Uh oh.<br><br>I think I broke the break-in rule about 62 mph<br>in the first 2000 miles. I got the car (a<br>TRAC car) with about 1080 miles on it. The<br>first night I had it, I conducted a brief <br>test of the fluorescent display's 10^2 digit<br>driver, with the selector on "MPH". The next<br>weekend, I took it on a ~400 mile trip, where<br>I hit normal highway speeds of 70 to 75 or so.<br><br>I know it really doesn't work this way, but I<br>can't help thinking that I have inadvertently<br>activated the "auto engine destruct" that trips<br>at 62.1 MPH and less than 2000 miles. Also,<br>since it was a TRAC car, it may have been<br>subjected to more hideous things in its tender<br>youth.<br><br>If anyone has any words of reassurance (or alarm)<br>I would appreciate it. Thanks!<br><br>Matt Roberds

My understanding is the break in period is the first 600 miles.

Actually, the prescribed break-in period is a maximum speed of 100 km/h (about 62 mph) for the first 1000 km (or 620 miles). It seems the distance of 620 miles had already been exceeded by the time you got the car, and since there is no way of knowing how it was driven before, it's being a former TRAC vehicle, don't worry about it. Short periods of speeds over 100 km/h will probably not be a problem. It's got a good warranty so any damage which may have been done by people who drove it differently (unlikely prospect because it was probably drive in town traffic, unless you're in a place where highway driving is mandatory, like LA) will probably show up and be covered. BTW: Did your dealer certify it as a "Toyota Certified Used Vehicle"? That will give you even more coverage...Good Luck! Enjoy it and don't worry!!<br>Alan

I think I have seen this before, but I can't find it: Why is this restriction in place? I understand why you want not to run an ICE at too many RPMs for a while, but since the car speed is not directly related to the ICE speed, and in fact the ICE speed is already limited by the computer, why the limit? Something to do with conditioning the battery?<br><br>And for that matter, if the ICE or the battery want to be coddled for a while, why not program that into the computer?<br><br>Burns

I used to think the 62 MPH limit was to keep the ICE below 4000 RPM (it's original maximum RPM), but updated information on the maximum generator speed and the scale factor from MPH to motor RPM pretty soundly killed that theory. So we need a new one. How about: all Toyota manuals have a description of a break-in period, so the Prius manual got the default description because no-one could figure out what else to say :-)<br><br>Or my favorite: The restriction is there to demonstrate to you that it's actually fairly pleasant to cruise down the highway at the reduced speed. Once they get you hooked on the feeling, you'll keep doing it, thus getting better mileage and thus creating a better reputation for the car :-) But a standard equipment CC would have helped if this was a goal.<br><br>Robert Snyder<br>NJ-PIKACHU

Thanks for the responses!<br><br>I was being lazy so I didn't go out to the car to<br>look up the break-in period in the manual. Having<br>that ~600 mile period makes me feel better. As<br>far as I know the car was not a Toyota Certified<br>Used Car.<br><br>The roads and terrain around here (Tulsa) don't<br>require lots of freeway driving, but there are<br>a couple of turnpikes with 75 MPH limits.<br>However, the furthest you'd probably go from<br>Tulsa on one of these is about 30 miles before<br>you'd get off onto a secondary road. I think<br>it is likely that the car was driven mostly<br>around town.<br><br>Basically I didn't really *think* any harm had<br>been done but I *felt* concerned about it.<br>Now I don't feel I have much to worry about. :)<br><br>Matt Roberds