Originally Posted By: CR94
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
... My issue is more the rapid shutoff of an engine after a decent load. Say, accelerate and climb a mountain, get to the top, engine immediately shuts off due to hybrid function. IMO that may cook local hot spots' oil more so than if it were constantly flowing. ...
But I do wish there was a constant-on override for winter use and conditions like I described when I may not want the engine to shut off immediately. Again, more for getting the engine to temp in cold temperatures, and keeping oil flowing after hard, hot runs. ...
Part of what you're wishing for exists. Toyota (and I think also Ford; I can't speak for others) regular hybrids keep the engine spinning (without fuel), and thus the oil flowing when you start down that mountain, as long as the ground speed is above a certain level. That speed varies by model; it's about 45 mph for 3rd-generation Prius, for example.
Also, on the Prius (and probably other hybrids) the engine will not shut off when interior heat is requested and the coolant is below a certain temperature. In other words, it's burning gasoline solely to warm the passengers, just as you wish.
Agree, turning on heat drives mpgs way down - to the level of a standard ICE operating. I do this in the winter especially when bringing small kids, or when I know that there is going to be high speed/highway driving soon after startup.
Ive observed in my Honda that the engine will shut off a bit more aggressively than I'd really like. An example is after a hill climb when the load is reducing rapidly, and even during low load conditions on the interstate.
Not sure about zero fuel, engine spinning. Sounds like what a normal ICE does when coasting above a certain RPM with zero throttle. Believe per my OM, my car only does that in cases when the battery is too high SOC, to provide additional compression braking...