December 07, 2018
Hybrid cars are not high maintenance; they require the same amount of maintenance as almost any other car. Hybrids have internal combustion engines, cooling systems, brakes, and transmissions too.
To simplify, let’s compare hybrid cars to hybrid dogs.
Dog lovers know that every puppy has a unique personality from the time you pick them out of the litter. Whether a rescue, high dollar purchase from a breeder, or a fancy blend of your two favorite breeds (Pomsky or Bernedoodle), that dog is a true individual.
Expectations for a purebred or “designer” dog may be a bit skewed. For example, you may think that these types of dogs exhibit different (and possibly better) behaviors than say, a mutt. (Spoiler alert: They eat poop just like the rest of them.)
Purebred dogs will ruin your shoes, chew on your favorite furniture leg, and tinkle on the carpet. The same goes for hybrid dogs. Your Labradoodle may be the smartest dog in the room, or she may spend hours staring at a dripping faucet and barking at leaves that blow across the yard.
No matter the type, all dogs have the same basic food and medical requirements. They all need heartworm pills, good food, exercise and lots of love. Regular grooming and trips to the vet equal a happy and healthy pet.
For example, any vehicle you put gasoline into these days likely has a fuel injection system. This system requires maintenance to run smoothly and efficiently. Dirty injectors will impact both hybrid and “purebred” vehicles.
Once your car is fueled up, it’s going to warm up, so keeping your cooling system running efficiently and effectively is crucial. That warm engine will get the car moving.
Hybrids use regenerative braking to power up the batteries that keep the car cool and comfortable. When the engine switches off at idle, keeping these batteries protected, maintained and functioning at their top capacity is critical. On top of maintaining the batteries to store that transferred power, your brakes must be at the top of their game every time you get behind the wheel. This will protect you and yours from driving dangers.
There’s a lot going on under the hood of any vehicle. That’s why maintenance is so important. If you take proper care of it, your dependable car will keep you on the road and help you meet all your important appointments. Like getting to the vet, visiting the dog park and picking up treats.
But, regularly scheduled maintenance can protect you from automotive failures and save you money in the long run.
Be good to your car, and it will be good to you.
Your trusted advisor in automotive maintenance,
Tommy
By Tommy Garcia
BG Technical Sales Engineer
Tommy has 20 years of experience in industrial maintenance. He is a hot rod enthusiast and lover of all things automotive. Before his role as BG Tommy Garcia, is a Technical Sales Engineer for International Trade Operations at BG Products, Inc. Tommy has 20 years of experience in industrial maintenance. He is a hot rod enthusiast and lover of all things automotive. Before serving in his current role at BG, he was the Shop Foreman for the BG Proving Ground.