Hybrid Car Maintenance Tips

The hybrid cars are under hard scrutiny since their introduction. There are critiques on them as they deal with maintenance and parts. It is true that hybrid vehicles need special care. But these are reliable for many years without necessity of any serious maintenance. Hybrid vehicles are have the same parts as gasoline, so they do require the same type of maintenance that which gasoline cars required. This is including changing of oil and air filters.

• The battery packs in the hybrid vehicles are designed and manufactured to last for the vehicle's lifetime. This is 150,000 to 200,000 miles and more. The warranties on batteries are generally between eight to ten years and this varies as per the manufacturer.
• The maintenance costs for the hybrid vehicles are probably same as like other cars and even may less. This is because the wear and tear in the hybrid cars are less than the conventional gasoline engines.
• Servicing your car regularly as per the recommendations of the manufacturer will help avoid repairing for some reasons.
• If you do not use the car for a period three months because of any reason, experts recommended that, start the car once at ninety days for half an hour. If you leave the car for more than ninety days in dormant state, it may require your battery charging by a professional mechanic.
• Changing the oil for a hybrid vehicle are usually a longer time than a normal combination engine. This is because electric nature can take some load of the engine. Change the oil for your hybrid vehicle for around 5, 000 miles. You can use synthetic oil for your engine.
• Coasting means to move the car so that the energy generated because of the movement charges the battery.
• Applying brakes also charges your car battery. But do not use them unnecessarily they can cause excessive wear to the rotors and pads.
• Avoid fast starts or jack rabbit. Doing so will help you minimize the gasoline use while starting from standstill and allow the vehicle to use electricity.
• In cold weather, allow the battery and the vehicle for a proper time to warmup. Hybrid cars works better in warmer weather, so by warming up the vehicle properly you can reduce the wear which is cause by cold.
• Give servicing of the vehicle before the warranty expires. If there is any major problem in the battery or any other important part, it will cover the warranty and saves your money.
• Prefer for servicing at the dealership where you buy the car. If it is outsider, they may not work on it before, so check once again clearly before you go.

Approximately for every 40,000 miles in hybrid cars, air filters typically have to change. The regenerative braking properties in hybrid cars necessitates change in brake pads and oil need to less frequently.