Used hybrid car: what to expect when it’s time for maintenance

Hybrid cars have been a reality in Brazil for more than a decade and are common in the used market. The first model of this type here was the Mercedes-Benz S400, from 2010, and the first in volume was the Toyota Prius, in 2013.

With this time, it is already possible to know how they age and if maintenance becomes complicated over the years. Let’s answer the main questions about used hybrid cars here.

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Does a hybrid car require any different maintenance?

There is a myth that hybrid cars are more expensive to maintain because there are two types of propulsion. In practice, this is not quite the case: their maintenance plan is very similar to that of a purely combustion model.

Let’s take the Toyota Corolla Hybrid as an example. In his maintenance plan, the only different service is to change the battery’s air filter every 30 thousand km or 3 years. Every 40 thousand km or 4 years, it is necessary to inspect the battery coolant and transmission fluid, changing it if the need is detected.

The rest of the maintenance plan is identical to that of the purely combustion version. In the case of the Corolla and its brother Corolla Cross, the engine of the hybrid version does not have direct injection; Therefore, there is no recommendation to use a tank of gasoline after driving 10 thousand km only with ethanol.

In the GWM Haval H6 plug-in hybrid, which has more powerful electric motors and a larger battery, periodic overhaul is also simple. Additional services are changing the DHT gearbox oil and changing the electric motor coolant, both every 5 years or 60 thousand km.

In Honda and Ford hybrids, the maintenance plan does not change compared to a similar combustion model. The Japanese brand only stipulates a longer period for changing the transmission oil: every 150 km or 6 years.

We consulted the mechanic Ludovico Ballesteros, owner of Pitucha Centro Automotivo. Based on his experience, the cars that have the most reports of defects are precisely the best sellers, for statistical reasons.

So far, I don’t see a specific model that gives much more problem than the others. The biggest risk is in cars that have not been serviced correctly or have been inadequately maintained.”

Engine and oil wear on hybrid cars

A hybrid car ends up demanding less from the combustion engine, as it works with the help of the electric and can be turned off for long periods. Does this mean that changing the oil and other parts can be postponed? Not quite.

For Ludovico Ballesteros, the maintenance plan also needs to be respected by the action of time:

As the engine is turned off at various times, it tends to suffer less wear. But the oil must be changed on time, because time also influences its durability.”

Another determining factor for the durability of an engine is to work within the ideal operating temperature. According to the expert, the car’s electronic management takes care that the engine works this way, even with the operation of hybrid systems including periods with it off.

The dreaded battery

A common argument for criticizing used electric and hybrid cars is the high price of the battery pack. The complete replacement of this component is really expensive, but it is not commonplace.

Today there is an industry standard of offering an 8-year warranty for this component, coverage that exceeds that of the rest of the vehicle. The mechanic says he has not yet received hybrid cars in his workshop with battery problems:

In most cases that arrive at the workshop, the problem is not in the high-voltage battery, but in other components of the vehicle.”

In full hybrid cars, the battery is small and less required than in an electric or plug-in hybrid. It never runs out of charge and is always being recharged by the engine or by regeneration.

Is it worth buying a used hybrid car?

The purchase of a used hybrid car can be evaluated as that of a combustion model. What will dictate whether it is a good option or not is the state of conservation and the maintenance done correctly.

Our recommendation is always to look for models that are more popular on the market, which means that maintenance will be more guaranteed. As they are more economical, hybrids are popular among taxi drivers and app drivers.

During the evaluation, check if the wear on the rear seat and door rubbers is accentuated, as they are indications of professional use. Finding a good used hybrid can pay off with fewer trips to the gas station.