Car Maintenance For Hybrids – Are you thinking about buying a plug-in hybrid vehicle? If so, there are a few things you need to know to achieve the best fuel economy possible with regular maintenance.
Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) are especially popular when they are crossovers or SUVs. Not only are they great family vehicles, but their hybrid technology makes them extremely fuel efficient. Servicing standard gasoline cars is something we’re all used to, but what about servicing plug-in hybrid cars?
Car Maintenance For Hybrids
Since all PHEVs have an electric motor and a gasoline engine, routine maintenance is still necessary, such as oil and filter changes, radiator coolant checks, brake and power steering fluid checks, hose checks, spark plug checks, air conditioning. Unit checks, as well as checking the suspension, fuel filter and pump, and checking tire wear and rotation.
Electric Car Maintenance
However, there are a few more things worth checking out on the PHEVS, such as a hybrid battery, hybrid air filter, inverter cooling, regenerative braking, and a charging port. As with all modern cars, all of these items can be checked during service at your local Lithia Auto dealership. We connect an on-board diagnostic scanner (OBDII) to monitor the inputs and outputs of your car’s sensors to read any trouble codes used in diagnostic procedures. Each code corresponds to a specific error in the system.
Hybrid Battery – Hybrid batteries are used to power your PHEV when the gasoline engine is not in use. A battery health check ensures your battery is working properly to help maximize performance and efficiency.
Inverter Coolant: The technician checks for coolant leaks. The inverter cooler is different from the engine cooler in the gasoline-powered system. An inverter converts DC power to AC power to run the electric motor.
Regenerative braking: Hybrids and plug-in hybrids use regenerative braking that takes the kinetic energy used during braking and stores it in the hybrid battery pack. The stored energy from regenerative braking recovery increases the original energy supply. We will also check the fixation of the brakes. This happens when the brake pads stick to the brake rotor, causing the car to slow down even when the brakes are not applied.
Hv/ev Lifting Guidelines
Charging Port: We always inspect the charging port for damage and replace damaged parts as necessary.
As with any gasoline-powered vehicle, you should check your PHEV hybrid’s components every 3,000 to 5,000 miles when your vehicle is due for an oil change.
Consult the car manufacturer’s service recommendations as shown in the owner’s manual. If you need to contract your plug-in hybrid service, let Lithia help you. With over 280 dealers from coast to coast, our ASE-certified technicians make refurbishing your mixer quick and easy.
Dave Nichols is Lithia Motors’ online research center and content marketing copywriter. He worked with Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond to develop online car portal Drive Tribe. His current work includes reviewing cars as a presenter of the “Cruisin'” road test video on YouTube.
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If you own a hybrid vehicle or are considering purchasing one, it’s important to understand what maintenance work this eco-friendly option requires. Continue reading to learn more about hybrid car maintenance.
Just like a regular gasoline vehicle, your hybrid vehicle needs to have its brakes serviced. Good news? Some hybrid vehicles have longer brake life than their conventional non-hybrid counterparts due to regenerative braking.
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Many hybrid vehicles use regenerative braking, which converts the vehicle’s braking or braking into electricity. Regenerative braking helps both stop the vehicle and charge the high-voltage battery.
The braking system automatically allocates part of the braking force to energy regeneration and another part to the conventional hydraulic braking system. The combination of mechanical and regenerative braking gives many hybrids and electric vehicles exceptional brake pedal feel. Typically, this means that your hybrid vehicle’s brake pads or shoes will wear more slowly than those on non-hybrid vehicles.
Depending on your hybrid vehicle, you may be able to go more than 100,000 miles before needing to replace the brakes, compared to 50,000 to 60,000 miles for a conventional vehicle. However, it is still a good idea to have your vehicle inspected each time it is delivered, and it is always important to check your vehicle’s Manufacturer Recommended Maintenance Schedule (MSMS). Due to extended service intervals for hybrid vehicle brakes, some OEMs recommend periodic inspection and lubrication of braking hardware as part of the MSMS.
Do hybrid cars need an oil change? While hybrid vehicles use electricity to operate under certain driving conditions, they still use an internal combustion engine (ICE) from time to time, which means they require oil changes.
The Difference Between Plug In And Standard Hybrid Cars
Hybrids rely on a high-voltage battery pack to partially propel the vehicle before the ICE starts. Then the forces mix between the two. Unless other components such as the motor or auxiliary fan system are neglected, these battery packs can last quite a long time.
If you have a plug-in hybrid, it’s important to keep it charged. Charging your battery regularly will help ensure you use as much electricity as possible from the high-voltage battery pack, helping you save gas. The best charging strategy varies by make and model, so consult your owner’s manual for advice.
Some hybrid vehicles have an air-cooled battery pack and some air-cooled battery packs have a useful air filter. Like the motor, the hybrid battery produces a lot of heat. With an air-cooled battery, a fan cools the air by filtering it and pushing it over the battery. The battery filter should be checked and replaced occasionally.
Some hybrid parts do not require regular maintenance as frequently, but your vehicle should still be serviced regularly. Tire rotations, brake fluid checks, engine air filter replacements, high-voltage cooling system checks, and other SMS services you’ll want to keep an eye on.
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Hybrid vehicles have many advantages, but like regular gasoline vehicles, they need maintenance from time to time. Unlike traditional vehicles, finding a mechanic with the skills and knowledge necessary to service your hybrid can be difficult. Skip the dealership and visit your local Firestone Complete Auto Care for all your hybrid car needs.
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Toyota Hybrid Cars
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