Featured Hybrids Hard On Engines

I'm actually thinking, maybe the reason for the front defrost to force engine on, is related to boiling water out of the oil too. If its cold enough that you need to defrost the window, then you also bring the engine up to temp that way.

And I also wonder if the engine on time, where it requires the engine on before EV mode kicks in next (after first engine start), is extended based on the temperature outside, based on the ECU. Wouldn't surprise me.

At the end of the day, I'm going to trust Toyota - but change the oil a little more often than once a year since it gets so cold here, and I assume that "Severe" service schedule is better followed for 2x a year oil changes.

 

We have the fortunate scenario of being able to park in a heated garage that we keep at around 60°f when temperatures drop well below 0°f. Crossing fingers that will stop any moisture intrusion into the lube of both of our plugins.
.

 

engine has to run to produce enough heat to defrost the window. heat pump might not be enough, it's a safety thing.
i trusted toyota up until 87,000 miles, when the engine shakes started.

 

I saw that video. It's clickbait. He waited until the very end to say the relevant parts.

I think, more than anything else, he was advertising Mobile 1's new hybrid variant of motor oil. Maybe that's good news, but seriously - it took someone two freaking decades to finally come out with a motor oil designed for hybrid engines?

 

AND they do not support the latest hybrid engines?? (2025 Camry 2.5L)

 

Eh, the hybrid oil has only been out for a year. The only full hybrids not using 0w20 in the US are newer Toyotas. Most of which are still under Toyota care for oil changes.

 

Yep, I change oil/filter in our Toyota's every 6-months or 5,000 miles....hybrid or not. Sad to see so many (especially on Toyota Nation) arguing that 10,000 mile oil changes are just fine.
Okay, good luck with that.....

 

If one doesn't take into account how long the oil sits in the crankcase , our MB Sprinter calls for 10k-20k miles between changes. Yikes !
.

 

I do 1K and 5 k thereafter no matter the time elapsed.

It has been since 1989 that I had to replace an engine (Chrysler/Dodge).

My cars sell at about 70k miles for more than KBB or others estimate because I can show a maintenance history.

By 70k and 8-9 years there are significant enough improvements in safety and comfort features that I want the change.

Only 3 more years and by then I will be in assisted living where there are no chargers as of now. So we will see what the situation is then.

 

More like every 5,000 miles/6 months (or 10,000 miles/12 months, depending on your driving and risk tolerance), whichever comes first, and the manufacturer-recommended viscosity throughout the year. For me, it’s cheaper to get both oil change and tire rotation rather than only tire rotation; so, I change the oil every 5,000 miles/6 months.

 

I have always followed the owner's manual for our maintenance on our hybrids.

Always used Walmart Super Tech oil that met the requirements specified in the owners manual.
Our 2008 Prius we bought new had 120,000 miles on it after 12 years when we traded it in. Our current PHEV Hybrid has 65,000 miles on it with no issues.

Believe if you follow the owner's manual recommendations on oil and change interval you will probably do just fine.

Hybrids need no 'special' oil in my humble opinion - Walmart Super Tech 'cheap' Synthetic that meets the owners manual requirements will do just fine.

 

From the little I've seen about it, this Mobil hybrid oil might be worth it for a PHEV. It is claimed to be formulated to address the extra fuel and water that can end up in the oil. Could even help for any car that sees just really short trips.

That said, I wouldn't pay more for it than Supertech/Kirkland unless I was considering the extended drain interval.

 

That comment about short trips makes one wonder. When our plug-in (maybe many manufacturers plugins?) runs a level one maintenance cycle - it typically run for maybe 5 - 7 minutes (less than ½ of ⅛ of a gallon) ... which hardly seems long enough to burn off impurities & moisture.
(it'll only burn fuel longer if level 2 maintenance - down to under 1 gallon to assure no stale gas - or sub 0° temps).
.

 

Mobil 1 Hybrid does not exist in SAE 0W-16, which is what the modern Priuses use.

Moreover, Mobil 1 Extended Performance is a far better oil than Mobil 1 Hybrid. It has more antioxidants than Mobil 1 Hybrid for even longer oil-change intervals. Mobil 1 Hybrid is a mid-grade between Mobil 1 and Mobil 1 Extended Performance. That said, SAE 0W-16 is only available in the Mobil 1 vanilla flavor. Perhaps the oil blenders are staying away from making extended oil-change intervals for thinner grades out of oil-shear and other performance concerns.

I use the bulk TGMO 0W-16 at the dealer; so, I don't worry about picking an oil. TGMO also has polyol ester, more boron, and more moly than off-the-shelf oils.

 

While one topic people love to debate is oil to ad infinitum any oil that meets the spec for your vehicle will work just fine
For newer Prius it is
0w-16
IL SAC GF- 6B
The cheapest oil that meets that spec would be just fine -
if you can't find 0w-16 Toyota says it is no big deal just use 0w-20

I've seen this on sale at Walmart for right around $20, right now it cost around $25- it would work just fine
Amazon.com: Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic 0W-16 Gasoline Engine Oil, 5 Quart : Automotive

 

Well, the quality of oils do vary from blender to blender. But the problem is that you typically don't know which one is better; so, you are stuck with the certification. You can also look at the PQIA tests. It is not very common, but sometimes an oil that claims a certification does not actually meet that certification.

The Petroleum Quality Institute of America

How do these blenders actually meet these certifications? It is simple—they buy a generic preapproved additive package from an additive company and blend it with an approved base oil. This should normally be fine. When you buy from companies like Mobil 1 etc., they actually do not buy generic preapproved additive packages but develop their own additive packages subjected to expensive engine tests. While you are paying for a premium when you buy an oil like Mobil 1 etc., this could actually be worth it, as you might end up with a better additive package. They might use a better base oil as well. Extended-performance oils also have more antioxidant for longer oil drains. At the end of the day, when you pay for a premium oil like Mobil 1 or an extended-performance oil, your engine might actually benefit. Mobil 1 is really cheap at Walmart; so, you don't have much to complain about.

 

Hasn't this video already been posted as a topic?

Hybrids Hard On Engines | PriusChat

not that i'm looking for a moderator job

.

 

This is misinformation... The notion that 80% of engine wear happens on startups and that it takes 12seconds or more for oil to reach all the parts of the engine is a problem specific to big V8 engines that are started when cold and its way less than 12 seconds in a modern engine. A four cylinder engine in a hybrid with a heat storage system that has been optimized for lots of start and stops is almost always at near standard temperature under normal operating conditions except very briefly under start up if the car has been sitting for a long time.

As for the notion that an engine runs too cold which increases moisture in the engine, sure, but a hybrid car under normal driving conditions doesn't get overly cold, only when you first start the engine, not every time you start and stop...

Of course this video is paid for by the oil industry and they lie about so much so often that they don't even know what reality is anymore... I mean the guy claimed that this brand of motor oil was good for 19K miles. Lol...

The truth is that Hyrbid cars use their gas engine a 1/3 to a 1/2 as often as a regular cars and that creates less wear and tear/longer lifespan on the engine.

Of course in his example you live on an island and can't drive very far and your engine never gets warm enough, thus your engine will wear out faster than a regular engine, unless of course you use the particular brand of motor oil the guy is getting paid to sell... Lol...

 

What heat storage system is there on a hybrid besides the engine and coolant mass?
The thermos didn't continue to the gen3.