Q for you guys who flew/drove to pick up the gladiator and drove it back

[JerseyMark]

Took the train and then Drove mine back from VA to NJ. I followed the break-in procedure for the first 60 and first 300 miles as in the manual and listed in an earlier post. I drove back roads and then I95. It actually worked out well, because I hit a lot of traffic on I-95. I wasn't able to get above 55mph anyway.

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[JEEPNMEDIC]

I did that, right, wrong or indifferent, I picked my eco diesel up in Springdale AR then drove to Tallahassee FL 800 miles away. first 100 I did 55ish, there where lots of hills so varying speeds. then 100-300 I didn't pass 65 ish, again some hill with varying speed and revs, and 300-800 the closer i got the more flat it was so it was kinda more constant but I was at highway speed but no more the 75. 3 weeks later I am now at 1941 miles and hadn't had a single problem.

 

[AEsco48]

http://mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

 

[Montana_Wildcat]

Got mine in Denver from SE Montana...about 600 miles. Had to drive on the interstate back to Wyoming. There was bumper-to-bumper outside the Denver Metro, so I barely got over 60 for about 50-75 miles. After that, it was 75-80 mph for a few hundred before I got off on the US highways to do around 70 mph. I did do the high acceleration drills a few time, too. I'm just over 2k now and no problems so far.

 

[BuckSawLilandtheGoose]

For anyone who purchased their gladiator far from home. For instance those flew out to Gupton and drove it home. Ive heard its bad to drive a brand new car at highway speeds without breaking it in or seating the rings for a few weeks. I even seen a member on here, say they avoided the highway and drove side roads and streets all the the way home from the dealer for hours. Did you guys just say screw it and get on the freeway? Is it really all that bad for a brand new Gladiator? I was looking to have mine shipped to me but shippers are like a 6 week wait from when mine will be able to be picked up so im considering driving it back across the country. Thanks In advance.

I bought mine over the phone from a dealer in NJ. I flew up from SC and drove it 800 miles home on the freeway at a constant 85MPH the whole way. no issues at all.

 

[Koolcarguy]

For anyone who purchased their gladiator far from home. For instance those flew out to Gupton and drove it home. Ive heard its bad to drive a brand new car at highway speeds without breaking it in or seating the rings for a few weeks. I even seen a member on here, say they avoided the highway and drove side roads and streets all the the way home from the dealer for hours. Did you guys just say screw it and get on the freeway? Is it really all that bad for a brand new Gladiator? I was looking to have mine shipped to me but shippers are like a 6 week wait from when mine will be able to be picked up so im considering driving it back across the country. Thanks In advance.

My Jeep tech says make sure uts to operating temp take it easy first 20 or 30 miles and your fine? He probably knows what he talking about he retiring after 36 years as a Jeep/Dodge tech. I got in mine and did the 30 mikes and then drove normal 20k miles later not 1 problem but mine is also a diesel hope that helps

 

[rafaelsmith]

I picked mine up in North Carolina and drove it back to Orlando Fl...didn't really worry about speed or anything....70ish on the I95. I did visit some family for a few days in NC so drove it around town ...so probably had 60 miles on it before I hit the interstate for trip home. No issues. I just do not think traditional engine brake in matters much with modern engines.

 

[PsyRN]

Picked up in the morning in SoCal, and drove 8-10 hours to NorCal. I think I did the "cruising speed" the first 300 miles between 55-65, no big deal since I was driving through LA. lol Then I hit the I-5 and the legal speed limit is 70, actual more like 85. I cruised at 75 most of the way home. That was 1.5 years ago, no problems.

 

[UnforseenWeather]

Drove almost 3 hours there, made a deal and drove the truck 3 hours back. Stop and go the first half hour, then mostly cruise control at 75 the way home. All I could do.

 

[jcbarn5]

Drove mine from Youngstown, OH to Charlotte, NC. Had 7 miles on the odometer when I picked it up. Didn't do anything special and drove highway miles the whole way. Had it for 7 months and zero problems so far. It's an ecodiesel so this may not apply to you, but either way I think you're fine as long as you're not pushing it really hard for the first couple hundred miles. Just stay at or below the speed limit for the first couple hundred miles.

 

[dcmdon]

Drove mine from Youngstown, OH to Charlotte, NC. Had 7 miles on the odometer when I picked it up. Didn't do anything special and drove highway miles the whole way. Had it for 7 months and zero problems so far. It's an ecodiesel so this may not apply to you, but either way I think you're fine as long as you're not pushing it really hard for the first couple hundred miles. Just stay at or below the speed limit for the first couple hundred miles.

A small turbo diesel operates at much higher combustion chamber pressure (called Brake Mean Effective Pressure or BMEP)

So its much easier to seat the rings.

 

[dfwxjer]

Drove my Lexus there to trade it in, and drove the 2.5 hours back with no issues. Back country roads for the first hour and 75mph highway the rest of the way.

16k miles later no issues at all, and doesn't burn a drop of oil. I'm taking it in for it's second oil change today (oil life indicator at 2%) and it's still at the full line.

 

[Gvsukids]

Will we see issues early on? Or will these issues appear later after 100,000 miles?

 

[badger719]

I picked mine up at Gupton last Thursday and headed north to Wisconsin. I selected a route in Google Maps with the "Avoid highways" option selected.

This gave me a back country route through the rolling hills of Western KY into Illinois. Lots of variable speeds and small towns to go through which reflected the recommended break in style of driving perfectly.

Stopped in Marion Illinois for the night with almost 300 miles on the odometer which is around the prescribed break in period in the manual. After that I just hopped on the Interstate for the remainder of the drive back to southern Wisconsin. Everything went well and it runs great

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