How long was YOUR break in period?

[clummus]

I'm doing this on my phone, so I don't know how to do a poll on it, but I would love to hear from everyone about your break in period , what mpg you got at first, how long before you were getting in the 40 mpg range. chime in if you didn't have a break in period, like acddi who got in the 40 range driving home from the dealer.

[jeff_h]

Looking back at my fill-ups (you can click someone's fuelly link and scroll down and see their fill-up history), I have had 29 and it looks like the first 5 tanks were of lower MPG, before things really shaped up. Of course I got my car in January so weather was a bigger factor back then... as it will be during really hot periods.

[gadgetguy]

I noticed I was able to obtain some good numbers after approx 2-3k miles.

[Guardian_Bob]

250 miles to the 40 MPG.

 

I'm hoping for approximately 50 once my car is broken in.

[hermans]

I got great gas mileage from the start with both of my hybrids. With 25 miles on my FFH I took a 150 mile trip and got 45.4 MPG and I took a 1200+ mile trip with about 200 miles on the MKZ and got 44.8 average MPG.

 

In my case, I don't think a "break-in" period mattered.

[hybridbear]

I would say about 1000 ICE miles for break-in. It's hard to say because the ambient temp is such a factor in these cars. Your best bet to is just focus on driving and enjoying the car. With time your MPGs will increase as the tires and other components break in as well as the ICE break-in. Over time your MPGs will increase as you learn the car better and as parts break-in. It's very hard to separate the two

[acdii]

Based on past cars, the break in is multi staged, I really didnt hit really good numbers in any of them until I hit the 10K mark. They were consistent in that they got close to expected numbers, but were not at EPA from the very start, but within say 5%. Once they got past 10K miles then they really started to get easier to hit EPA, and after about 20K they exceeded EPA with ease. With this experience in hand, I amquite pleased seeing the numbers I get in the new one.

 

I also have been driving Hybrids since 2007, so at least 200K miles of Hybrid driving and getting some VERY good MPG numbers on the highways. When I first got the Prius I dont think I did more than 40 MPG in it for the first couple months until I got the hang of the Pulse and Glide and pedal moderation.

 

This New hybrid however is really a whole new breed with being able to EV up to 62 MPH, and maximizing the regen appear to be the KEY to good MPG. Jeff and hybridbear are the MPG gods here and have mastered the secrets of the new Fusion. part of it is their terrain, and part their attentiveness to their driving. They give great advice, and if you take it, you will be doing better than most who dont come here.

 

I myself do very well in the Hybrids, but still learning tricks to the new one, and my daily drive has a lot of terrain changes, Corncob can attest to that as he drove my route in his car one time and had a tough time getting what he normally gets.

 

So with all that noise being said, take break in period as a very small part of your overall MPG, majority of it is you. Learn that the brakes are your friend and treat them gently, the harder you use them the more energy you waste, so you want to think of it as slowing sooner, but gentler. There is the old adage about an egg on your gas pedal, now you have an egg perched on a pin and you dont want it to fall off, so imagine that egg on your dash about to fall off onto your lap and you are wearing some very expensive fancy clothes and use that to accelerate and brake.

[corncobs]

Double post sorry.

Edited June 6, 2013 by corncobs

[corncobs]

 

I myself do very well in the Hybrids, but still learning tricks to the new one, and my daily drive has a lot of terrain changes, Corncob can attest to that as he drove my route in his car one time and had a tough time getting what he normally gets.

 

 

Here is the thread that acdii is referring

 

http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/topic/6773-corncobs-vs-acdii-ffh-mpg-comparison/?do=findComment&comment=54459

 

I'm convinced that there is a break in period which I believe was somewhere around 3000 miles for me. But I also agree with most statements here that there is also a "break in period" for the driver, I think it's a bit easier for new hybrid drivers to adjust to the FFH.

For expierenced hybrid drivers it might be more difficult since the FFH is so different than other hybrids especially the once starting with T. I have never driven a hybrid before but with all the great information here I was able pick up different ideas and figured out what works best for me.

[keybman]

For my FFH, there was a definitive shift in MPG performance after the 3rd tank of gas, after 1355 miles.

 

1st 3 tanks - 40.3, 42.5, 45.8 MPG

Subsequent fill-ups - 50-51 MPG

 

However, as said earlier in this thread, the "break-in" period of time is not the only factor involved. For me, additional factors to consider were 1) Learning how to drive this hybrid (1st hybrid for me) 2) Replaced the 12v battery at the 1355 mile mark (was receiving trouble codes and warnings) and 3) Cooler temps outside for the 1st 3 tanks

Edited June 6, 2013 by keybman

[dalesky]

I only have just under 700 mi now, but from the start I have averaged 40.1MPG as of yesterday. I have filled the tank twice, and the dealer filled it once. I have not been conscious of using any break in procedures, but I have not yet exceeded 60MPG either. I am trying to get good mileage, and consciously start slower, use the eco cruise as much as possible, and coast whenever possible as I approach stop lights.

