Hybrid question: can you start the ICE independently?

[Oscarcat]

Contemplating purchasing a hybrid, have had other questions and this forum has been great with info.
My current question is can you start the ICE independently? As if you wanted to prime the engine after an oil change?
Thanks guys

-Oil change is easy on both hybrid and 2.0EB. Filter is vertical. Good access on both. I remove drain plug to start the process. I assure my filter will twist off by breaking it slightly loose then I punch a hole in the bottom and drain the filter. Less mess. Use hybrid-specific full syn. You can pre-fill the oil filter which to me is a "best practice". It occupies my time while the pan drains to an intermediate drip, unlike the dealer or Quickie Lube and Ruin places that don't drain it completely. I use "redneck ramps" under the front wheels - two criss-crossed 2x6's on each side. The 3" extra height is enough to easily crawl under. You will love your 45mpg hybrid living here in the land of $5.00/gal gas.

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[The Real Maverick]

Interesting, thanks..How are you liking yours?

Like it a lot. Has quirks. Worth the price but it is "entry level" so keep that in mind.

The oil pump is engine driven.
There is no way to do what you want.
But it's also unnecessary.

The engine spins to 1250 rpm in under 1 second. This is idle. I've never seen less than 1250. (Ok, maybe 1246).

Like others said, if you ran it recently before the oil change there is oil film on everything. No such thing as a dry start.

 

[MetalsGeek]

Contemplating purchasing a hybrid, have had other questions and this forum has been great with info.
My current question is can you start the ICE independently? As if you wanted to prime the engine after an oil change?
Thanks guys

I have a '23 hybrid and have been curious about this for the last year, since I've ALWAYS done an idle leak check after an oil change. My dealer told me there's no way to do that. I only recently learned from this forum that mashing the accelerator pedal in Park will indeed start the engine, which does what I need for now. I expect it to shut down when it reaches a certain temperature, so this approach is NA for extended testing. I would still love to know if there's a diagnostic mode where the engine actually idles and the throttle plate is controlled by the pedal, as in many other hybrids.
A passing comment on the oil filter is that it's vertically mounted so pre-filling it is as easy as can be. It's located in a recess, so a normal band wrench will not fit. You may want to get an axial wrench like this one.

 

[The Real Maverick]

I have a '23 hybrid and have been curious about this for the last year, since I've ALWAYS done an idle leak check after an oil change. My dealer told me there's no way to do that. I only recently learned from this forum that mashing the accelerator pedal in Park will indeed start the engine, which does what I need for now. I expect it to shut down when it reaches a certain temperature, so this approach is NA for extended testing. I would still love to know if there's a diagnostic mode where the engine actually idles and the throttle plate is controlled by the pedal, as in many other hybrids.
A passing comment on the oil filter is that it's vertically mounted so pre-filling it is as easy as can be. It's located in a recess, so a normal band wrench will not fit. You may want to get an axial wrench like this one.

Start the engine.
Place in "N".
Make sure parking brake is set.
Chock wheels too if you can.

Engine will run until you run out of gas.

 

[AutobahnSHO]

Yeah I've never worried too much about oil not getting where it needs to be after an oil change- it's just barely more "dry-ness" than after a car has sat all night.

LOVE our hybrid- averaging about 38mpg after a year, mostly city driving up and down HILLS. So nice to have a commuter car that can also haul yard waste, move bigger stuff, whatever!

 

[SFB]

A member had a scan gage on his hybrid and the three phase starter/generator had the rpm reading at just over 800 rpm within a second. No clue how quickly the oil pump comes on, maybe before??? In any case if you had the ice at temp so your oil would drain quickly there would be a film of oil on everything. The ice is designed to turn on and off frequently.

Still looking into the systems and how they interact, The ICE has its own oil, like any non hybrid, so oil pump in it is mechanical and pumps when crank is turning.

