new car "break in" mpg question

Etel Rose · 08-21-2006, 03:32 PM

I have around 25 miles on my Prius now, all city driving, and the average mpg is in the low 30s. Is this normal? It should get better as the car "breaks in," right (although I don't really know what it means to break in a car and why that should matter, but it seems like I might have heard that)? I was expecting something at least in the 40s...

**efusco** · 08-21-2006, 03:35 PM

25 miles! You might wanna give it just a little longer before you get worried. If you're not into the 40s by the end of the first tank let us know.

In the mean time, be sure to look at the stickies under the Fuel economy forum and read the article linked in the second sticky.

eagle33199 · 08-21-2006, 03:44 PM

Also, take a look around the forums... you'll see that short trips, quick accelerations with rapid stops, and high speeds can all lower your mileage... My sugestion: take the car out for a little "joy ride" sometime... spend an hour or so getting to know your new baby in some areas where there isn't much traffic so you can look at the MFD occasionally and get a general idea of how to improve your mileage. then come back and here read the sticky about new owners improving mileage or whatever it's called.

After just 25 miles, i'd say you're doing just fine. keep at it!

**efusco** · 08-21-2006, 03:48 PM

I have to say, a post worried about gas mileage after only 25 miles must be a new record...I'll get the research folks on it to look it up!

Not to worry, I don't want to discourage you from posting, but do take advantage of the stickies, the articles section and the search feature on the site here as many or most questions that will come to you over the first year or so of ownership have been asked and answered many times. But, if those don't give you the results you're looking for we're happy to answer...but you might get ribbed a bit.

Etel Rose · 08-21-2006, 04:14 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Aug 21 2006, 02:48 PM) [snapback]306900[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I have to say, a post worried about gas mileage after only 25 miles must be a new record...I'll get the research folks on it to look it up!

Not to worry, I don't want to discourage you from posting, but do take advantage of the stickies, the articles section and the search feature on the site here as many or most questions that will come to you over the first year or so of ownership have been asked and answered many times. But, if those don't give you the results you're looking for we're happy to answer...but you might get ribbed a bit.
[/b]

sorry for jumping the gun. I knew not to expect the 60 mpg promised on the sticker. The Prius was such a huge purchase for me - I guess I imagined better mileage than this right off the bat... I was wondering about the "break in"...

eagle33199 · 08-21-2006, 04:22 PM

The break in period is usually considered to be around 5000 miles, with a secondary break in again sometime later (10,000 maybe?). The big point is to just enjoy the car at first, get used to how it feels to drive. then you can start really paying attention and trying to improve you mileage!

aaf709 · 08-21-2006, 04:59 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Aug 21 2006, 12:35 PM) [snapback]306887[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

In the mean time, be sure to look at the stickies under the Fuel economy forum and read the article linked in the second sticky.
[/b]

http://priuschat.com/forums/kb.php?mode=article&k=23 is one such article.

tmgrl3 · 08-21-2006, 07:36 PM

I'm on my second tank...I do all short trips...lots of hills...my first tank
I got 31 mpg....then I joined Priuschat.com.

I have been up to 45 mpg on this tank, because I took a couple of trips that were 5 miles +....now I am around 40.8 mpg and half way through the tank...I'm not worried, just finding it fun to learn and watch.

I did read a lot here, though, and am trying to maximize the mpg to my driving situation..I upped my tire pressures....I climb my hills briskly....using coast on way home since it's many downhills then...

When I can get above 30, I use Pulse and Glide as much as possible....I don't know if it's just because car is on second tank...certainly isn't broken in...but my mpg is now 10 mpg higher....

I agree with what Evan said...just enjoy driving it....there is a break-in period....It'll take me a year to drive 5000 miles with all short trips, so I'm not likely to get 50 mpg...but that's fine..I just love the car.

I watch the MFD and use the driving tips because I enjoy it all so much....so ...not to worry, unless you want to have some fun trying to get the mpg higher ....

Enjoy the ribbing...I know I am definitely a Prius owner and lover because I was a bit shakey with that 31 mpg on the first tank...then I settled in. I haven't had a new car that I have owned in more than 20 years...the Camry (15 years old and just sold) was hubby's till he became blind...and my last two cars were leased because of our business at the time.

So...this is a real trip for me...a gift to myself in retirement!!

kn6vv · 08-21-2006, 09:19 PM

I just started my 3rd tank of gas. When I picked up the Prius at the dealer two weeks ago, it had 11 miles on the odometer and the "average" milage shown was like 18mpg. This of course was not realistic as much of those 11 miles were at idle sitting at the dealer or driving on/off the boat from Japan but at the end of the first tank I reset the MPG average showing 48mpg. The second tank with real driving conditions netted an average of 51.8 mpg and seems to be steady there in the low 50s with both highway and city driving! I only have 800 mjiles on the car so others tell me to expect it to improve! Read the PriusChat tips on good mileage as this has been a big help to me!

