Passing a driving test has become a rite of passage for young adults, who often see only the excitement, independence and increased peer status of having personal transportation. At that point in life the boring, mundane details of vehicle maintenance may seem unimportant, until neglect results in expensive and time-consuming repairs. Engine sludge symptoms are a warning sign that trouble may be brewing.
One of the rare consistencies of modern life is the often-repeated admonition to change vehicle oil every three months, regardless. While that practice cannot hurt, both engines and lubricants are vastly different from those existing when such advice was sensible. Most new vehicles today easily travel 7,500 miles between changes, and ten thousand when synthetic lubricants are used. Even so, that mileage number should not be taken at face value.
The life-expectancy of an oil change depends on physical location, road conditions and driving habits. These can include many short trips of less than one mile, predominantly cold-weather operations, sharp stops and starts, and long idles. All these factors can contribute to degradation, requiring shorter intervals between changes. Longer periods allow the oil to become increasingly contaminated, encouraging sludge buildup.
Oil begins to break down the instant it is poured in. Synthetic blends of laboratory-based lubricants slow the process, but even the longest-lasting varieties must eventually be filtered. The main culprit is oxidation, which speeds up in poor driving conditions and high temperatures. Over time, the chemical reactions present during oxidation form a gelatinous goo of solids, liquids and gases, including burnt carbon and small metal fragments.
When oxidation continues due to environmental stress or simple neglect, this substance can end up coating most moving parts. Like human arteries blocked by atherosclerosis, they may still work, but not very well. Narrow machine tolerances or restricted passages become strangled, and overall performance becomes sub-par, with poor acceleration and gas mileage. Rather than providing lubrication, the oil becomes damaging.
No one wants to see the oil warning light come on. The best way to prevent this is through regular maintenance and oil changes, because the cost of replacing an entire engine is a far more expensive and traumatic option. Surprisingly, some vehicles tend to develop internal sludge even when suggested maintenance schedules are followed accurately and precisely, and when driving conditions are optimal.
This perplexing problem has plagued many auto makers, and has resulted in publicized legal action. The resulting investigations revealed no smoking industry gun, but instead pointed to individual design issues that affect only certain makes and models. Although this problem pales in comparison to recent safety issues that have sparked massive recalls, it can create real problems for people in the market for a used vehicle.
Prior to any used-vehicle purchase, have the engine checked by a trusted mechanic. Signs of recent flushing may indicate previous buildups. Existing maintenance records may show a pattern of erratic oil changes. For new vehicles, consider using synthetic oil in cold regions, or when urban driving creates unique daily stress. The buildup of sludge need not be an inevitable part of ownership.
One of the rare consistencies of modern life is the often-repeated admonition to change vehicle oil every three months, regardless. While that practice cannot hurt, both engines and lubricants are vastly different from those existing when such advice was sensible. Most new vehicles today easily travel 7,500 miles between changes, and ten thousand when synthetic lubricants are used. Even so, that mileage number should not be taken at face value.
The life-expectancy of an oil change depends on physical location, road conditions and driving habits. These can include many short trips of less than one mile, predominantly cold-weather operations, sharp stops and starts, and long idles. All these factors can contribute to degradation, requiring shorter intervals between changes. Longer periods allow the oil to become increasingly contaminated, encouraging sludge buildup.
Oil begins to break down the instant it is poured in. Synthetic blends of laboratory-based lubricants slow the process, but even the longest-lasting varieties must eventually be filtered. The main culprit is oxidation, which speeds up in poor driving conditions and high temperatures. Over time, the chemical reactions present during oxidation form a gelatinous goo of solids, liquids and gases, including burnt carbon and small metal fragments.
When oxidation continues due to environmental stress or simple neglect, this substance can end up coating most moving parts. Like human arteries blocked by atherosclerosis, they may still work, but not very well. Narrow machine tolerances or restricted passages become strangled, and overall performance becomes sub-par, with poor acceleration and gas mileage. Rather than providing lubrication, the oil becomes damaging.
No one wants to see the oil warning light come on. The best way to prevent this is through regular maintenance and oil changes, because the cost of replacing an entire engine is a far more expensive and traumatic option. Surprisingly, some vehicles tend to develop internal sludge even when suggested maintenance schedules are followed accurately and precisely, and when driving conditions are optimal.
This perplexing problem has plagued many auto makers, and has resulted in publicized legal action. The resulting investigations revealed no smoking industry gun, but instead pointed to individual design issues that affect only certain makes and models. Although this problem pales in comparison to recent safety issues that have sparked massive recalls, it can create real problems for people in the market for a used vehicle.
Prior to any used-vehicle purchase, have the engine checked by a trusted mechanic. Signs of recent flushing may indicate previous buildups. Existing maintenance records may show a pattern of erratic oil changes. For new vehicles, consider using synthetic oil in cold regions, or when urban driving creates unique daily stress. The buildup of sludge need not be an inevitable part of ownership.
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