What did you all do to break in the 2012 Prius?

On regular gasser cars I will change the oil at 100, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000 & 5k mile intervals thereafter. The Prius guys convinced me to do the first change at 1k miles since the Prius motor turns off so often while driving. It will get 5k mile changes thereafter.

Mike

Mobile on my SGH-i717

 

So far, I've just driven mine. Most of my driving is city/suburban and the speed limits are 45 or less. I didn't floor it from a dead stop or anything like that, and still try not to. I've got about 4K miles on it so I'll have to take it in for its first oil change soon.

 

3rd prius, don't do anything special. drive it easy and easy on the brakes. change the oil at 5,000. but i don't keep them past 100k or so and haven't had any issues at all.

 

I drove it like a Grandma (no offense to actual Grandmas out there) for the first 500 miles (1st tank of gas). Then I dove to Montana and back from Seattle. Now I pretty much "Just drive it" I keep an eye on the HSI, but I like the pep in "Power mode" Also at 4K - gonna line up the first dealer service soon.

 

Drove mine as carefully as I could but since getting to work involves a 65 mph highway followed by a 75 mph tollway...yeah. That is how my poor prius got broken in.

 

can you please share your logic with high frequency of changes?

 

Other than conservative driving, it is not necessary to do anything special during the "break-in" of a new Prius. Drive it to work, drive it home. Drive it to the store, drive home, ... etc. Many people like to do an early first oil change and avoid hard braking, while the pads seat, is also a good idea. Smile and enjoy your new Prius. Your fuel economy should be good from day one, but you can improve those numbers as you refine your Prius driving skills.

 

With the synthetic oil the Prius uses, the engine will never run-in if you do the first oil change too early. The piston rings won't bed in properly and the engine will always use oil on longer runs, between changes.
Go 10K before the first change then whatever you prefer after that, 5k or 10k.
Synthetic oils will last 10k quite easily in the easy life the Prius motor has, so why waste oil (and money) changing at less ?
I've stuck to these principles on all my cars since manufacturing tolerances improved in the late 80's and never had to top up between oil changes.

 

just drove it. That's what the salesman told me. I did take it easy on the acceleration from a stop for the first 500 miles.

 

Drove it easy first 600 miles. The manual said not to maintain steady speed. I found out later that with the interaction of MG1, MG2 and the ICE, even with CC, the ICE will vary speeds as you go up and down hills. So jut take it easy for 500-600 miles.

 

The dealer gave me 87 Octane gas. I used 91 Octane for a few fill ups than back to 87 Octane. A few months ago people were posting about new cars knocking or a POP sound when the ICE came on in the new cars and suggested the 91 Octane for a few fill ups until the car broke in.

 

Nothing special, just keeping the motor running on super clean oil while it breaks in. Oil is cheep and motors are expensive. My other summer car came from the factory filled with Mobil One and it got the frequent oil changes and it runs flawless under 16psi boost with no blowby. For people to say a motor will not break in with synthetic and frequent oil changes is completely wrong. Many motors are shipped from the factory filled with Mobil One and are intended to be broke in on that oil.

As always, many people will have different opinions. If you follow the manufacturers advice it should be fine. Mobil One is an excellent oil and motors run on it last a very long time

Mike

Mobile on my SGH-i717

 

I just drove it home from LA to Sacramento. I floored it once just to see how unimpressive it was. I put about 700 miles on it before I floored it again but not because I was worried about the break in period. Just drive it like a good citizen.

 

What? I thought you did a video showing us the 115mph governer

Mike

Mobile on my SGH-i717

 

Was this supposed to be a joke?

 

Your super clean oil had inactive AW additives and accelerated break in wear. Studies show it takes 2000-3000 miles for oil to activate AW additives.

 

Nope. Been doing that to all my new car's since 1988. Never had an issue with any of them.

Everyone has their own special method of breaking in a motor which is fine

Mike

Mobile on my SGH-i717

 

I read the owners manual and was gentle for the first 600 miles, I will change the oil at 10,000 miles.