Driving tips for new prius c?

Congrats and welcome to the ever-growing club of highly intelligent people. Just read your owners manual concerning the break- in period. Mostly no heavy acceleration or severe breaking if I recall. I learned a lot from this site even before I purchased my C and for weeks after. Just skim through the various postings and you will be amazed at what you can learn. Good luck and safe driving.

 

Congrats. I think vernon birdman covered everything needed. I have to admit that I kinda just drove normal and, knock on wood, it doesn't seem to have done any harm.

 

Good advice above. The only thing I would add is to consider snow tires. I haven't driven my C in snow yet, but, if you look at the evidence they make safety sense. My 53 years of driving also says get them. All of my cars over the years have always had snow tires in the winter. Got my C's snow tires (Nokian Nordsman4) yesterday and plan to mount them later in Nov. Congrats on purchase of a C. They are wonderful cars.

 

Here's what the owner's manual says for break-in:

Breaking in your new Toyota
To extend the life of the vehicle, the following precautions are recommended to observe:
For the first 200 miles (300 km):

• Avoid sudden stops.

For the first 600 miles (1000 km):

• Do not drive at extremely high speeds.
• Avoid sudden acceleration.
• Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods.

 

I think you're referring to the power zone. It's okay to go into the power zone during break in. In fact, if you have to go up a steep hill from a standing start, it will be hard to avoid. The power zone is not the equivalent of red-lining a normal car. I think of the power zone more as a bad mileage zone.

 

I recommend increasing your tire pressure to 40 PSI. Go to youtube.com and view the vedios on how to drive the Prius C for maximum MPG. Also, drive in the ECO Mode. Use the ECO SCORE viewing screen to control throttle imput while you drive. Driving using this screen will maximize your control over gas consumption. When the ICE (internal combustion engine) is running and the EV drive indicator lamp is off your best MPG is between 34-38 MPH. The ICE running between 1 - 33 MPH without the EV drive indicator lamp ON provides poor MPG. Keep the EV drive indicator lamp ON as much as possible. When the hybrid battery charge display drops to 2 - 3 bars ON accelerate to 34 - 37MPH. The Hybrid Synergy Drive computer will automatically turn on the ICE and start charging the HV battery. When the hybrid battery charge level display increases to 5 or more bars ON, then reduce the throttle and try to get the EV drive indicator lamp to come ON. Remember, when the EV indicator lamp is ON - You are driving for FREE - NO GAS CONSUMPTION! These few tips should give you 60 MPG. Welcome to the PruisChat club. Read the threads posted on this web site. It will increase your knowledge and driving skill. I have 2,234 miles on my odometer. Being retired I do not commute daily to work and have low mileage on my little car. My average MPG for the lifetime of my Prius C 2 is 61.7 MPG using these tips I have provided. The engineers at TOYOTA have created a wonderful, highly gas efficient and fun car to drive. I love my little car! ENJOY, PHIL.

 

I just purchased my 2013 Prius C yesterday and I had no idea that I am supposed to "break it in". I was driving on the highway at 80mph today. This is not ok?

 

Rob D: The "C" for Prius C stands for city. This little car was mainly designed by TOYOTA for those who mainly drive in the city. It has less than 100 HP. It will drive on the interstates and turnpikes at 80 MPH, but that was not the design goal of the engineers at TOYOTA. ObvIously when you put it on the road at 60 -80 MPH it will not provide 60 MPG! I live in a small desert town (29 Palms, CA. ). Most of my driving is local at low speeds (below 50 MPH). That is the main reason I have averaged 61 7 MPG. Those drivers who commute on the freeways to work will most likely achieve the average 48 -53 MPG listed by TOYOTA. My thread was written for low speed drivers who want to get way above 53 MPG when driving at low speeds. I think now you understand my goal and intent...

 

Like any new car the C is best broken in by observing these for the first 1000 miles:
1. do not drive at a constant rpm for more than a few minutes, the backbone of the C is the internal combustion engine; it is designed for maximum economy not performance but like all ICE's breakin needs to be across the working rpm range so that the cylinders do not have a particular 'ridge' on the cylinder walls that rings do not 'catch' on, thus causing friction. While its absolutely imperative to race engines even street engines will see the effect. Electrics don't seem to care that much but it may be a good idea to take the long way home from picking up your new C to give the battery as much initial charge as reasonable. (there's a reason those power tool and phone batteries require a complete charge before using the first time.)
2. try not to drive short distances; engine wear is accelerated when the engine is below operating temperatures; try to have trips of at least 10 miles.
3. gradually increase the hard acceleration efforts, particularly when the engine is cold.
4. . always use good synthetic oil, 0 - 20W, and always change the oil filter every time you change oil. And despite what Toyota makerteers say you should change oik every 6000 miles; the filter has linited capacity to hold contaminabnts and though quality synthetics have remarkable anti-friction and shear resistance, they are no more capable of preventing corrosion than conventional paraffin or naphthenic oils so as contaminants increase so so the corrosion. That is especially true in dusty areas.
If you're fanatic the first oil change at 1000 miles is worthwhile to flush out any assembly contaminants even when engines are assembled in clean rooms. Yes, filter too.
Be careful about hard braking for the first 50 miles; its OK if you need to,but the pads wuill conform to the rotors better if you 'ease' them in. If you replace the pads with high performance pads their breakin is often recommended to be numerous hard applucations til the pads get hot then drive without concern but OEM pads aren't in that catagory.
5. Spray the interior with ScotchGuard to keep that interior unsoiled.
Enjoy; the C is a great car. Even if you don't spend much effort on hypermiling 48 mpg is great driving just as any car.

 

That depends on how long you did and how hard, as in uphill with curves. Its not that the C will break, its just that maximum economy might be at risk.

 

I think this last piece of advice is probably redundant in the case of Prius since even if you maintain a steady speed the engine speed will rise and fall as necessary. It's a piece of advice which really only applies to ordinary cars.

 

I admit I'm also a bit new so mahout you had some nice tips. My "first drive home" was from a dealer 100 miles away and the highway has a nice variety of hills, so I was able to cruise around 55-65 mph with a range of soft RPM...pretty much ideal.
I have almost 5000 miles and since you had mentioned gradually increase the hard acceleration, I'm starting to push 3000 rpm to get up to speed and for passing. (I've otherwise been gentle with the throttle.) Any other "break in" tips at this point?
Most of my trips are just really short...can't help that.

 

Slower you drive the more MPG you get.

 

New bumper sticker idea: 'Prius: Teaching you how to drive like an old person one day at a time'.

 

I know this seems like a redundant question but where does one get scotch gard?

 

sure this has been answered somewhere on this form. new to the prius and electric/hybrid world. but on the eco guide. when braking is when the blue[CHG} (see below) fully lit that means hard breaking or full regen. ie whats best for getting the MOST regeneration withOUT friction brake usage. that is . where shouldi have it for best regen.

 

Coasting you get a little charge, but these brakes last a long time so don't be shy about using them or else you'll always be in the 1-2 bar(s) above half. And then you miss out on some extra EV mileage since 2 bars is pretty much "low battery" and then you'll notice the engine working harder to move the car and charge the battery.

 

i meant where should i have the blue portion lit[fully blue/ half/.25?]. so i am using maximum regenerative breaking before kicking in the friction brakes. since i havent quite figured out the feel of the friction brakes vs the regen (?flywheel) braking