What every newb should know

Thanks for the advice. I'm a newbie, and want to make sure I'm taking good care of my car. I got lucky and only waited two weeks for my car and am loving it.

 

I never got the Scheduled Maintenance Guide, how do I get one? I have a 2003 (not sure of the package) that I absolutely love and want to keep in tip-top shape.

 

Toyota has a menu driven system set up here:

Toyota Parts and Service

The only bad part is that you can't just download the complete guide; you have to enter in the mileage intervals. But at least its free.

IIRC, you can download the complete guide at TIS (technical info services): https://techinfo.toyota.com/techInf...Oc%3d&TARGET=$SM$https://techinfo.toyota.com/

but you have to pay for a 24 hr subscription, and its not friendly to browsers other than IE.

 

Ask your dealer to print out the complete service schedule. Mine did with prices and all.

 

Having to drive out of the way, to the toxic waste station, to blow an ever upward spiraling chunk of the pay check, for high explosive poison from middle east countries that want to kill us ? (as opposed to conveniently pluggin' in, right in my garage)

 

My wife and I just purchased our first Prius at the end of May. We've only had to fill up 3 times! Which is great but we are only getting 40 mpg. I've read on here that some people are getting over 70 mpg. How can I get my moneys worth out of this awesome vehicle?? Please help.

 

Please define "high speed", don't have our Prius yet. On list with dealer in Tampa, Fl. Live in metro Atlanta, Ga. Will be picking it up in Tampa and driving back to Atlanta, 400 mi up I75. Suggestions would be appreciated. Drove new '61 Monza from Philadelphia to Chicago and back in 1961. No CC, but varied speed between 45, 50, to 55 every, 15 min or so. for first 600mi. I feel Interstate min. of 40, while legal, is too dangerous. I75 speed limits are 70 in FL and 65 in GA. Would something like this work for Prius? What does it actually say in the owners manual? Thank you in advance for any advice. My wife and I were planning to fly down to pick it up and drive it back. Would prefer staying on I75. It's a straight shot from Tampa to Atlanta. Other options would be back roads, alot longer, or having it shipped. We really want to do what's best for the longevity of the Prius. Already have dealer set up to add deflector and the protective film. Didn't want to arrive at Atlanta with a brand new Prius full of pock marks.

Thank tou again in advance for your information, advice and suggestions.

Dave & Joan
Anxiously awaiting our Prius Touring, Seaside Pearl, Leather, Pkg#3.

 

http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-t...mine-today-have-few-questions.html#post564892

 

Further thought on "no high speed driving" for 1st 600 miles. Since torque is rated @4200 rpm and hp @5000 rpm with a top speed of around 105mph, I'm thinking the Ice probably runs somewhere around 4000rpm for max effiency and 5000rpm for a red-line. What I'm looking for is this, at what speed (mph) does the ICE go above it's max effiency rpm? If I understand correctly The MG's will take it up to around 42mph. The ICE is needed to maintain anything over 40mph, well actually to maintain any speed. The CVT allows the ICE to run @ an efficient, constant, RPM through a range of speeds. If I can determine what that rpm is, I should be safe if I keep it from going over that rpm for the 400 mile trip from Tampa to Atlanta after delivery. Hopefully this speed is above the interstate minimum speed limit. Can anyone tell me at what speed does it take the ICE's rpm above the sweet spot. Or is it not that simple?

 

Unless you have a ScanGauge (or equivalent), you won't have a tach, so you really won't know what speed the engine is running.

Seriously, just drive it, don't floor it for the first 600 miles and you'll be fine.

 

Already have my Scanguage II and learning about it on our 2000 Avalon XLS. Have the Xguages set up. I love the HPR guage. I thought we were really doing good on our Avalon w/108k on it. Avg around 17/19 city and 25/26 highway. We keep a log. The Avalon has the trip computer and the instant MPG & average MPG, but the Xguage HPR has really helped us bring the cite up to 19/21, that's 10% increase, neat. Don't expect any change on highway. I use CC when ever I can, even at 35mph w/o traffic. Saves on tickets. There's alot of 35, 40, 45 limits, heavily enforced, AKA speed traps, in the metro Atlanta area. Alot of speeders. It's easy to get drawn into speeding. They like to sit a the bottom of the many hills were the automatics with OD free-wheels. That's how they got me once. 66 in a 55 at the bottom of the hill. Was in CC but could not turn off OD in the old Acclaim like I can the Avalon. Anyway I digress.
I truelly enjoy all the input. Anxiously awaiting the call that it's on it's way. I don't think I've been this abxious since waiting for my "61 Monza. Well, maybe our '67 Cougar XR7. Those were the only two that weren't bought off of the lot that I had to wait for and never this long. Maybe all this chatting is just therapy for the waiting.

