Engine oil starvation: causes and consequences

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:41

The most time-consuming and costly engine failures in terms of repair are associated with a lack of lubrication or its low efficiency. A jammed camshaft, melted liners, a characteristic knock - all these are the consequences of oil starvation. This is what experts call the absence or insufficient lubrication of the engine.

Signs of oil starvation

Lack of lubrication most often destroys the engine gradually. The insidiousness of oil starvation is that it is practically asymptomatic. The alarm does not turn on, the engine does not cause any complaints at first. Sometimes even experts cannot determine that its nodes lack lubrication. Nevertheless, oil starvation can be suspected on several grounds, most often subjective. The main ones are:

1. Periodic winking of emergency oil pressure lamp. The most obvious symptom, which reliably indicates that some units work, as they say, "dry".
2. Strong engine heat for no other apparent reason.
3. Motor operationaccompanied by extraneous sounds, most often in the area of the gas distribution mechanism.
4. The oil is dark or contains particles.
5. High wear on camshaft parts that can be found during maintenance such as valve adjustments.

Do not think that low lubrication efficiency is typical only for a "bu" engine with high mileage. In some cases, relatively new power units also suffer from it. The fact is that oil starvation is not always associated with the failure of the elements of the lubrication system.

Reasons

The appearance of signs of oil starvation is most often due not to the consequences of a malfunction, but to a lack of maintenance. Even failure to comply with the timing of its implementation can significantly reduce the effectiveness of the lubrication. Based on this, the following main causes of oil starvation can be distinguished:

1. No or very low pressure.
2. Untimely oil change.
3. Low quality lubricants.
4. Oil level below manufacturer's recommendation.

Each of these reasons is a topic for a separate discussion, so it is necessary to consider them in more detail.

Low system pressure

Typical for boo engines that have been in operation for a long time. Low pressure can be associated both with the natural wear of parts and components of the lubrication system, and with contamination of its channels. Thisa malfunction can completely disable the engine in a short time, although it is easily diagnosed. Low pressure is signaled by a control lamp on the instrument panel. If it flashes or lights up, engine parts are not lubricating well and action should be taken to find out the cause.

Violation of oil change intervals

Most manufacturers recommend maintenance every 10-15 thousand km. In fact, sometimes you have to change the oil more often. Much depends on the terms of service. Modern oils have a complex chemical composition. They include a large number of different additives that extend the life of the engine. During operation, they gradually collapse or simply burn out under the influence of high temperature.

As a result, the oil loses its lubricating properties. The wear of the moving parts of the power unit increases, which leads to an increase in temperature. From this, the process of "aging" of the oil is accelerated. The quality of the lubricant depends not only on high temperature. Sometimes it worsens from the fact that the engine does not have time to warm up. This happens on short trips, in winter. In the lubrication system, at the same time, a large amount of condensate is formed, which, of course, affects the quality of the oil.

Failure to meet the deadlines for replacement negatively affects the filter. Prolonged use leads to contamination. The throughput of the filter decreases, the pressure in the system drops. The result is oilengine starvation.

Low

Any car engine can only work properly if it has a certain amount of lubricant in it. The volume of oil is individual for each engine and is indicated in the operational documents. Control is carried out using a special probe, which is mandatory in every car. Ideally, the oil level should be checked every day. However, some motorists, relying on the novelty of the car, do this very rarely.

So sometimes the level drops below the min mark. The first in this case, oil starvation experiences the crankshaft. Its design assumes constant rotation in the lubricating fluid. When the engine is running, some of the oil is in the channels of the system, which, at an already low level, leaves the crankshaft almost without lubrication. It is characteristic that in this case the emergency pressure lamp does not light up. Therefore, the car owner may not be aware of the low oil level for a long time. As a rule, the case ends with a major overhaul.

Using poor quality oil

The manufacturer in the manual for the car must indicate the type and brand of recommended lubricant. Most often, possible analogues are also mentioned. However, unknowingly, and more often out of a desire to save money, car owners do not always follow these recommendations. As a result, the filled oil not only does not contain the additives necessary for this engine, but also does not have the appropriate viscosity. Temperature stability is of great importance for the engine. This refers to the ability of the oilmaintain its viscosity as the engine warms up and cools down.

Cheap lubricants do not have such stability and become completely liquid at high temperatures. This significantly reduces the pressure in the system, and therefore increases the risk of oil starvation.

True, sometimes the driver himself does not know that he is pouring low-quality oil. There are a lot of fakes on the market for the most common and popular brands. Naturally, in this case, the cheapest oil is poured into the canisters, which does not have either protective or sufficient lubricating qualities. Its use will quickly lead to a major overhaul. Therefore, it is necessary to purchase oil only at trusted outlets.

What could be the consequences?

Prolonged operation of the power unit in oil starvation mode leads to heating and rapid wear of its parts, and sometimes entire assemblies. In particularly severe cases, the engine may not even be subject to restoration. However, most often the consequences of oil starvation can be as follows:

1. Melting of liners or their fusing to crankshaft journals.
2. Wear of camshaft parts.
3. Piston jamming in engine cylinders. This damage can lead to irreparable consequences. Often a broken connecting rod pierces the cylinder block.
4. Knocking and whistling when the engine is running.

In some cases, there are so many parts to be replaced that their cost, together with labor, is comparable to the price of a new engine.

Conclusion

What causes engine oil starvation is understandable, but in the vast majority of cases it can be avoided. To summarize all of the above, it becomes clear that ineffective lubrication is often the result of incompetence, negligence and laziness of the car owner himself. To prevent it, it is enough to perform routine maintenance in a timely manner and constantly monitor the level, color and consistency of the oil.