Diesel engines are popular with auto enthusiasts because they’re traditionally long-lasting, customizable, and good hands-on projects where you can examine the moving pieces and make adjustments. One of the essential steps in getting your diesel engine running is the process of breaking it in. Today, we’re looking at this process and understanding why it’s important to break in your diesel engine to get the most mileage out of it.
What Is Breaking In Your Engine?
Breaking in your diesel engine is a vital part of getting it running. The break-in process allows the engine to run independently, enabling the cylinders and pistons to shape and form the rest of the engine.
Much like how we break in a new pair of shoes by wearing them frequently, your diesel engine needs to adjust. Engine manufacturers often break in the machinery before it reaches consumers, but you should handle this yourself if you used a rebuild kit or replaced any parts on your diesel engine.
How Do You Break In Your Diesel Engine?
The break-in process may vary depending on your engine’s size and style. The general idea is to let your engine run for about 10 minutes. Use this idle period to check for any leaks or problems that you can fix before they worsen. After this initial idle period, run the engine at the heaviest load the manufacturer recommends for the equivalent of 100 miles. This should give your engine parts time to settle. Then you can perform important diesel engine maintenance before moving your engine into the vehicle’s frame.
Why Is Breaking In Your Engine Essential?
It’s important to break in your diesel engine separately instead of putting it into the frame and letting it happen naturally as you drive. You can speed up the process by giving it a heavy load to start. If you don’t break in your engine, you may experience oil leaks, poor fuel efficiency, and bad performance. Failing to break in your engine can land you with a worse engine than one that degrades over time. Breaking in a diesel engine is a vital step in ensuring you get the most mileage out of it.