[clummus]

I am constantly watching.the empower Gage and trying to keep it in ev mode by letting off the gas each time it goes out of ev mode, braking slowly etc. still only 30 mpg.kinda disappointed.

[Guardian_Bob]

I am constantly watching.the empower Gage and trying to keep it in ev mode by letting off the gas each time it goes out of ev mode, braking slowly etc. still only 30 mpg.kinda disappointed.

 

So two things to try. First in Empower, during your trip hold OK and reset the MPG listed there. See which portions of your trip are sucking up the gas.

 

Second, use the MPG graph to find (based on time) where things are less happy.

[acdii]

I am constantly watching.the empower Gage and trying to keep it in ev mode by letting off the gas each time it goes out of ev mode, braking slowly etc. still only 30 mpg.kinda disappointed.

You may be trying too hard to use EV. If your pack levels are below 1/4 charge all the time, that would be a reason for the poor MPG. The ICE has to recharge the pack while propelling the car and the lower the pack charge, the harder the Ice needs to work. Braking smoothly and long on regen is the best return on the pack. As I mentioned before, depending on your speed, and distance, let the car try to manage the EV/ICE, just use light throttle to maintain speed, and when the pack reaches 60% or more, then slip it into EV, and when the ICE kicks back on, repeat. So far that seems to work the best for mine considering its mostly 55 MPH and hilly where I drive.

 

Use the coach screen too. Try to keep the top bar at or above 50%, and try to max out the middle one, and with practice( I have YET figured out this one) the bottom one will get up there too. If your middle bar is in the yellow, that right there is the main issue, you are not recovering enough energy back into the pack so the ICE has to do it.

[corncobs]

I think I have two pictures that show the "break in period" very well

 

First one of my early drives to work and it was a very good one at the time!

 

 

Now next the very same drive just from last Thursday; not a " good one " since I had drive as good as 51 MPG.

 

[Fynack]

Break in period is only so the piston rings can smooth out seat evenly. Even then these engines are not built then directly sent to dealers. Their tested and tested and tested before they even make it in the car. The break in period has been a old and traditional stalling technique by the auto makers and dealers.

[neod192]

Oh no ... :baby: strikes again! Break-in period is real, don't let anyone tell you otherwise :)

[clummus]

I can attest there is a break in period for the driver!!

[acdii]

Petunias you say!!!!!

[hybridbear]

The difference in MPG between the black FFH with 19,000 miles and the new white FFH with less than 300 miles is about 8-10 MPG right now. With the colder weather I was still getting 50-51 MPG in the black FFH. In the new one with similar temps and the same driving patterns we're only seeing 40-43 MPG so far. Some of that may be the impact of the 18-inch wheels, but the rest I attribute to "break-in". I don't know what has to "break-in", but I can say with 100% certainty that there is a definite break-in period because I am experiencing it right now.

[Riggo]

Bump

Edited November 30, 2013 by Riggo

[SteveB_TX]

Going on 9000 miles and I still have not "officially" broken the 40 mpg barrier. I say "officially" since the dash readout is a liar... it showed I got 43 mpg on one leg of my trip to Tennessee. But real world mpg was 39. :ohsnap:

[jtbogus]

It took my FFH about 4500 miles before my HVB battery display in Empower began to show a full charge up to the very top of the little battery icon. Before that, it would only show a max charge of about 4/5 up the battery icon. Mileage went up 6-8 mpg to about 48 at that time. It is very sensitive to the temp and load though, 3 pax and 30 degrees (climate on) brings mileage down to the high 30's, bummer.

 

JT

[hybridbear]

The difference in MPG between the black FFH with 19,000 miles and the new white FFH with less than 300 miles is about 8-10 MPG right now. With the colder weather I was still getting 50-51 MPG in the black FFH. In the new one with similar temps and the same driving patterns we're only seeing 40-43 MPG so far. Some of that may be the impact of the 18-inch wheels, but the rest I attribute to "break-in". I don't know what has to "break-in", but I can say with 100% certainty that there is a definite break-in period because I am experiencing it right now.

After another two days of driving I would estimate the difference at 10 MPG right now in the city. I hope that this is just "break-in" period MPG and not the impact of the 18-inch rims.

[Riggo]

After another two days of driving I would estimate the difference at 10 MPG right now in the city. I hope that this is just "break-in" period MPG and not the impact of the 18-inch rims.

 

I don't remember ever having a huge break-in period in my car. I'd like to see some kind of chart on people with the 17" wheels and 18" wheels and the difference in MPG. I average around 42.3 mpg lifetime with my 18" wheels. I can get 50+ on my way home from work through the city, but that's when the weather is warm enough. In this cold it's almost impossible, unless I keep the heat totally off which I have done because of the chemical smell in my hvac.

I assume your new car has all of the software updates.