I will pick up my new D/A in about a week.
I have read some of the archives on the subject of break-in, including fluid change reccommendations. And I just wanted to get your thoughts on what I plan to do.

FLUIDS
Have the dealer change the engine oil, trans oil, and diff oil before I take delivery of the truck. Change the engine oil at 500 mi and 1000 mi and then follow gmc reccommended maint schedule (or shorter)

DRIVING
baby it for the first 500 mi, no fast excelleration or cruise control. For the next 500 mi I will use some cruise control and some "smart" accelleration but no towing or peddaltothemetal. After 1000 mi - it's good to go.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Geek.gif http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cool.gif http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Evil Smile.gif

Sounds like you have a good plan, Roy - I would do what you have outlined.

When I picked up my truck it had 180 miles on it already. Drove it home another 300 miles.

I had just about 500 when I pulled it into the driveway so I did the 500 stuff right away.

One of the repeat problems with new trucks is the low oil levels of the differentials. Some of us have had to add up to 1.5 quarts to the rear diff, for example. If you have a dealer you can really trust http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif then you may be okay, otherwise you should check the diff oil levels as soon as you get your truck home.

I don't think my truck should have any (<5) miles on it since I am special ordering and it will come a couple thousand miles by train and then about 25 miles by truck. Does this sound right? I don't know if I can trust the service dept at the dealer but this should be a good way to start to find out. I live about 15 miles from my dealer so it should have less than 25 miles on it when I get home.

Is it a simple procedure to check the trans and diff fluid levels?

Mine had 15 miles on it when I picked it up.

Roy,


Sounds good, although I wouldn't have them change the oil's or rear lube at the dealership.


I waited for 500 miles then I changed the Oil & Oil filter ( Baldwin 1441 Oil filter,and 10 quarts of 15/40 Delvac 1300 ) and rear differential fluid (rear synthetic differential fluid was $ 110 at the dealer) http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gif that hurt, but was worth it when you see how it looks. Make sure you wipe the magnetic plug off as it will have accumulated quite a bit of material. I will aslo be changing it again after my first 500 miles of towing and then will follow the recommended change intervals for the rear differential.


Rear differential is easy to check but, I don't recall the size. To drain it you just need to use a 3/8" drive ratchet to remove the plug on the bottom of the rear housing. The 2004 2500 HD has a 4 quart capacity.


I haven't checked the transmission at this point so I can't comment at this time, but when you have the filter replaced make sure they take off the magnet and put it on your new filter!!!


Best of luck with your new ride, Fran

Thanks for the replies. Fran, are you reccommednding not having the fluids done at the dealer strictly as a matter of cost? I know that I am taking what is probably the super cautious route re break-in fluids and that it isn't needed in 99% of cases. But since I AM doing it, I would like to get that stuff out before I even drive home. If it is going to cost a couple of hundred extra to get it done at the dealer this one time, then so be it.

With <5 miles (mine had 4) when you take delivery, the components haven't really had time to wear in order to produce "stuff" to get out. The gears in the rear have to heat up, cool down, mesh, and rub to make the oil nasty w/ metal and wear particles. The engine and transmission fluids need to do their thing as well.


My recommendation is to wait for 500-1000 before swapping fluids. I've got almost 500 miles right now on my LLY. I'm going to wait until next week before swapping out the engine oil, trans fluid, and rear axle fluid. I've only driven in a dirt parking lot to test 4wd, so I'll be waiting on the front axle. After this initial change, I'll be going to the Dmaxallitech recommended schedule.

I'm going to get my baby soon, and will change fluids like what mbeckwith states......but how soon can you go to synthetic fluids?


Jose

My oils were all low (tranny, diff, engine) Check them before you drive it off the lot.

Roy,


The reason is what mbeckwith had said, no time for break in will not produce the materials you need to get out and would be a waste of money in my opinion. Like I had stated earlier the rear differential was the one that looked bad after 500 miles, the engine oil looked good. I have cut open the oil filter and will be looking at the element once it completly drains to have a better idea how much material had been picked up.


