One celebrated rite of passage into adulthood is getting a license to drive. Operating and maintaining a personal car seems understandably glamorous and mature to teenagers, who have not yet dealt with the mundane details of keeping a vehicle running properly. Even the most powerful, formidable looking car will suffer if maintenance is neglected, and engine sludge symptoms are an indicator of potential trouble.
Admonishing new drivers to change the oil every three thousand miles has become standard practice, even though it is not really necessary. The chemistry of oil as well as engines themselves have changed radically since the era when that advice actually mattered. Many newer vehicles can easily travel ten thousand miles before the lubricant becomes sub-par, but that particular number should never be taken literally.
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.
Lubricants begin to break down as soon as they are installed. The addition of synthetics can delay that process significantly, but even they must be filtered periodically. Oxidation is the main culprit, and it increases along with operating temperature or difficult driving conditions. The chemical changes involved in oxidation create a thick goo made of liquids, gases and solids containing carbon residue and metal particles.
If harsh conditions or neglect continue unabated, the gel-like substance eventually coats most moving parts. Similar to cholesterol-clogged human arteries, certain areas begin to function poorly. The baked-on materials continue to accumulate over time, eventually strangling or closing close passages and tolerances, causing performance to degrade noticeably. Rather than helping lubricate, the oil is actually causing damage.
Few people enjoy seeing the red dashboard warning light. Regular oil changes and consistent routine maintenance are still the best way to forestall disaster, both literally and financially. Replacing the engine is costly and time-consuming. But in some cases, diligent attention to maintenance and lubrication schedules has little effect, and some new cars are prone to develop sludge even under the best driving conditions.
Few major vehicle manufacturers have been able to completely avoid this perplexing issue. Several lawsuits have unveiled no generalized auto industry problem, but rather a few specific makes and models that use lubricants more rapidly due to design issues. When compared to recent auto safety controversies, lubricant residue is not actually dangerous, but does create a real problem for people purchasing previously owned vehicles.
Before buying a used vehicle, have it checked by a mechanic for signs of previous engine flushing. Be sure to check the maintenance records closely, and avoid vehicles that have been neglected. When considering a new car or truck, using synthetic lubricant blends may prevent buildup, especially when daily use includes cold weather or stop-and-go driving. Sludge buildup is not inevitable, and need not ruin a car.
Admonishing new drivers to change the oil every three thousand miles has become standard practice, even though it is not really necessary. The chemistry of oil as well as engines themselves have changed radically since the era when that advice actually mattered. Many newer vehicles can easily travel ten thousand miles before the lubricant becomes sub-par, but that particular number should never be taken literally.
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.
Lubricants begin to break down as soon as they are installed. The addition of synthetics can delay that process significantly, but even they must be filtered periodically. Oxidation is the main culprit, and it increases along with operating temperature or difficult driving conditions. The chemical changes involved in oxidation create a thick goo made of liquids, gases and solids containing carbon residue and metal particles.
If harsh conditions or neglect continue unabated, the gel-like substance eventually coats most moving parts. Similar to cholesterol-clogged human arteries, certain areas begin to function poorly. The baked-on materials continue to accumulate over time, eventually strangling or closing close passages and tolerances, causing performance to degrade noticeably. Rather than helping lubricate, the oil is actually causing damage.
Few people enjoy seeing the red dashboard warning light. Regular oil changes and consistent routine maintenance are still the best way to forestall disaster, both literally and financially. Replacing the engine is costly and time-consuming. But in some cases, diligent attention to maintenance and lubrication schedules has little effect, and some new cars are prone to develop sludge even under the best driving conditions.
Few major vehicle manufacturers have been able to completely avoid this perplexing issue. Several lawsuits have unveiled no generalized auto industry problem, but rather a few specific makes and models that use lubricants more rapidly due to design issues. When compared to recent auto safety controversies, lubricant residue is not actually dangerous, but does create a real problem for people purchasing previously owned vehicles.
Before buying a used vehicle, have it checked by a mechanic for signs of previous engine flushing. Be sure to check the maintenance records closely, and avoid vehicles that have been neglected. When considering a new car or truck, using synthetic lubricant blends may prevent buildup, especially when daily use includes cold weather or stop-and-go driving. Sludge buildup is not inevitable, and need not ruin a car.
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