Peace!

 

If you search around here and on CleanMPG, you should be able to find discussions on best mpg vs. engine speed. You should stay below about 2500 rpm for best FE (some say 2200), you should find best hiway mpg occurs with rpm <1700 rpm and speeds below 65 mph. Also if you want to get into technical aspects including BSFC, check out Hobbit's link page:

Prius links

and specifically

http://techno-fandom.org/~hobbit/cars/prius-curves.gif

 

Main interest at this time is trying to determine what the safe MPH is, "no high speed driving for the first 600 miles", to keep it under, while driving back to Atlanta, GA., after picking it up at the dealer in Tampa, FL. Straight shot up I-75 400 miles, limits are 70 mph in FL & 65 mph in GA. min. limit is 40 mph for both. Willing to take secondary roads if necessary but would prefer coming straight up I-75. Can anyone quantify what the Prius speed limit would be to keep it under the "no high speed driving" recommendation. It won't be a problem keeping it under 45 once we get to Atlanta, on secondary roads, for the rest of the first 600mi. But, 45 may be a little dangerous on I-75, were avg traffic flow of 80+ mph is not uncommon along some stretches, between cities. Want to get us and the Prius home safely, including the ICE.

Say! If you're an expert on the gas engine in the Prius, does that make you the ICEMAN?
Sorry! It's probably old, but I just thought of it and couldn't help myself.
Thanking everyone for their input.

 

We have the heat shield for the front window and it's a pain to roll up (it's so big) but otherwise fits and works great.

 

Hello, I am new to this chat. I purchased a 2001 prius in 2003 with 21000 miles. I now have 185,000 miles. What kids of problems are headed my way..this car has been great. I just drove it from minneapolis to charlotte, no.carolina. Everything went was great. I still have the original battery. I wonder how the change in climate will affect the car. It is used to subzero minnesota and now have been in charlotte for several months and all seems the same.

 

I never let tank go less than a 1/2 tank. The first few times I did I had problems with filling the tank. The "old bladder" problem

 

Thank's for the info. This is why I don't like undefined terminology in user manauls. It leaves warranty interpretations up to the dealer. Since they don't quantify it, "no high speeds", I'm trying to determine the RPM to MPH relationship, above EV only mode, and at which point the CVT is at it's highest gearing-equivalent ratio. In other words, what is the lowest RPM the ICE runs at and still keeps the CVT in it's "highest gearing ratio", and what is this MPH on a level road. I would think this would be around the "sweet spot" or maximum MPG. To go faster, the ICE would have to increase RPM since it's already at max gear ratio. I have to assume that the CVT reaches max ratio before the 5000rpm red line. Somewhere between the "sweet spot" and the 5000rpm, red Line, must lie the point at which you theorheticly cross over into the ambiguos "high speed driving' MPH. If I know what this range is, I can make an intelligent decision, rather than a SWAG, to stay below the ambiguous first 600 mile, recommended restriction. I'm planning to use CC and monitor RPM with my ScangaugeII to keep it away from the red line for the first 600mi. I'm just trying to get a feel for how that converts to MPH; so that I'm comfortable with the idea of putting on 2/3's of that first 600mi break-in mileage by driving up I-75.
I don't mean to sound obsessive. But I'm a strong believer that it is extremely important to do everything possible to ensure the proper procedures are followed during the break-in period. It not only helps the longevity of the car but you will enjoy better perfomance, over the life of the car. We plan on the Prius being a keeper like our 2000 Avalon XLS w/108K.

Does anyone know what the "sweet spot" is on a level road, RPM & MPH?

Saw a couple here in Atlanta picking up their brand new Prius yesterday. Seaside Pearl. Our color. Drool! Drool!. Congratulated them and directed them to PriusChat. Hopefully they will follow-up. Dealer hadn't given any of the "what you should know before you drive off" info. I emphasized the gas refill and recommended that they be sure to read their owner's manual and to check out the new owner "thread'' forums on PriusChat.

Thanks again!

 

I am looking to buy my first Prius. But iam not sure of the model, the base car or the touring. The touring get less mpg's but i don't know if there is an advantage to this in spite of less mpg's. Any recommendations? Also any recommendations on the pak's. I don't think i would use the Nav system so i don't now if it is worth the extra money unless it helps with resale. Pak 4 in more expensive than pak3 but pak 3 seems to have a couple of thing that 4 does not.Tonneau cover and seatback pockets are in pak 3 and it cost less than pak4, what is with this? What is a better value?