Alternative Break-In Procedure

[PriusFan808]

Check out this article on break-in procedure. It makes sense but I would like to hear some opinions.

Break In Secrets--How To Break In New Motorcycle and Car Engines For More Power

[tandblov]

Link?

[Skwyre7]

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

[patsparks]

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.

[qbee42]

Originally Posted by patsparks

<snip> 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

[fred]

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...

[PriusFan808]

Thanks everyone. I will follow manual but will add one nice hard acceleration within first 20 miles for good measure.

[Boo]

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?

[richard schumacher]

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.

[HardCase]

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.