Dodge Pentastar Breakin procedure

[webfors]

I thought it was interesting. We've often heard of BITOG members giving new engines the lead foot. Now dodge appears to agree.

 

[Eddie]

A key word here is BRIEF, which doen't mean drive it like you stole it.

 

[cmorr]

IIRC that verbiage was the same in my 2008 Magnum (3.5)

 

[webfors]

Originally Posted By: Eddie
A key word here is BRIEF, which doen't mean drive it like you stole it.


Heh, agreed. Define brief though... it's a relative term

 

[UNC017]

Verbatim from the manual for my SRT-8 as well.

And interestingly, the first three bullets are pretty much verbatim from my 1973 Satellite owners' manual also! Nothing has changed significantly except the verbiage about the factory fill oil.

 

[nitehawk55]

The idea of accerating in short bursts is to seat the piston rings faster .

 

[SteveSRT8]

Same here from August 05 production date.

Full throttle, higher gears for loading. Avoid lower gears but it is important to set those rings EARLY. Your reward is less oil consumption, more power, and a longer lasting engine due to less blow by.

 

[thr_wedge]

My very small sample size. 5 new vehicles over the last 10 years. All broken in like they were stolen. 2 were turbos. All sold before 100k, but they ran as well when I sold them as the day I bought them and didn't burn oil. Cheers!

 

[bullwinkle]

Whatever happened to engine braking, going downhill in a low(er) gear? I always thought that was the best way to break in rings?

 

[webfors]

Originally Posted By: bullwinkle
Whatever happened to engine braking, going downhill in a low(er) gear? I always thought that was the best way to break in rings?


I think most people with automatics wouldn't know how to do this, or would destruct something if they tried

I did this also. I agree.

 

[demarpaint]

No mention of "special break in oil".

 

[webfors]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
No mention of "special break in oil".


Correct, only that it's a 'high quality' oil. I think that applies to most SN spec'd brand name oils.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: webfors
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
No mention of "special break in oil".


Correct, only that it's a 'high quality' oil. I think that applies to most SN spec'd brand name oils.


That is exactly what it means, if they used a "special break in oil" they'd say it. That plus the fact that I asked that question to more than one Chrysler tech, and they all said there was no special break in oil used.

 

[jimbrewer]

In the olden days people used special break-in oils. There used to be quite specific instructions on what do do. I think those went out in the early 1960s.

I once bought a car 300 miles from home. As per some kind of instruction I would accelerate briskly for a few seconds on the highway and then let off the accelerator fairly abruptly. I have to admit that after about 200 miles, I could feel the thing loosen up in one drive. Kinda cool. Didn't totally break in for 30K more miles.

 

[Eddie]

No breakin oils mentioned, doesn't mean that assembly lubracants are not in the oil, helping prevent scuffing etc, during the early breakin time. Ed

 

[dishdude]

This is the same exact verbiage Chrysler has been using since at least the 80s to describe a proper break in.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: Eddie
No breakin oils mentioned, doesn't mean that assembly lubracants are not in the oil, helping prevent scuffing etc, during the early breakin time. Ed


I agree, I doubt any automaker assembles a new engine w/o some kind of assembly lube.

 

[webfors]

So the question is... dump the FF early or run out the OLM? I have no idea how long the OCI will be. First car with an OLM.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Does the Dodge OLM count down in percent where you can see the progression down?

 

[webfors]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Does the Dodge OLM count down in percent where you can see the progression down?


Not on this particular model. Apparently a 'change oil' light comes on. That's it.