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Old 01-16-2005, 04:17 PM
JeromeP JeromeP is offline
Pretty Darn Active Enthusiast
 
Location: Eastern Washington State
Hybrids: 2005 Toyota Prius
Posts: 442
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A question about start/stop wear and tear is a great question. And in reality it is a concern that has been around since the first ICEs were invented. Honda and Toyota engineers knew that no hybrid system would work if they couldn't address the start stop wear, and the solution is remarkably the same even though the two different hybrid systems are fundamentally very different in execution.

The wear of starts and stops, over the life of an engine in a conventional power train is only really noticeable toward the end of the useable life of the vehicle, however most companies have technology in place which limits the full extent of possible start/stop wear. Notably, the oil that remains in the filter when the vehicle is turned off is usually the first oil to hit the engine when the oil pump begins to pressurize the system. And that quantity of oil differs greatly from vehicle to vehicle. I would estimate that depending on filter size, placement and such, it could be as much as a quart and as little as a few ounces of oil that hits the engine first from the oil filter. I know that on my old car when I changed my oil, it would take a couple of seconds of running to eliminate the head clatter. That was because the oil in the filter was the first to hit the head of the engine. Since the filter was new the oil pump was having to pump oil into the filter and then on into the vehicle. As such there was an extended period of time which the top of the engine didn't have a great deal of lubrication. I never liked that, but it was a reality of how that car was designed.

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It has been said:
Hybrid drivers come in 3 flavors, greenie, techie and cheapie. Pick any 2.
2005 Prius, Melinium Silver over gray, package 5 (AI)
Visit the GreenHybrid.com Real Hybrid Mileage Database
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