Italian tune-up, Running the car hard once in a while?

Not sure of the efficacy, but one way to do this: find a steep up-hill drive, the longer the better. Like a treadmill for cars.

 

I like that, "Italian tuneup."

When I was working, I only lived 3 miles from work. So I would get out on the weekends and take an hour long freeway drive in my car, just to blow out the cobwebs.

Now being retired, I should probably do the same in my Prius.

 

Our daughter-in-law is Italian ancestry. We loaned our 2010 to them when they were having car troubles, she drove it mostly I believe. Mpg took a bit of a hit for that tank, but next tank, back in our hands, was really picked up.



It happened to be the tank where I also had added fuel injector cleaner, so maybe a one-two punch??

 

The consensus I get from here is that oil burning are from hard driving / acceleration. Italian tune up would be suicidal for the engine. Proper maintenance is all you need, manifold EGR.

 

I don't necessarily buy into the run the car hard theory.
First of all, my thinking is with a CVT transmission or with the Prius eCVT transmission, running red line is difficult as the Continuous Variable Transmission is by design made to try to keep the RPM and output in the most efficient ratio. It's kind of designed to NOT red line.

I do buy into running a vehicle at highway speeds for X amount of time. If I've been driving a lot city, stop and go, I try to take a highway based road trip, that will keep the vehicle at highway speeds for a couple of hours or more.

But I don't think this has to be "damaging" or HARD driving. I think it's good to get your engine up to highway running speeds, and highway running temperatures, for the same reasons given for "driving it hard".

 

I think a good hard run has more benefits for older engine designs that aren't really with us anymore.

In a Prius there's a computer between your foot and the throttle anyway. I've chosen to trust that the computer is exercising the engine exactly as much as it needs.

The modern equivalent would be to make a point of driving it on multiple road types: controlled access freeways as well as hilly twisty back roads.

 

I just completed 85 miles on the freeway. Maintained 70-74 mph. That's my weekend "blowout" of mice & spiders.

 

One thing I'll add- specific to certain newer vehicles, possibly including the camry originally mentioned?

Some modern engines use variable valve timing keyed to a certain RPM. If you are always operating below this threshold, the system isn't exercised.

 

Unlike non-hybrid ICE cars, the Prius keeps the engine closer to the maximum load and efficiency. Especially for gen. 4, when the engine's running, it's running at high load - both moving the car and charging the battery. The stronger the electrical side of the hybrid is the harder the engine works.

So I would only be concerned with engine maintenance. Keep the EGR and PCV systems clean and clear. Also run top tier gas with occasional fuel system cleaners. This will make the cylinders run cool and carbon free. And just drive it.

Pixel XL ?

 

Take on a steep up-hill, best way to get the revs up.