Discussion Does the hybrid kill the gasoline engine?

[evlover]

Dear Dr,

I have been thinking a lot about plug-in hybrids. I simply cannot see any positive aspect in a situation where I am driving a car parked outside in freezing temperatures, and the completely frozen gasoline engine suddenly kicks in at 3,000-4,000 RPM without any prior warming up. I believe this has not been properly thought through! In my opinion, this does everything to a gasoline engine except anything good.

I would appreciate your esteemed opinion on this matter.

Thank you.

 

[Car Doktor]

Dear Ev Lover,

You’re absolutely right to question this a cold engine being pushed hard is never ideal.
The real question is how much damage it actually causes in modern hybrid systems.
Yes, if the car is parked in freezing temperatures and the gasoline engine suddenly starts under load after running in electric mode, it does put additional strain on the engine and can lead to increased wear over time.
That said, manufacturers are well aware of this scenario. Modern hybrid systems are designed with this in mind, including advanced lubrication strategies, carefully selected engine oils, and thermal management systems. In some cases, heat from the electric components can even help reduce the severity of a cold start.
It’s also worth noting that the engine is not always immediately pushed to high RPM. In many systems, the electric motor handles most of the load initially, while the gasoline engine engages more gradually.
In the end, there is always a trade-off. In the name of efficiency and emissions reduction, certain operating conditions may not be ideal for long-term mechanical wear. However, in most real-world scenarios, the impact is far less dramatic than it might appear.

Best regards,
Electric Motor Doktor

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[Steve]

Dear Ev Lover,

You’re absolutely right to question this a cold engine being pushed hard is never ideal.
The real question is how much damage it actually causes in modern hybrid systems.
Yes, if the car is parked in freezing temperatures and the gasoline engine suddenly starts under load after running in electric mode, it does put additional strain on the engine and can lead to increased wear over time.
That said, manufacturers are well aware of this scenario. Modern hybrid systems are designed with this in mind, including advanced lubrication strategies, carefully selected engine oils, and thermal management systems. In some cases, heat from the electric components can even help reduce the severity of a cold start.
It’s also worth noting that the engine is not always immediately pushed to high RPM. In many systems, the electric motor handles most of the load initially, while the gasoline engine engages more gradually.
In the end, there is always a trade-off. In the name of efficiency and emissions reduction, certain operating conditions may not be ideal for long-term mechanical wear. However, in most real-world scenarios, the impact is far less dramatic than it might appear.

Best regards,
Electric Motor Doktor

If you would like to financially support the site, you can do so here, helping us with our work.
Thank you!

The MyEvDiscussion Team
View attachment 793
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Join the MyEvDiscussion Community! Earn money easily!​

I think your concern is actually very valid especially with plug-in hybrids in winter.

A frozen gasoline engine suddenly waking up under load is never ideal mechanically, even if manufacturers try to protect it with modern oils and thermal management systems. Over time, repeated cold high-load starts probably do increase wear.

Personally, I think hybrids work best when the engine regularly gets enough time to fully warm up. Constant short trips in freezing temperatures are likely much harder on the engine than many owners realize.

 

[William]

I think your concern is actually very valid especially with plug-in hybrids in winter.

A frozen gasoline engine suddenly waking up under load is never ideal mechanically, even if manufacturers try to protect it with modern oils and thermal management systems. Over time, repeated cold high-load starts probably do increase wear.

Personally, I think hybrids work best when the engine regularly gets enough time to fully warm up. Constant short trips in freezing temperatures are likely much harder on the engine than many owners realize.

Steve, I think you’ve touched on an important point here.

I’d actually worry less about the occasional cold start and more about a PHEV that repeatedly runs its gasoline engine for only a few minutes and rarely reaches full operating temperature.

Especially in winter, that kind of use can allow moisture and fuel dilution to remain in the oil. So ironically, someone who uses the gasoline engine very little may still need to pay close attention to oil condition and service intervals.

For PHEV owners who drive mostly on electric power, it can be worth occasionally giving the engine a proper longer run rather than letting most of its operation consist of short cold cycles.

It would be interesting to hear from PHEV owners here: how often does your gasoline engine actually reach full operating temperature in winter?