Hybrid cars are a combination of an electric car and gasoline car. There is an internal combustion engine in the hybrid car which generates power when you need to drive faster than 25 or 30 miles per hour. But if you’re doing a lot of in-town or city driving that is less than 25 miles per hour, there is an electric motor which generates power for the driving. That way, you’re not exhausting your engine or polluting the environment with as many carbon emissions.
Since there is still an internal combustion engine in a hybrid car, it requires oil to lubricate the engine’s components. Even though the engine doesn’t get used as frequently, it still requires lubrication for its components just the same. Of course, the interval between oil changes tends to be longer in a hybrid car, depending on how much slower driving you do. But most hybrid car manufacturers will recommend the same interval length as gasoline car manufacturers. This is their way of being on the safe side.
The minimum interval recommendation between oil changes is 3,000 miles. Choosing a better-quality oil, such as synthetic oil, could allow you to go 7,000 miles between oil changes. Synthetic oil costs more money, but it also saves you more money in the long run. You’re only going to pay about $50 for synthetic versus $30 for traditional. Meanwhile, you’ll be able to drive an extra 4,000 miles before your next oil change. That sure sounds like a good deal.
Maintenance and Repair Tips
When you’re maintaining or repairing a hybrid vehicle, it’ll be almost the same experience as maintaining or repairing a gasoline vehicle. But there are some tips you should consider because there are a few differences in how you take care of the vehicle.
1) User Lower Weight Oil
A lower weight oil is better for a hybrid car engine if you want the lubrication to be good. Many hybrid car manufacturers recommend 0W20 oil rather than the traditional 5W20. Check the owner’s manual to confirm.
2) Get Repairs at Your Dealership
If your hybrid vehicle starts to experience major problems, such as bad suspension shocks or bad elector motor brushes, then you’ll need to have a professional mechanic replace them. However, you can’t just go to any mechanic because not all of them are trained to work on hybrid vehicles. You must go to the dealership which sold you the vehicle to get this work done.
3) Perform Simple Maintenance Tasks Yourself
Since you’re forced to go to your dealership each time you need professional maintenance work done, it is better to do the simpler maintenance tasks yourself. Things like putting air in your tires, adding windshield wiper fluid, cleaning the cabin, and checking the power of the battery are all tasks you can do yourself.
Read also:
- How do Self-Driving Cars Work in the Snow?
- 5 Best Automatic Cars for New Drivers
- How to Make Your Car Battery Last Longer
Hybrid Car Costs
There is a misconception that hybrid cars are expensive. That is no longer the case because the cheapest hybrid car is around $20,000. This will give you all the basic features of a hybrid car, such as the electric motor and gasoline engine combination. But if you want a fancier hybrid car, you can pay upwards of $100,000 for one. The oil change costs will remain the same either way. The least you’ll pay for an oil change is $20, and the most is $70. The type of oil and the service costs of the auto dealership will determine the total cost.
After your hybrid vehicle reaches 80,000 miles on the odometer, you’ll need to have your dealership replace the elector motor brushes and suspension shocks if you haven’t done so already. The cost is only around $100, so it’s not that much.
