How Critical is Towing Breakin Period?

lv2briding · December 3, 2016

I purchased a 2016 GMC Sierra HD Duramax last week after a couple of months of research (including this forum). I completely LOVE this truck. I am reading in the owners manual that the truck requires a 500 mile break in period before towing and for the first 500 miles of towing thereafter should not be driven above 50 mph. :-/

How critical is this? The salesman (who was a GMC technician for 20 years) said it's not an issue but I want to do right by the truck as I plan to have it for a long time. I have a 500 mile round trip coming up this week. There is no way I can safely drive 50 mph on interstate. My horse trailer weights 8-9K fully loaded.

Insights appreciated.

Thanks!

Daryl Z71 · December 3, 2016

When I was buying new trucks I followed the instructions for not towing at all the first 500 miles, but after the 500 miles I would just hook to my trailer and go. Never had any issues with either new truck.

NEFisher11 · December 3, 2016

Just hook up and go. I know the manual says that but I would break it in the way I would drive it normally.

O_J_Simpson · December 3, 2016

Break in is only good for brake pads. After the drive home, I would hook up and tow away.

last truck · December 3, 2016

you think commercial users break anything in lol.

Nathan79 · December 4, 2016

This is for the rear differential break in.

lv2briding · December 4, 2016

Thanks for all of the feedback. Feeling better about my trip this week.

Cowpie · December 4, 2016

you think commercial users break anything in lol.

Yeah. Not hardly. A truck that is used commercially goes right to work. Maybe the first run it is not at max gross, but it does work. Not on the same level, I suppose, but my Class 8 Freightliner got loaded up with a gross of 78,000 lb on it's first run after picking up from dealer. Ran the hills of Missouri and Kentucky in 100F weather. Just like it would be run the rest of its life. 629,000 miles on it now and no major repairs. Uses only 2 qt of oil in 25,000 miles.

As far as my pickups, they get used right out of the gate like they will their entire life with me. I do change out all factory fill fluids in the drive train after the first couple thousand miles. Never have lost a motor, xfer, trans, or diff in over 45 years.

KARNUT · December 4, 2016

Same here gas or diesel,hookup and go.

Havvkeye · December 5, 2016

I picked my truck up and drove straight to the U-Haul and carried a load about 2.5 hours right off the bat. I also was over the 50mph rule. I have had zero issues, I guess I didn't think about there even being a break in period for towing. Oops! I have almost 13k miles on it now.

crankman · December 9, 2016

I would at least follow the recommended first 500 miles break in. I always did and the next 500 I towed but kept my speeds around 65 didn't push her as hard as I do now. Everyone has there own way and that's perfectly cool I tried my best to let her break in correctly. Enjoy that new ride.

mjoekingz28 · December 9, 2016

Be smooth with throttle, shifting, and braking. Can you take side roads or a highway?

Some components seem to specify an early drain of their fluid.

Cowpie · December 14, 2016

There is an argument that can be made to some degree that babying a vehicle too much the first 500 miles like the OEM states can instigate more problems later. Cylinder walls may get glazed and then the vehicle becomes a oil user sooner for one. Letting the engine work fully early on can be a good thing. I really don't tow to speak of, mostly haul heavy. I start out using my pickup like I will be using it for the rest of its life. But then, I don't feel the need to set a new land speed record when I drive. Nor do I use the traffic lights as my own set of NHRA starting lights and see how fast I can get out of the hole and get to the next light while it is still red. But I don't soft toe the pickup either. Just operate it as I always will.

sdeeter19555 · December 14, 2016

I always look at hotshotters, they drive to a dealer, buy a new truck, back under the trailer in the dealer's lot, and head cross country. No break in typically.

I also have heard break things in easy, but I have heard drive them like you intend to always drive them. On a couple fresh rebuilds, we simply did a couple 20 minutes break in runs in the garage, loaded it on the trailer, and raced it on the track that night...never had issues.

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True North Truckin · December 15, 2016

On my 2016 I abided by the manuals recommendation for no towing in the first 500 miles but pretty much right at that point on all my trucks I started towing right after and have had no issues relating to drive line components, also I wouldn't be too concerned in your particular situation anything less then 10k behind your rig its not even going to know its towing anything those duramax HD's are pull monsters!