Enjoy and good luck. Tom KN6VV

omega II · 08-21-2006, 09:28 PM

my first tank i got 60mpg city/highway, my next tank was highway (70mph) and i got 69mpg. i really didn't think i was going to get even close to these numbers, but it happen. this was done on a new 06.

08-21-2006, 03:44 PM	#3
eagle33199 Platinum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,594 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Also, take a look around the forums... you'll see that short trips, quick accelerations with rapid stops, and high speeds can all lower your mileage... My sugestion: take the car out for a little "joy ride" sometime... spend an hour or so getting to know your new baby in some areas where there isn't much traffic so you can look at the MFD occasionally and get a general idea of how to improve your mileage. then come back and here read the sticky about new owners improving mileage or whatever it's called. After just 25 miles, i'd say you're doing just fine. keep at it! __________________

08-21-2006, 03:48 PM	#4
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 14,016 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 1 Time in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 23	I have to say, a post worried about gas mileage after only 25 miles must be a new record...I'll get the research folks on it to look it up! Not to worry, I don't want to discourage you from posting, but do take advantage of the stickies, the articles section and the search feature on the site here as many or most questions that will come to you over the first year or so of ownership have been asked and answered many times. But, if those don't give you the results you're looking for we're happy to answer...but you might get ribbed a bit. __________________ Evan E. Fusco, MD Seaside 04BC9/OEM EVb/NAV & auto-BT/XM Radio, CAN-View, Shark Fin, BT Stiff. Plate, Skid Plate & Strut Support

08-21-2006, 07:36 PM	#8
tmgrl3 Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 295 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I'm on my second tank...I do all short trips...lots of hills...my first tank I got 31 mpg....then I joined Priuschat.com. I have been up to 45 mpg on this tank, because I took a couple of trips that were 5 miles +....now I am around 40.8 mpg and half way through the tank...I'm not worried, just finding it fun to learn and watch. I did read a lot here, though, and am trying to maximize the mpg to my driving situation..I upped my tire pressures....I climb my hills briskly....using coast on way home since it's many downhills then... When I can get above 30, I use Pulse and Glide as much as possible....I don't know if it's just because car is on second tank...certainly isn't broken in...but my mpg is now 10 mpg higher.... I agree with what Evan said...just enjoy driving it....there is a break-in period....It'll take me a year to drive 5000 miles with all short trips, so I'm not likely to get 50 mpg...but that's fine..I just love the car. I watch the MFD and use the driving tips because I enjoy it all so much....so ...not to worry, unless you want to have some fun trying to get the mpg higher .... Enjoy the ribbing...I know I am definitely a Prius owner and lover because I was a bit shakey with that 31 mpg on the first tank...then I settled in. I haven't had a new car that I have owned in more than 20 years...the Camry (15 years old and just sold) was hubby's till he became blind...and my last two cars were leased because of our business at the time. So...this is a real trip for me...a gift to myself in retirement!! __________________ <span style="font-familyapyrus"> ...The day will come when, after mastering the wind, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love. And on that day, for the second time in the history of the world, humanity will have discovered fire.... .....Pierre Teilhard de Chardin </span>

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08-21-2006, 03:32 PM	#1
Etel Rose Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 37 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I have around 25 miles on my Prius now, all city driving, and the average mpg is in the low 30s. Is this normal? It should get better as the car "breaks in," right (although I don't really know what it means to break in a car and why that should matter, but it seems like I might have heard that)? I was expecting something at least in the 40s...

08-21-2006, 03:35 PM	#2
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 14,016 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 1 Time in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 23	25 miles! You might wanna give it just a little longer before you get worried. If you're not into the 40s by the end of the first tank let us know. In the mean time, be sure to look at the stickies under the Fuel economy forum and read the article linked in the second sticky.

08-21-2006, 04:22 PM	#6
eagle33199 Platinum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,594 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	The break in period is usually considered to be around 5000 miles, with a secondary break in again sometime later (10,000 maybe?). The big point is to just enjoy the car at first, get used to how it feels to drive. then you can start really paying attention and trying to improve you mileage!

08-21-2006, 09:19 PM	#9
kn6vv Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Loveland, CO Posts: 71 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #8 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	I just started my 3rd tank of gas. When I picked up the Prius at the dealer two weeks ago, it had 11 miles on the odometer and the "average" milage shown was like 18mpg. This of course was not realistic as much of those 11 miles were at idle sitting at the dealer or driving on/off the boat from Japan but at the end of the first tank I reset the MPG average showing 48mpg. The second tank with real driving conditions netted an average of 51.8 mpg and seems to be steady there in the low 50s with both highway and city driving! I only have 800 mjiles on the car so others tell me to expect it to improve! Read the PriusChat tips on good mileage as this has been a big help to me! Enjoy and good luck. Tom KN6VV

08-21-2006, 09:28 PM	#10
omega II Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Augusta Posts: 20 My Car: 2009 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	my first tank i got 60mpg city/highway, my next tank was highway (70mph) and i got 69mpg. i really didn't think i was going to get even close to these numbers, but it happen. this was done on a new 06.