02/02/2024 News

Advanced oils for hybrid cars

The specificity of the operation of internal combustion engines in hybrid systems places extremely high demands on oils. TotalEnergies explains why it is important to follow the recommendations of hybrid vehicle manufacturers when it comes to lubricants.

Once again, we have seen a clear increase in interest in hybrid cars. Both in showrooms and on the second-hand market, the sales of vehicles with this type of drive are increasing. Buyers appreciate the low fuel consumption in the urban cycle, but not only. Hybrid cars are perceived as reliable and almost maintenance-free.

TotalEnergies reminds us that the quality of the engine oil is extremely important for these designs. The specific nature of the operation of the combustion engine means that extremely high demands are placed on the oil – in fact, as high as in the case of engines used in motorsport. Importantly, the more advanced the hybrid, the higher the requirements.

Hybrid ABC

A hybrid car is one in which two different drive units are built. In the case of modern cars, it is a combination of an internal combustion engine (usually gasoline) and an electric motor with a smaller or larger energy storage. In the case of the cheapest mild hybrids, the internal combustion engine runs all the time, and the small output electric section with microscopic battery is used only to recover energy during braking and to assist the engine during acceleration. For environmental reasons, all new cars currently sold are micro-hybrids. Such a system makes it possible, for example, to turn off the engine, e.g. at traffic lights, and then smoothly switch on when pressing the accelerator pedal. The main advantage of a micro-hybrid compared to standard vehicle is the lower emissions in the urban cycle.

In full hybrids, the power of the electric motor and its battery allow for electric driving, but – due to the limited capacity of the traction battery – this is only for parking manoeuvres, driving in traffic jams and assisting the combustion engine when accelerating.

In the most expensive hybrids (plug-in type), the electric drive allows you to drive in emission-free mode for up to several dozen kilometers – just like an electric car. Traction batteries, as in cheaper hybrids, are recharged, but they can also be charged from an external source.

Oil Challenge

Perhaps, after reading this introduction, some readers can guess what is the biggest oil challenge in hybrid cars. Of course, this refers to the very frequent starting and stopping of the combustion engine – in the case of all types of hybrids – and the operation of the combustion engine in a low temperature range. An internal combustion engine is underheated because in its short work cycles it usually does not have time to reach the optimal operating temperature. In full hybrids, and even more so in plug-in hybrids, there is also the problem of the sudden revving of the completely cold engine. This happens in a situation where the car leaves the parking lot in pure electric mode, joins the traffic, and the combustion engine „enters the action” at a speed of 50-60 km/h.

Let's remember that some engines in hybrids are turbocharged, and yet the sudden shutdown of such a unit, which, for example, worked at the level of 3-4 thousand rpm, puts quite a heavy load on the turbocharger bearings.

Oils for hybrids

Oil manufacturers use the most technologically advanced solutions to ensure optimal lubrication in such adverse conditions. In order to minimize the time it takes for cold oil to propagate through the oil channels, a correspondingly low viscosity and high fluidity are required. Only then is the „dry” operating period of the unit reduced to a minimum. This is the primary reason why 0W-20 viscosity is the standard for such engines, and some designs even require 0W-8 oil.

Hybrid oils must also have appropriate anti-wear additives, which will also be active at relatively lower oil operating temperatures. After all, in a typical duty cycle, some of the unburned fuel containing ecological additives gets into the oil. The oil must be compatible with them and resistant to accelerated oxidation or gelation. Examples of TotalEnergies oils that meet the requirements of internal combustion engines in hybrid drives are: Quartz 9000 XTRA 0W-8; Quartz 9000 XTRA FUTURE XT 0W-16, Quartz Ineo XTRA EC6 0W-20, Quartz 9000 FUTURE GF-6 0W-20, and Quartz Ineo XTRA DYNAMICS 0W-20, etc.

As you can see, the choice of oil for a hybrid car is extremely important and even after the end of the warranty period, you should strictly follow the engine manufacturer's recommendations. Perhaps many hybrid users are surprised at this point, because the most popular hybrids on our market have effortless, naturally aspirated gasoline units under the hood, which at first glance seem „undemanding”. However, due to the specificity of their operation, the use of the right oil of the appropriate class, in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, is crucial. Sometimes it is also good to „warm up” the internal combustion engine on the road so that the residues of fuel or water collected by condensation in such unfavorable operating conditions evaporate. Adam Husiatyński, Technical Department, TotalEnergies

You can find out more about hybrid drives and TotalEnergies oils in our videos. Due to the importance of the topic, as many as three episodes were devoted to hybrids. In all of them you will see our ambassadors - Patryk Mikiciuk and Adam Klimek.

Episode One:

Episode Two:

Episode Three: