Ford F-150 Break-In Period: What Is There To Know?

In the past, break-in times for new vehicles were much longer. Many manufacturers used to advise driving a new truck with child gloves for at least 1,000 miles. Modern vehicles only need a 500-mile breaking-in time because of how things have evolved.

You should avoid immediately putting your new truck’s pedal to the metal because it comprises several components that have just met and require time to get to know one another.

In this article, you will find everything there is to know about the break-in period for your brand-new F-150.

F-150 Break-In Period: Key Takeaways 

• Every new truck must log at least 500 to 1,000 miles of “city” driving.
• In the break-in period you should: avoid driving at high speeds, avoid towing & pay attention to warning signs that can happen because of the manufacturer’s mistake. 
• To break-in the F-150 engine, the first and foremost is to warm up the engine before driving. 

What Is The New Break In Period For A New F-150 Truck?

Every new truck needs a break-in period to ensure that all the components meet each other properly, as said in the introduction of this article.

Before making any long excursions, every new truck must log at least 500 to 1,000 miles of “city” driving.

City driving is a good workout for your engine since it ensures that it runs at various RPMs, which helps the valves and rings in your engine to seat correctly.

Tips For The Best Break-In Period For Your New F-150

You can do a couple of things to ensure the proper break-in period for your new F-150. 

Follow these tips, and you will have a truck that will last for years. 

#1 Tip: Avoid Driving At High Speed

Most new vehicle manuals advise against exceeding 70 MPH for the first 500 miles of operation. For precise information, consult your owner’s handbook, as this advice changes from vehicle to truck.

The manual in a new F-150 advises avoiding high speeds for 500 miles.

Avoiding high speeds can aid in the break-in of your transmission and the seating of your ring and valves.

#2 Tip: Avoid Towing For Some Time

One of the most beneficial uses for truck owners is towing. 

Most new truck owners fail to read the towing portion of their owner’s handbook, which forbids doing things like towing in overdrive, towing at speeds exceeding 60 or 65 mph, and towing while in drive, among other things.

You should only use it to tow a trailer once your vehicle has traveled at least 500 miles.

Check your owner’s handbook before towing since some truck manufacturers advise waiting for at least 1,000 miles before doing so. It’s better to let your truck log some miles before subjecting it to the effort of towing, which puts a load on the gearbox and driveline of your truck.

#3 Tip: Pay Attention To Warning Signs In The Beginning

The great majority of vehicles are flawlessly constructed. Even the 1% of trucks produced with a flaw often have these issues discovered during the inspection procedure before delivery. Even yet, a new vehicle occasionally leaves the plant with a problem.

You can look for problems the manufacturer or dealer may have missed with your brand-new truck. Examine your car’s undercarriage within the first week of ownership, and watch for leaks or strange odors.

Later, the likelihood of a severe failure is decreased by recognizing early warning symptoms.

Engine Break-In Tips 

There are a couple of things you can do to ensure that the engine, the heart of your F-150 breaks-in properly. 

Keep reading to find out what the break-in tips are!

#1 Tip: Start The Car And Let It Run For A While

It just takes a few seconds or minutes for your car’s fluid to start moving more effectively and adequately, lubricating the moving parts of your new engine.

This way, you will get your engine ready for the road.

#2 Tip: Reduce The RPMs

Never race a new car soon away after purchasing it.

While it may be tempting to test drive your new car and check its speed, you should let the engine run for a few hundred miles to break it in softly.

Your engine’s pistons and rings must be seated as part of the breaking-in process, and this procedure may be hampered or impacted by a power fluctuation or an excess of power.

#3 Tip: Don’t Use The Cruise Control

With your new engine, you should avoid maintaining a consistent pace. The engine will become used to various circumstances and be appropriately broken in only by receiving various loads.

#4 Tip: Don’t Make Quick Trips

Avoid making short excursions where your engine won’t have time to warm up to the correct operating temperature.

#5 Tip: Be Gentle With The Brakes

You should avoid hitting the brakes for the first 100 miles in town and the first 1,000 miles on the highway. Additionally, if your Ford has a manual transmission, you should be cautious using the clutch.

How To Break-In A Diesel Truck?

The procedures will be different if you are breaking into a new vehicle with a diesel engine.

Many actions outlined above are often necessary for a diesel engine, although they will take longer.

For the precise mileage information you want, consult your owner’s handbook. Then, it’s time to have fun once your new vehicle has broken in.

So, the difference is the time – you must wait longer to enjoy your new truck fully.

That’s it! Now you know how to properly break-in an F-150. Happy driving!