It Turns Out, Hybrids Are Really Hard On Engines

Summary by Krater

This video explains why hybrid vehicles are tough on internal combustion engines due to frequent start-stop cycles, low operating temperatures, water condensation, and fuel dilution, and discusses how specialized motor oils and anti-wear and demulsifier additives mitigate these issues.

From the video

Answers: Why are hybrid cars hard on engine oil and how do hybrid motor oils protect against engine wear?

• hybrid vehicle engine wear
• frequent start-stop cycles
• engine oil viscosity grades
• water condensation in engine oil
• fuel dilution in engine oil
• anti-wear additives
• demulsifier additives
• API SP motor oil specifications

What it concludes

• 80 to 90 percent of engine wear occurs during engine startup.
• Hybrid engines run 20 to 40 degrees Celsius cooler on average than traditional gasoline engines.
• Cooler operating temperatures in hybrid engines increase water condensation and fuel dilution in the engine oil.
• Demulsifier additives break down oil-water emulsions to reduce the likelihood of mayonnaise-like sludge forming in the engine.
• API SP certified motor oils include seven additional industry standardized tests compared to API SN to protect against valvetrain wear, low temperature sludge, chain wear, LSPI, and piston deposits.