Alternative Break-In Procedure

Link?

 

I wouldn't, but it's your car.

 

I agree with it.

I was involved in running in engines on a dyno for earth moving equipment during my apprenticeship and we would, under the run-in instructions of the engine manufacturer run an engine at full power for several hours before installing it in the machine. This was after a short warm up then working the engine from about 1/3 full power up to full power over about an hour.

When I was building engines in my last job I would always do a few full throttle accelerations from 50km/h to about 80km/h once the engine was warmed up. The workshop was in a hilly area in the country near Adelaide so a steep hill was always handy. I was proud that in the 10 years I worked there not one of my engines failed or used any measurable amount of oil between oil changes. I wasn't only building engines but I would have built 80+ engines in that 10 years and many more in earlier jobs. I have used a hard run in since I worked in the dyno room in 1981.

The most important aspect of running in an engine is variation. Never hold a steady throttle or speed in the first 16 hours of run time.

 

With the Prius the driver is only a voting member of the control system, and has no direct control over engine speed or throttle. Unless you are driving across the flatlands, engine speed and throttle on the Prius will vary with demand, even at a fixed vehicle speed.

Tom

 

i agree with gbee. i own a very fast harley and to break it in i did the alternative type break in. but with the prius.....just drive it. it breaks itself in just nicely. you should be careful for a couple of hundred miles not to slam on the brakes but thats about it. dont worry about it . in fact, fugetabout it...

 

The Owner's Manual has two no-no's for the break-in period:

1. During the first 600 miles, avoid full throttle acceleration and racing the hybrid engine.

2. During the first 200 miles, avoid sudden hard braking

But the article and what Pat said seem to make sense, and may not necessarily be contrary to the Owner's Manual. Because a car manufacturer has to make recommendations that it thinks every one of its customers will or can follow, it seems to me that a car manufacturer will always recommend a simple rule over a complex one. The article may be right. But the Owner's Manual may be right too -- its simple rule may be the best rule if you have to limit yourself to the world of simple rules.

Pat - How did you break-in your Prius?

 

If one hard acceleration in the first 20 miles actually did some good for the engine then Toyota would do it in the factory by racing the engine before it comes off the line. Instead, the owner's manual, which was written on the advice of the people who designed and built the thing, specifically says don't do it. But hey, it's your $25,000 car and not mine.

 

I had only about 200 miles on mine when I departed on a 2800 mile trip. I drove it fairly easily for the first 300-400 miles of the trip (65mph and under), then just drove it "normally", which, for me, isn't all that aggressive, but did include some cruising at 70-75 mph, jamming up some hills, basically driving it.

 

And let's remember that the Prius throttle control algorithms
are very likely to put that high load on the engine right off
the bottom, because running that way is also most efficient.
So any Prius being "driven normally" fresh off the line is
basically doing the same process all by itself. How hard you
push is then just a matter of RPM.
.
_H*

 

Double post

 

Holy, can of worms Batman!
Yes, boy wonder, but there could be some kind of strange logic at work here.

One and the only one thing I can agree with, is changing the oil and oil filter with very few miles on it. Say with in the first 500 miles or so. Granted this is old school. By doing so there are some metal shavings that are removed before they can continue to do damage. With today's closer tolerances and better machining, it may not be necessary. Still it's cheap insurance.
Would I get in a brand new machine and hammer the engine, no. There are way to many little things that need time to work themselves in. Rod bearings, main bearings, rings.... The ECU and other electronics need to learn how you will be driving the car, environmental factors also fit in here, altitude, hot or cold, humidity.
Nope, any type of forcing the rings to seat just defies everything I have learned about breaking in a new engine.

 

Hey, Mr. Toyota dealer, I have a problem!
I just beat the snot out of my car, you know to break it in and now it's making all kinds of weird noise!

To which Mr. Toyota dealer would more than likely reply:
Did you follow the RECOMMENDED break in, that Toyota has printed in their owners manual?

Well no, I followed some unproven web site's advice.

Mr. Toyota: Well sorry, but you just voided your warranty.

 

It had 61,000km on it when I got it Tom, I'm a humble public servant mate.

I gave the bike a couple of full throttle runs on day 2 after the tyres had the shiny worn off of them. Then across town with some hills riding. Avoided working the engine at low revs or very high revs.

 

A working class hero is something to be.
(John Lennon song)

 

Seems like your ego is as fragile as eggs!
What I'm trying to impress on folks, is that it's not a good idea to beat on your car and then if something goes worng, expect the dealership to fix the problems.