break in period for ecoboost

wv campers · 07-19-2012, 06:37 PM

Picking up my new 2012 F-150 ecoboost on Monday. Is there a break in period before I can tow my camper?

cyclepuck · 07-19-2012, 06:42 PM

Yes the owners manual will say. Can't remember if it was 500mi or 1k on the eco

padave65 · 07-19-2012, 06:44 PM

The manual says 1000 miles.....My salesman and sales manager told me not to worry about it. I drove mine all over the place to get 1000 before my first pull. If you need to pull before 1000, do not have rabit starts and keep it in tow haul mode all of the time even on the flats. It keeps the tranny temp down. Thus far I am very very happy with my first towing experience. Towed my Lacrosse 318bhs which is 8500 loaded in 105 degree heat and the gauges never moved. Only tacked over 2200 rpms once and that was pulling a steep hill. I hit 3000. As Colonel Potter once said...there was not enough o's in smooth to describe how my new F150 eco towed. I recommend getting as close to 1000 as possible. If under, take it very easy. I would not pull mountains prior to 1000 miles. How much are you towing?

Barnman1 · 07-19-2012, 08:16 PM

On my 11 ecoboost it says to not go over 70MPH while pulling until you have 500 miles on it. There is on break in on it.

beanoil · 07-19-2012, 10:00 PM

I'd get a little bit of time on it before hooking up, say 200 easy miles. Then I'd go ahead, but take it easy until 500 miles. Change the initial oil fill and filter (your dealer and several other folks may differ on this, but it really is beneficial) and have at it.

wv campers · 07-19-2012, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by padave65

The manual says 1000 miles.....My salesman and sales manager told me not to worry about it. I drove mine all over the place to get 1000 before my first pull. If you need to pull before 1000, do not have rabit starts and keep it in tow haul mode all of the time even on the flats. It keeps the tranny temp down. Thus far I am very very happy with my first towing experience. Towed my Lacrosse 318bhs which is 8500 loaded in 105 degree heat and the gauges never moved. Only tacked over 2200 rpms once and that was pulling a steep hill. I hit 3000. As Colonel Potter once said...there was not enough o's in smooth to describe how my new F150 eco towed. I recommend getting as close to 1000 as possible. If under, take it very easy. I would not pull mountains prior to 1000 miles. How much are you towing?

Thanks. When I pick it up I'll check the manual on Monday. I asked the salesman and he didn't know. Said he would find out. I'm pulling 7500 lbs.

wv campers · 07-19-2012, 11:08 PM

Thanks everyone for the response. I couldn't pass up the ecoboost. Have heard a lot of good things about it. Currently towing with a 07 F-150 with the 5.4. Can't wait to see how the ecoboost does compared to the 5.4

bean · 07-20-2012, 06:15 AM

Just remember that the service department can and will check the computer. And the computer will tell on you. The truck knows when you have a trailer connected and I'm sure it is logged in the computer.

If something should break you may be on your own since you towed before the break-in period. Even if the problem has nothing to do with towing, they can still refuse to cover it.

I only tow a pop-up and I waited until past 1,000 miles to do it for just this reason.

Bean

SaskCampers · 07-20-2012, 07:03 AM

You are not breaking in the engine etc like in the old days. You are running in the gears in the diffs. If the book say 1000 mi they mean it. Do what the book says not the dealer unless you don't mind the possibility of having whining gears and maybe worse. And Ford will know what you did no question about that.

padave65 · 07-20-2012, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bean

Just remember that the service department can and will check the computer. And the computer will tell on you. The truck knows when you have a trailer connected and I'm sure it is logged in the computer.

If something should break you may be on your own since you towed before the break-in period. Even if the problem has nothing to do with towing, they can still refuse to cover it.

I only tow a pop-up and I waited until past 1,000 miles to do it for just this reason.

Bean

Nowhere in the owner's manual does it say that this will void the warranty......the 1000 mile recommendation is listed 4 different places. It does not say the warranty will be voided.

cyclepuck · 07-20-2012, 07:56 AM

It may not void the warranty but if the diff. or trans had issues it will give them a reason not to cover it.

TURBS · 07-20-2012, 08:14 AM

If you want it to run like a horse you have to race it like a horse!
That's my motto!

padave65 · 07-20-2012, 08:43 AM

I did not want to run into potential problems later, that is why I personally drove all over the place to get to 1000 before towing and followed the recommendation......Legally, I do not see how they can refuse to cover something listed in the warrany unless it is expressly stated in the owner's manual. They will lose in court.

wv campers · 07-20-2012, 08:50 AM

We are camping this weekend so that is why I didn't want to pick it up now. Would rather be safe than sorry. Should be able to get a nice break in period before our next trip.

wv campers · 07-20-2012, 10:26 AM

I've seen all the post about the power of the ecoboost but has anybody noticed a difference in towing with the built in sway control?

bean · 07-20-2012, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by padave65

Legally, I do not see how they can refuse to cover something listed in the warrany unless it is expressly stated in the owner's manual. They will lose in court.

Easy, customer abuse/misuse. Happens all the time.

Bean

bean · 07-20-2012, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wv campers

I've seen all the post about the power of the ecoboost but has anybody noticed a difference in towing with the built in sway control?

I pull a 3,000lb pop-up (Flagstaff 625D) and I don't even know it is back there, so I can't comment.

Bean

cyclepuck · 07-20-2012, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wv campers

I've seen all the post about the power of the ecoboost but has anybody noticed a difference in towing with the built in sway control?

I've got the chevy 1/2 ton with built in sway control. Pulling 8k & no sway at all even with passing rigs but did add a single friction sway control for cheap added security.

acadianbob · 07-20-2012, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSasks

You are not breaking in the engine etc like in the old days. You are running in the gears in the diffs. If the book say 1000 mi they mean it. Do what the book says not the dealer unless you don't mind the possibility of having whining gears and maybe worse. And Ford will know what you did no question about that.

X2! And you will be blown away with the difference from your 4-speed 5.4

acadianbob · 07-20-2012, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyclepuck

I've got the chevy 1/2 ton with built in sway control. Pulling 8k & no sway at all even with passing rigs but did add a single friction sway control for cheap added security.

Then I would say that your sway control has never kicked in. You would know it if it actually came into play.

If you trailer and hitch are set up right, you should never need this feature. Nice that it is there though just in case.

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