Didn't follow the rules

[SmokeSE]

I just bought my Titan on Saturday, and I have to say I'm glad I chose it over the Tundra. This is my first new vehicle, and I know that there are guidelines on how you are sapposed to drive in the first thousand miles or so.

Anyway, I didn't bother to look at the break-in section of my manual untill about 400+ miles because I figured how I was driving was fine. Now that I have, I noticed that I've just about broke every rule in there except the one about towing.

When any of you bought your Titan, did you do any of those things, and is yours fine after thousands more miles? I know this is a stupid question, but I guess I should have read my manual first!!!

[Black Titan JLT]

Originally Posted by SmokeSE

I just bought my Titan on Saturday, and I have to say I'm glad I chose it over the Tundra. This is my first new vehicle, and I know that there are guidelines on how you are sapposed to drive in the first thousand miles or so.

Anyway, I didn't bother to look at the break-in section of my manual untill about 400+ miles because I figured how I was driving was fine. Now that I have, I noticed that I've just about broke every rule in there except the one about towing.

When any of you bought your Titan, did you do any of those things, and is yours fine after thousands more miles? I know this is a stupid question, but I guess I should have read my manual first!!!

Picked my Truck up it had 28 mi on odo, next morning towed my (5,500 #)
28' trailer 150 mi one way, put 1,500 more towng miles @ 65+MPH before first oil change @ 3,500 miles. Also pegged redline more often than most...
(not while towing) not to mention I live in urban So Cal, congested freeways and clogged surface streets...
Now @ 4,800 miles: MPG originally < 12 MPG now >15MPG.

Your answer: I did EVERYTHING wrong for Break-in and truck runs perfect.

However I must say those reporting >17MPG astound me........
I am completely baffled how that's possible unless accelerator pedal is broken.
(if >17 MPG true I did screw-up break-in!)

[SmokeSE]

Maybe they have intake or exhaust mods, either way, I'll probably end up with the same!!

[FLfinfan]

I have not ragged mine out but I have not babied it either. Seems fine after alittle more than 1k miles.

[tnbowhunter]

Originally Posted by SmokeSE

I just bought my Titan on Saturday, and I have to say I'm glad I chose it over the Tundra. This is my first new vehicle, and I know that there are guidelines on how you are sapposed to drive in the first thousand miles or so.

Anyway, I didn't bother to look at the break-in section of my manual untill about 400+ miles because I figured how I was driving was fine. Now that I have, I noticed that I've just about broke every rule in there except the one about towing.

When any of you bought your Titan, did you do any of those things, and is yours fine after thousands more miles? I know this is a stupid question, but I guess I should have read my manual first!!!

I wouldn't loose any sleep over it, you probably didn't do any harm.
I have always heard to break it in like you normally drive.
That's about the way I broke mine in anyway.
I tried to take it easy for the first few thousand, but with that much power and that mean sounding exhaust, I just couldn't control myself.
As long as you didn't red line it, or run flat out for an extended period you'll be ok.

[Sammy Sandbag]

I picked mine up in SC with 13 miles on it, then drove it 500 miles back to AL the next day. I also made two more 500+ mile trips in it within a month. It now has 2,300 miles on it with no problems. Gas mileage on the way back from the dealer was 15-16mpg. Now it's 17-18mpg. I wouldn't sweat it.

[PHOEBISIS]

SmokeSE,don't worry about it,those are just the typical very conservative manu. recs.The main mpg break in concern was the ring to cyl bore breakin.With the latest tech there is very little break in seating going on there,not like the old days when it was a big deal to break it in just so,or the car would be a gas guzzling dog because the rings never seated properly,and maybe the cyl glazed.Now the fit is so close,and hatching so fine,it is no big deal.
Black Titan-
Your 15 mpg sounds just fine if you are doing maybe 50-50 city-hy.I got 19.3 mpg on the 550 mile drive home(doing 73 mph).Now that I am doing just city driving,I am getting 12 mpg-about what I expected.Those getting 17 mpg probably aren't doing much city,they are probably in small to mid sized citys,or in rural towns...City for us,is maybe 5 or more stops or extreme slowdowns(to 5 or so mph) per mile,and average trip length of maybe 2-3 miles,and maybe 35% of the trip time is spent idling at a redlight..My 4400 lb Honda Pilot got 21.5 on the trip home,but it gets ~14 in city driving.Luck,Charlie

[ImportTANK]

I bought my Titan on 2/12/04, CC 4x4 offroad package w/big tow. I beat the crap out of my truck for the first 1900 mi., it now has 6300 mi. I hit red line a few times, towed a bunch of stuff, raced all of my buddies to prove the titan was quick. I have found a few problems with the truck, but not a single one is in the drive train, and yes you can get good mileage. I made a trip of about 196mi each way, 5% city 95% highway, and my titan dilvered mileage numbers better than my frontier. I averaged 20.7mpg. The only mod to the truck thus far is a flowmaster offroad 40series muffler. For some reason, my truck hates the city, my mileage drops almost in half when I drive in the city. Now, I live in Virginia, so the highways are for the most part flat, that may be a big part of my good highway mileage.

I firmly believe that the Titan is very limited in it's power producing, and mileage capabilities by a very constrictive(EPA enforced) computer program. I intend to install the ram air, and the Banks monster exhaust, but I would like to be able to chip/reprogram to get the most out of it.