Hi all, new to the forum. Have an '09 350 Lariat 6.4L and need to tow. What is the recommended break-in period before you tow. Dealer said these are built to tow so don't worry about it... but I am. Had a few Dodge Cummins and they needed some breaking in first. My heaviest trailer is 8500# loaded - need to tow this weekend. Only have +/-500 miles on it so far.

Thank you

Kevin

 

I'm pretty sure your manual says 1,000 miles. Correct if wrong.

 

book says vary speeds for the first 1,00o miles and no towing. Mine is a 08 and said just 500 miles. Been towing ever since. First load was over 10K

 

The book says 500 miles before trailer towing. I would avoid full throttle starts and limit speeds as the book says. In other words take it it easy until you get a couple thousand miles on the truck.

 

there seems to be a change between break in period from the 08 and 09.

08 was 500

09 is 1,000

 

Sorry I was looking at the 2008 manual. I personally would wait at least 2000 miles before towing. I just would not want to push a new engine and break it in easy for a couple thousand miles and then work the heck out of it.

 

i'd tow it, just avoid the WOT and take it easy. Did my first tow at 600 miles from maryland to boston with 10K on it. Over 900 mile round trip.

 

Hey, if you have to, you have to. 8500K is not that big of a deal for these trucks but you are pushing it a bit. Really try to take it easy and consider using some cetane additive to try to minimize the stress on the DPF. I use the Motorcraft stuff, 4oz./tank.

I read somewhere on this forum that the DPF is "pre-conditioned" for the first 750 miles of usage. I have no idea what this means but it seems that there is something about it seasoning itself so that it becomes a properly working system. I can see that you could possibly load the DPF with a lot of soot too soon in its life cycle.

It's hard to pin down any facts about this thing. It seems kind of finicky.

 

Thanks all. My manual says 500 before tow and vary the speed up to 1000 miles. But it also quotes that these engines don't need that much break-in - hence my thread looking for real world experienced owners. I'll drive to a far away customer tomorrow and say hello and put on a few hundred more. Then I'll have about 800 miles. Its a windy twisty road on the first tow anyway so taking it easy with a 35' trailer shouldn't be a problem. Can't wait to see how this beast does.

 

great! report back when done. Key is no wide open throttle and just cruise along. After that 1,000 miles truck will run best when run hard.

 

Have fun and your truck is well described as a beast. Power is great but the stability is the real deal. Don't forget to check your 7-pin connections. The TowCommand system will yell at you if there is a bad ground somewhere in your trailer. Also, confirm that the trailer battery charge power has a fuse in it. It's in the fuse cluster under the hood next to the brake master.

 

The breakin is more for the rearend gears, the rings will seat better with a load.

 

Thanks for the info, I will check for that fuse! Its a brand new trailer but despite that I've checked everything before our trip. I've already packed an old brake controller 'just in case.' I somehow don't trust the factory brake controller yet...

 

Factory TBC is great, you will like it's intergration with the brake system and the Trans in the tow/haul mode.

 

I concur on the factory TBC system. I was used to cheap add-on ones and they always were "hyperactive" and jittery, braking now is smoooooth. Sometimes you wonder if the brakes are working. Very nice system.