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  4. Hybrid (HEV)
  5. Setting our hybrid performance standard

Defining our benchmark

There is currently no dedicated industry standard specification for hybrid engine oils. Castrol has developed a technical standard for hybrid engine oil, HYSPEC.

Introducing HYSPEC

Introducing HYSPEC

Drawing on our years of experience, Castrol has created a comprehensive benchmark for hybrid engine oil performance.

Castrol oils are already hybrid-ready but proving how effective they are requires a benchmark. However, there is currently no specific industry standard specification for hybrid engine oils. HYSPEC is Castrol’s new technical standard for hybrid engine oils.

 

It isn’t a new product, ingredient or competitor comparison. It’s our own benchmark that we have chosen to measure our engine oils for hybrids against. Castrol’s HYSPEC standard enables us to prove that our oils for hybrids perform against the three main challenges faced by hybrids: contaminants, engine intermittency and system inefficiencies.

Find out which Castrol engine oils deliver against the HYSPEC standard

We know every part of a hybrid

We have spent over 25 years researching, testing and reporting on the characteristics of hybrids. We have worked on first-generation hybrids such as the Toyota Prius, published Society of Automotive Engineers papers on hybrid operation and designed bespoke tests to replicate severe hybrid driving conditions.

Defining HYSPEC

Defining HYSPEC

Castrol’s new hybrid performance standard, HYSPEC.

HYSPEC at a glance

  • Over 2 billion data points collected from year-long hybrid on-road fleet trial
  • Crucial research with trusted car manufacturer partners
  • Testing oils in the world’s most efficient hybrid power unit
  • With more than two decades of hybrid vehicle knowledge; researching, analysing, and testing how hybrids operate.

What informed HYSPEC?

HYSPEC was formed from two billion pieces of data, real-world road trials, testing and insights from motorsport and vehicle manufacturers. Combining everything we know about the challenges faced by hybrids, we selected 15 hybrid relevant industry tests and supplemented them with our own bespoke tests. This enabled us to develop a credible and rigorous hybrid standard to benchmark our oils against.

The benefits of HYSPEC

For strong resistance, protected switching and fuel economy1, choose oils that perform against HYSPEC - our new hybrid performance standard. These oils demonstrate at least 25% benefit2 against Castrol’s HYSPEC standard across critical areas of contaminants, engine intermittency and system efficiency.

Find out which Castrol engine oils deliver against our HYSPEC standard

More about hybrid technologies and HYSPEC

An image of Castrol Hybrid oil bottles infront of bright light lines leading to the bottles

Choosing the right engine oil for hybrids

The right lubricant can make all the difference in dealing with the challenges of hybrids. Find the right oil for your hybrid here.
An image with a purple lights glitch effect with a podcast icon on the front

Listen to the Castrol hybrid podcast

Castrol brings together industry experts to take a closer look at how far we’ve come in the world of hybrids.
A CGI image focusing on the three main challenges of hybrid operation.

The unique challenges faced by hybrids

Find out about the three main challenges being faced by hybrid engines.
1Demonstrated in industry specification and bespoke testing relevant to hybrid vehicle types. Strong resistance demonstrated by water and fuel contamination handling, protected switching demonstrated by wear, stability and cold temperature testing, and fuel economy compared to industry selected baseline oils in industry standard fuel economy tests. Fuel economy results under road conditions may vary according to vehicle type, driving conditions and style.
2Compared to minimum requirements set in industry specification and Castrol bespoke testing relevant to hybrid vehicle types, covering contaminants, engine intermittency and system efficiency.

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