How to Maintain Your Hybrid Car

Feb 5, 2020 | Automotive Advice, Blog, Car Maintenance

Toyota Hybrid Hood
They’re all the rage now, whether you care about the environment, the improved fuel economy, or some degree of both. There is an increasing number of hybrid cars on the roads and you’ve likely debated getting one yourself – or you already own one. What maintenance do you need to do to keep your hybrid car happy? That will depend to a degree on which hybrid car you purchase, but there are some general rules of thumb.
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    Hybrid Cars Vary in their Ratio of Gas to Electric

    Not all hybrid cars are made equal, so it’s good to know about your specific model and get familiar with its level of hybridization and required maintenance. Over the last decade, a slew of hybrids have entered the market, each with their own benefits.

    How are Hybrid Cars Different?

    Essentially, what makes a hybrid a hybrid is the fact that it uses two powertrains. They use both an electric motor and a gas engine, which means you get some benefits while still having some of the same maintenance to carry out. Car manufacturers are learning how to best balance the benefits of both electric and gas-run car parts.

    You Still Have to Maintain the Gas Engine

    That means much of the maintenance you associate with non-hybrid, non-electric cars will also have to be done on your hybrid car. The benefit of keeping a gas engine in a hybrid car is that they are not range-limited like full-electric cars, which need to be plugged in and charged.

    Hybrid vehicle engine

    What Maintenance is Required for Hybrid Cars?

    Hybrid car maintenance is not necessarily so different from regular car maintenance. Having an electric motor has its benefits for the longevity of your hybrid car and doesn’t mean any extra maintenance services, but there are also some potentially pricey repairs you may run into.

    Less Wear and Tear on the Gas Engine

    There are times while driving that your gas engine will shut down and the car is run by the electric motor instead. This means that overall there is less wear and tear on the engine and therefore you’ll need a bit less servicing to maintain the engine. Also with less wear and tear, your engine oil will not become dirty as fast as in a regular car.

    Plug in charge

    You’ll Still Need Regular Oil Changes

    Despite there being less wear and tear on engine parts, you do still need to get regular oil changes for your hybrid car. Your gas engine does still require fresh engine oil to run properly and efficiently. Engine oil starts to degrade after about six months, so regardless of what type of car you have if there’s a gas engine, oil changes are necessary. With that said, you can potentially go a bit longer in between oil changes if you have a hybrid.

    Keep an Eye on Fluid Levels

    You will still have to maintain certain fluid levels in a hybrid car. This includes keeping an eye on your engine oil levels in case you have a leak or your engine starts burning oil. You don’t want the oil level to get too low, or else it can cause damage to the inner parts of your car’s engine, just like a regular car.

    Your hybrid also has a cooling system that uses coolant to moderate engine temperature. This means you should keep an eye on coolant levels and top it off if you notice it getting too low. If your coolant level gets too low, your engine runs the risk of overheating, which leads to increased wear and tear.

    AAMCO Central Florida Mechanics Can Help Your Hybrid?

    If you’re not sure where to take your hybrid car for maintenance, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with the hybrid car experts at AAMCO Central Florida transmission repair. Our mechanics are trained to work on all varieties of hybrid and electric cars, so no matter what type of car you drive, we can perform maintenance and repairs.

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