.
Advisor told me to drive it like I have been. Long blocks from ford are already broken in so there’s no need for me to do anything special. In fact, ford has seen fewer motor issues when they break it in VS the customer according to him.
Is this a line of bull sht or what?
When I went to pick it up, I asked to speak with the tech. The service advisor asked why and I said I wanted to get information on breaking in the new engine.
Advisor told me to drive it like I have been. Long blocks from ford are already broken in so there’s no need for me to do anything special. In fact, ford has seen fewer motor issues when they break it in VS the customer according to him.
Is this a line of bull sht or what?
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 409
Likes: 139
According to the manual though, should take it 'easier' for the first 1500 miles or (i cannot recall exactly). Whether that for the differential, engine, or something else is debatable. Personally, I see NO harm in running it easier with varying RPMs for the first 1500 miles or so.
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 409
Likes: 139
Yeah this is what I've always done. There was a post on here that someone talked to a Ford rep who said there's a break-in additive that should be run for several thousand miles. Others have said there is no additive. Not sure what is true.
Cross-Country
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 76
Likes: 26
From: 52227
trust me its just oil, no magic dust, precious ointments, enhanced beans, its motor oil. 1000 miles then make first change. next,,,
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,957
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From: NY/Canada border
Everything I've ever owned, I drove from Day 1 like I was always going to drive it anyway. Trucks, snowmobiles, motorcycles, lawnmowers, etc. No engine failures ever.
But I've never been one to over rev or abuse equipment, maybe that's why nothing catastrophic has ever happened.
But I've never been one to over rev or abuse equipment, maybe that's why nothing catastrophic has ever happened.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,414
Likes: 1,124
Truck just had a new long block installed at the dealer with 3,700 miles.
When I went to pick it up, I asked to speak with the tech. The service advisor asked why and I said I wanted to get information on breaking in the new engine.
Advisor told me to drive it like I have been. Long blocks from ford are already broken in so there’s no need for me to do anything special. In fact, ford has seen fewer motor issues when they break it in VS the customer according to him.
Is this a line of bull sht or what?
When I went to pick it up, I asked to speak with the tech. The service advisor asked why and I said I wanted to get information on breaking in the new engine.
Advisor told me to drive it like I have been. Long blocks from ford are already broken in so there’s no need for me to do anything special. In fact, ford has seen fewer motor issues when they break it in VS the customer according to him.
Is this a line of bull sht or what?
Sure, they run them but don't drive them except for logistical purposes.. Idling new engines isn't healthy, running them without a load isn't breaking them in.
Drive it like normal.
I remember when I picked up my 2017 f550, I flew to New Braunfels, Texas, picked up the truck. Then I went over to a trailer dealer, picked up two 30-ft goosenecks, had them double stacked, and drove to Hattiesburg Mississippi. I recently retired that truck at over 400,000, mi.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,872
Likes: 952
From: Kaufman TX
Broken in from the factory is b.s. The engine has definitely been fired before, but not enough to establish break in. You can finish it correctly, or incorrectly. The difference isn't really whether or not your engine will go umpteen miles or not. The difference is in things like blowby over the life of the engine and fuel mileage over the life of the engine. Technically for the same reasons you'll get a little more power over the life of the engine as well. As ring technology has changed all that's happened is a shortened window of opportunity to break in properly. How break in should be done has not changed.
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 712
Likes: 392
Its a truck engine.
Not some boomers hot rod, with obsolete hard rings. Just drive it. Nothing else needed. Do a few launches if you feel the need "to seat the rings" like your ag engine is like some kind of Suzuki race bike or something.
Bunch of internet nonsense.
Ive load tested, run in, all of the modular engines. Blowby, compression, power was no different, whether they were tested easy, or hard. I doubt the new engines are any different.
High rpm rings need cold spun to run in. Then dyno tested. Extreme duty marine engines, just need some time at full throttle. A Honda Accord needs none of this. Dump the oil early, if you want to.
Not some boomers hot rod, with obsolete hard rings. Just drive it. Nothing else needed. Do a few launches if you feel the need "to seat the rings" like your ag engine is like some kind of Suzuki race bike or something.
Bunch of internet nonsense.
Ive load tested, run in, all of the modular engines. Blowby, compression, power was no different, whether they were tested easy, or hard. I doubt the new engines are any different.
High rpm rings need cold spun to run in. Then dyno tested. Extreme duty marine engines, just need some time at full throttle. A Honda Accord needs none of this. Dump the oil early, if you want to.
Last edited by Midwest87; Nov 15, 2025 at 06:10 AM.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2024
Posts: 248
Likes: 96
From: New England
Truck just had a new long block installed at the dealer with 3,700 miles.
When I went to pick it up, I asked to speak with the tech. The service advisor asked why and I said I wanted to get information on breaking in the new engine.
Advisor told me to drive it like I have been. Long blocks from ford are already broken in so there’s no need for me to do anything special. In fact, ford has seen fewer motor issues when they break it in VS the customer according to him.
Is this a line of bull sht or what?
When I went to pick it up, I asked to speak with the tech. The service advisor asked why and I said I wanted to get information on breaking in the new engine.
Advisor told me to drive it like I have been. Long blocks from ford are already broken in so there’s no need for me to do anything special. In fact, ford has seen fewer motor issues when they break it in VS the customer according to him.
Is this a line of bull sht or what?
Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 51
Likes: 27
Beat like you stole it. Need to seat those rings. I always drive them a little hard in the beginning. Never had a problem with an engine and i have never had one that burned oil.Old hot rodder told me if gonna break it is going to break whether you beat on it or not. He always said the most important thing was seated those rings right away.
Cross-Country
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 62
Likes: 34
From: Utah
My understanding is you seat the rings at the lower RPM range first and then beat on it to seat the rings in the higher RPM range second. - The Oil Geek also has a video showing engines don't stop breaking in until ~ 10K mi
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 409
Likes: 139
For piston ring seating, I believe being hard on the engine is just as bad as being super easy on it. The whole idea is that you get uniform wear on the rings/cylinder wall; similar concept to differential gears during break-in. There must be some research articles on it to see what temps/pressure/etc are optimal. Having said that, if you "drive it normally," then you're probably in the sweet spot range anyway.
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