Do follow Problemchilds statement by checking all the fluids even if you trust your dealer. I had told my salesman about the rear differentials being low ( thanks to this site ), and he took me out back to the technician performing the PDI. I mentioned it to him, the gentelmen then said he would check it. When I picked up the truck the next day he said thanks as it was low and they had topped it off. I did check it myself to find it full once I got it home, but I do all my own work and I am very fussy about things when it comes to my new truck.


In closing I would invest your money on the oil changes at 1000 miles after the 500 mile break in I had described above, and would believe it to be money better spent. Get an oil analysis done on your oils and you will know where things are from there. My .02


Best of luck, Fran

Hoser805


Synthetic oil in the engine is not a good idea until the engine has at least 5000 miles on it to allow the rings to seat properly to the cylinder walls as they are made of a much harder material so they can withstand the heat, and last much longer than a gas job. I will probably wait until 10,000 miles myself, but thats just my .02


Fran

With <5 miles (mine had 4) when you take delivery, the components haven't really had time to wear in order to produce "stuff" to get out. The gears in the rear have to heat up, cool down, mesh, and rub to make the oil nasty w/ metal and wear particles. The engine and transmission fluids need to do their thing as well.


My recommendation is to wait for 500-1000 before swapping fluids. I've got almost 500 miles right now on my LLY. I'm going to wait until next week before swapping out the engine oil, trans fluid, and rear axle fluid. I've only driven in a dirt parking lot to test 4wd, so I'll be waiting on the front axle. After this initial change, I'll be going to the Dmaxallitech recommended schedule.





You may want to consider changing both front and rear diff lubricants at the same time. I don't think it matters how little you use 4H or 4L. I've noticed on my truck that the front axle components are always turning in the front diff even when the transfer case is in 2H. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Geek.gif Edited by: Dura_Mike

Dura_Mike,


Thanks for the tip, I probablly will change the fluid now.... Didn't think it would turn like that. I'm used to the old school manual hubs.

I may end up stirring up a hornets nest here, but I have also wondered in the past what the best break-in period was. Over the course of working on my car and visiting a forum related to my car, I came across this page: http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm. Some of the things he says make sense, in my opinion. My father also felt the same way. What do you think? I may be getting an '04 LLY in the next week or so, and want to break it in the best way possible...

Well he's got some points, but I differ somewhat.


There's nothing wrong with some full throttle stuff while it's breaking in, in fact I think from past experience that it's good for it. The problem is if you push it too far initially as he suggests.


Varying the RPM is a really good idea as well. IMHO, the synthetic oil question is answered as well, but I agree based on my research and suggestions most recently from a Chrysler tech rep about my Jeep. They wanted 5,000 miles before going to synthetic. That may not be necessary, but that's what they asked for.


The motorcycle break in procedure fails to cover one important part of the break in for your new Dmax. The speed restriction in the first 500 miles and the towing restriction for the first 500 miles of towing are for the rear end. The ring and pinion gears need to wear in and they'll create quite a bit of heat doing it, so I'd pay attention to the recommendations in you Owner's Manual about speed restrictions.


This topic has been covered a number of times, and you'll find there are all sorts of opinions about how best to accomplish it. I don't think those who advocate no break in are quite up to snuff on what's actually going on with new parts however.


Good luck and welcome to the forum....http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Approve.gif

Why can't you start with syntetic right from the start like Corvette and Porche do?

Why can't you start with syntetic right from the start like Corvette and Porche do?


It's your truck, you can do whatever you want to with it....http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Embarrased.gif

I picked up my truck with 180 miles on it was driven to get body and plow put on. picked it up in a snow storm and plowed with it 5 hours later. it now has 1500 miles only checked all fluilds changing at 3000 miles.

I just checked my oil for the first time since I bought the truck in February... It had 50 miles on it when it was purchased (those were miles I put on test driving it about 10 different times) it now has 1342 miles on it... anyway, the engine oil was clean as a whistle... I will probably be changing it at around 2000 to get all those components worn in... It's running great and I can already tell it's really loosened up... the first time I floored it was at 1340 miles... I floored it in second as I didn't want to stress the rear diff from a dead stop... but I did hear a little rubber peelin in second!! and into third. Can't wait to see what the juice/attitude will do for it in a couple of days!


Dan