Is engine oil required in hybrid cars?

Just like classic gas-powered cars, hybrid cars require engine oil since the non-electrical part of their engine system needs a constant lubrication. Because of hybrid cars’ engine specifications, and to guarantee the longevity of the engine parts, the products you use must be chosen with care. Learn how to maintain your hybrid car with TotalEnergies.

Do hybrid cars need engine oil?

Unlike cars functioning with a combustion engine only, hybrid cars are equipped with two engines: an electric engine and a combustion engine. Thus, to function properly, this type of vehicle needs both electricity and fuel. Hybrid cars’ engines generally work one after the other but, in some situations, they can also work together.

Hybrid cars usually rely on the electric engine when the vehicle starts and when it is running at a speed between 45 and 80 mph. If the route you are taking requires it or if the battery is not charged enough, the combustion engine will help the electric one. In case of a brutal acceleration, both engines work simultaneously. These different stages refer to three types of traction: the electric traction (electric engine only), the thermal traction (combustion engine only) and the hybrid traction (both electric and combustion engines).

In hybrid cars as in gas-powered cars, the combustion engine needs to be permanently lubricated. That is why both these types of cars require engine oil. As a reminder, engine oil is used to lubricate the different mechanical parts of combustion engines. This lubrication reduces friction between the various engine components and thus avoids increases in temperature, premature wear, and excessive deposit accumulation. 

Why do hybrid cars need specific engine oil?

In hybrid cars, the combustion engine is helped by the electric one, which explains why the combustion engine operates at a lower temperature compared to classic gas-powered cars. It is strongly advised to use an engine oil that is recommended by the manufacturer for the engine components to be properly lubricated.

Furthermore, the switch between the electric engine and the combustion engine can cause cold starts which can impact the vehicle’s performance. Using the right engine oil reduces these risks and allows you to:

• Prevent corrosion development.
• Reduce the combustion engine’s wear.
• Reduce your fuel consumption.
• Keep your car’s performance.

An economical and high-performance engine oil

For those who have chosen a hybrid vehicle, TotalEnergies has developed Quarts Ineo Xtra and Quarts 9000 Xtra. These engine oils are economical, efficient and have been conceived to increase the life and the performance of combustion engines in hybrid cars.