A couple of newbie questions

Your Prius doesn't need any special break-in procedures in terms of speed, miles, handling or option use. I only use ECO mode, but it really doesn't matter which mode you select. For consistently good MPGs, just drive easy, with slow, smooth accelerations. The owner's manual talks about easy accelerating and coasting to red lights whenever traffic allows. Doing this stuff has nothing to do with breaking in the Prius, but has everything to do with achieving good MPGs.

As far as the MFD, I've never paid attention to whether or not I can turn it off. I do know that it has a user-accessible menu for selecting certain default display options. Again, check your owner's manual for detailed instructions on accessing the display menu. I prefer to have full access to the MFD as I use it to gauge my driving smoothness.

 

The Gen 2 owner's manual advised gentle starts and braking during the first 600 miles for mechanical break-in and long engine life, but that was more-or-less independent of any MPG considerations. Is there no such advice in the Gen III manual?

 

If you're just starting out with the car and want good MPGs, you may like pakitt's post here. It's called Tips & tricks for the “normal†driver to achieve satisfying fuel efficiency on the Prius Gen 3.

You can do all that pulse and glide and warp stealth and other fun stuff, but I think they main key part of all that is knowing when you can take your foot off the gas (thus reducing fuel consumption to zero) and allowing the car to roll without using any fuel. Just doing that when approaching stops can yield surprisingly good results.

 

Drive it like you stole it! J/K Observe recommendations in owners manual, don't drive to fast or at a contestant speed for a long time or accelerate rapidly avoid braking hard. I don't think there is a break in period as far as achieving high MPG's. I got my highest Cons. indication on my first tank of fuel 57.7 MPG it came out to my second highest actual 54.12 MPG. Highest actual MPG 55.18 MPG, Cons. for that tank was 57.2 MPG. I have about 3500 miles on the car so far and have filled up 8 times now MPG's have stayed right around the mid 50's. I think your route and environmental conditions play a greater roll in the MPG's that the newness of your auto.

 

I decided to heed caution and mostly limit speeds to 65 mph during break-in up to 800 miles. This means driving in the slow lane.

 

Oh. Then my tip about rolling with zero fuel consumption probably won't be all that useful. It's generally only useful when the car has warmed up.