Engine break in?

I just pciked mine up in PA and drove it down to Ga. The only break in info I have seen(here and manual) is don't go crazy fast, do any sudden starts and stops for like the first 600 miles. Mine drove fine. The only danger I forsee is wanting to play with the display screen and try out all the features while you are on your trip!! I say, take the drive, and get to know your car.

 

I drove my new Prius home to New Jersey from
Vermont. It was about 260 miles mostly Interstate. I set the cruise control for just over 70 mph. I got just about 46 mpg on the trip. You will love driving the car and if you drive gently you can't hurt it. I am now getting 49 mpg and have one tank at 52 mpg. Mileage does get better as the engine breaks in. I changed the oil and filter at 1700 miles using Mobil 1.

Best to take your trip home during the day so that you can see all of the controls.

 

I drove mine 1800 km, 1100miles, in the first 2 days of ownership, there is nothing to worry about driving the car 350 miles in one go. The normal operation of the car will be just what the ICE needs to break it in. I do think that the comment about doing it in daylight to be able to see the contols is probably sound advise till you get used to the car. Other than being bored with the drive, the drive will be a good learning experience about the normal operation of the Prius. Go into the database here on PC and review the things you should check on taking ownership of the car. Check and fill the tires to the recommended pressure, fill the tank (yes I know it's supposed to be filled but fill it and get the reciept and keep one every time you fill it write the mileage you did on the receipt) grab a coffee and hit the road. Run a spread sheet on your gas useage and mileage and most of all enjoy the car.

 

Hmm, this may be an old wive's tale but I've always understood that during the break-in period, you want to vary your driving pattern and mix it up: Some highway, some rural roads, some hills, stop and go, accelerating, etc.

Headin' out on the Interstate and setting the cruise control would be contrary to this.

Thoughts?

Cheers,

-bob

 

Hey drphreo, where in Pa. did u get urs?

 

If only an Interstate trip were at a steady speed the whole way. The cruise control helps but traffic changes speed frequently. I like the very accurate up and down speed control on the cruise stalk.

 

when you drive a Prius on the freeway you will notice that the ICE is seldom at a steady speed. The CVT takes care of that.

 

Good for old technology cars but does not apply to the Prius. Prius engine RPMs are effectively decoupled from road speed. Just do what the manual says: no hard stops in the first 200 miles, no excessive speed (but they don't say what that is, exactly) in the first 600. A highway trip with cruise control set at 65 should be ideal.