Hi Scotty, my wife’s 2018 Toyota Auris 1.8 hybrid with CVT ( Europe version)is being used just for short distances, dropping off and picking up the kid from school about 6 miles daily. How bad is it for the engine keeping in Mind that the motor doesn’t get warm enough plus that start and go system. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
I’d like to hear what Scotty says. Here are my thoughts.
The Auris Hybrid is basically a Prius underneath.
Here is some anecdotal evidence. I have a 2004 Prius since the beginning. From about 2007-2020, it did about 6 miles a day total, 5 days a week. And a weekend road trip or extended driving every 2-5 weeks, give or take. And it made it to 300,000+ miles.
On the flip side, I know some short distance Prius Primes that develop a creamy substance, on the oil cap, because the engine doesn’t heat up high enough on short drives to evaporate the condensation properly.
My recommendation if you do mostly short distance driving every day, is to take it for a longer drive 30 minutes at highway speeds, every 2-3 weeks. That goes for hybrids, and regular gas cars. Get the battery charged up, and get the condensation burned off.
Thank you very much, it helped a lot.
Like @kaizen said, give it the Italian Tuneup once in a while to get the condensate and carbon out of the engine.
Thank you