For many young adults, getting a license to drive is more than a modern rite of passage. It means independence, freedom, and elevated status among friends. While that attitude is completely normal, most teenagers do not consider routine vehicle maintenance nearly as exciting. No matter how impressive a car may look from the outside, engine sludge symptoms can be an indication of future problems.
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.
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 warning lights on the dashboard. Regular oil changes and related routine maintenance may not always be convenient, but remain the best way to prevent trouble related to lubrication. The cost of replacing the engine is far higher, and is time-consuming as well. In some cases, however, cars develop internal sludge even when maintenance suggestions are followed precisely.
This perplexing problem has dogged several major auto-makers, and is not unique to a particular brand. Publicized legal actions unearthed no generalized issues within the industry, but rather revealed that some specific models and makes use more oil due to design quirks. While this issue is not on the same level of importance as recent widespread safety recalls, it can pose a significant problem for people buying used cars.
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.
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 warning lights on the dashboard. Regular oil changes and related routine maintenance may not always be convenient, but remain the best way to prevent trouble related to lubrication. The cost of replacing the engine is far higher, and is time-consuming as well. In some cases, however, cars develop internal sludge even when maintenance suggestions are followed precisely.
This perplexing problem has dogged several major auto-makers, and is not unique to a particular brand. Publicized legal actions unearthed no generalized issues within the industry, but rather revealed that some specific models and makes use more oil due to design quirks. While this issue is not on the same level of importance as recent widespread safety recalls, it can pose a significant problem for people buying used cars.
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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