I have a '23 hybrid and have been curious about this for the last year, since I've ALWAYS done an idle leak check after an oil change. My dealer told me there's no way to do that. I only recently learned from this forum that mashing the accelerator pedal in Park will indeed start the engine, which does what I need for now. I expect it to shut down when it reaches a certain temperature, so this approach is NA for extended testing. I would still love to know if there's a diagnostic mode where the engine actually idles and the throttle plate is controlled by the pedal, as in many other hybrids.
A passing comment on the oil filter is that it's vertically mounted so pre-filling it is as easy as can be. It's located in a recess, so a normal band wrench will not fit. You may want to get an axial wrench like this one.

good to know, my Ranger is horrible. Although I don’t change my own oil anymore, too many back surgeries. My question was more for finding out what you can do, used oil change as an example.

 

[Bushpilot]

Thats not what I meant, I don't run the engine to prime it. If a filter is horizontally mounted you cannot pre fill it fully, in those cases I hold the gas pedal to the floor to put the engine in flood mode which disables spark and fuel, you can then crank it. I didn't give a good example, my fault. I only wanted to know if you can run the ICE independently <-- That is what I should have said.
Your engine will never prime within a second!
Thanks for your input

Wow, I'd rather it start than intentionally flooding it.

 

[The Real Maverick]

Wow, I'd rather it start than intentionally flooding it.

It's old school. Unnecessary.

But he said the opposite.
The technique was for "unflooding" an engine, but he used it to pump oil in his older vehicles after an oil change.

 

[SFB]

Wow, I'd rather it start than intentionally flooding it.

It doesn’t flood it! When you hold the pedal to the floor the computer disabled spark AND fuel, allowing the engine to only crank. The term “Flood Mode” comes from carbureted engines. When a carbureted engine flooded with fuel you would hold the pedal down to allow air in while cranking in order to start! It’s an old term.

 

[SFB]

You don't have to "mash" the pedal to the floor nor hold it there.

You just need to "flick" the go pedal about 25% for less than a second to start the gas engine at will.

Absolutely no harm.

Once started, shift to "N" and the engine won't shut off.

Thanks

 

[SFB]

It's old school. Unnecessary.

But he said the opposite.
The technique was for "unflooding" an engine, but he used it to pump oil in his older vehicles after an oil change.

I’ve heard it referred to as flood mode! I didn’t make it up

 

[SFB]

Like it a lot. Has quirks. Worth the price but it is "entry level" so keep that in mind.

The oil pump is engine driven.
There is no way to do what you want.
But it's also unnecessary.

The engine spins to 1250 rpm in under 1 second. This is idle. I've never seen less than 1250. (Ok, maybe 1246).

Like others said, if you ran it recently before the oil change there is oil film on everything. No such thing as a dry start.

There’s a reason why I do that! I’ve had many cars over the years 40 plus years, always changed my own. Many, not all, would give a slight rattle on start up after oil change, no rattle on cold start only after a change! Priming the engine would eliminate the rattle. It’s a personal preference that has confused many younger drivers.

 

[Silver23]

I’ve heard it referred to as flood mode! I didn’t make it up

Yes, manufactures of fuel injected vehicles call it flood mode also. It is used mostly for service, like checking cranking speed or a crank sensor signal as examples.

 

[SFB]

Yes, manufactures of fuel injected vehicles call it food mode also. It is used mostly for service, like checking cranking speed or a crank sensor signal as examples.

Thank you, some interesting responses to that

 

[HeyBales]

Last, I have heard that if you turn the key on and floorboard the accelerator (still in Park) the engine will start. I’m not willing to try this on my own truck. Probably not a great idea, especially not with a dry oil filter.

You might be able to side step the issue by pre-filling the filter with oil before installation and then carefully adding the remainder of the recommended amount of oil to the crankcase. Then after the first drive check the oil and add whatever fraction of a quart that might be needed.

Indeed this engine filter placement allows easy pre-filling.

But curious on the thought not a good idea with a potentially dry filter, only because someone else mentioned that idea too. In the case where you don't pre-fill or don't think it's enough.
I don't really see much difference kicking the engine on to idle manually in driveway/garage, or going down the road and having it auto-start potentially under some load the driving is currently causing.

I know checking for leaks is sure a lot easier one way than the other.

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