Keep Your Hybrid Running Smoothly
Hybrid Vehicle Maintenance: How to Save Money and the Environment
Oil changes, coolant level checks, and spark plug replacements are all part of a maintenance program when you're maintaining a conventional gas vehicle, but what steps do you need to take when maintaining hybrid cars? Are they different? Yes. Whether you own a hybrid already or you're considering making the purchase, it's important to understand what maintenance tasks this option might require.
Extend the Life of Your Hybrid: Top Maintenance Tips for Longevity
One of the main aspects of vehicle maintenance is regular oil changes. The same applies to hybrid vehicles because they still have an internal combustion engine. Depending on your model and driving conditions, you may require an oil change every 5,000 to 10,000 miles. Ask your trusted mechanic or refer to your owner's manual for the recommended schedule. It would help if you were sure to take good care of your hybrid vehicle's battery. Like a standard gas vehicle, your hybrid vehicle must have its brakes serviced regularly. Some hybrid vehicles have a longer brake life than their conventional non-hybrid counterparts due to regenerative braking. Still, others must be replaced with higher frequency. Regenerate breaking helps to stop your vehicle and recharge the high-voltage battery. You may be able to go more than 100,000 miles before replacing your brakes compared to the 50,000 or 60,000 miles on a conventional vehicle. However, it's still a good idea to have them checked whenever a vehicle is serviced. Hybrids typically rely on a high-voltage battery pack to propel the car before the conventional engine starts. Extreme temperatures on either side of the scale are the enemy of any car battery, and your hybrid battery is no different. So, to get the high fuel efficiency you expect from a hybrid vehicle, keep its battery charged and well-maintained. The battery packs can last quite a while unless other components, such as the engine or auxiliary fan system, are neglected. Some hybrids feature an air-cooled battery pack, while others have air filters. The engine's hybrid battery can produce a lot of heat. With an air-cooled battery, a fan pushes cold air through a filter over the battery to cool it down. The battery filter will likely need to be inspected and replaced. From time to time. Some hybrid components don't require regular maintenance as often, but your vehicle still needs to be routinely serviced. You want to stay on top of tire rotations, brake fluid checks, engine air filter replacements, high-voltage cooling system inspections, and other services. Remember, with a hybrid vehicle, you're still driving a gasoline engine, but you must also maintain the electric motor. Sticking with a proactive maintenance schedule is the key to your vehicle's longevity and keeps costs lower for you.
Bring Us Your Hybrid Vehicle
Duane's Dealer Alternative is your go-to automotive shop for hybrid repair in the Safety Harbor, FL, area. It may be smaller and more luxurious than a dealership, but we take pride in providing superior automotive services at a reasonable price without the headaches of a dealership shop. We are locally owned and operated and focus on the community of Safety Harbor. Our customers will always come first, and we focus on the challenges like heat and saltwater that are part of Safety Harbor and your vehicle's maintenance. We can work on imports, including light and medium trucks, but specialize in Lexus and Toyota repair and maintenance services. We offer Toyota and Lexus factory-trained ASE-certified technicians in our shop and are at the leading edge of auto repair using state-of-the-art equipment and the best-certified technicians in the area. We provide all our customers with a 36-month/36,000-mile nationwide warranty through TechNet Professional Automotive Services. Give us a call today to get us started on your hybrid repair and get yourself back on the road as soon as possible.