Why would you poor clean oil into a dirty engine ?
‘Black Death’ is the name given to the oil sludge epidemic that choked engines by the thousands worldwide in the 1980s and it’s making a come back.
There have been recent stories in Australia of trade-in cars with difficult to remove dipsticks, rocker covers removed to expose a meatloaf of sludge, and vehicles in for service having sump plugs removed and the used oil taking forever to drain.
Sludge is gelled oil that can’t disperse itself around the engines’ oil system the way it ought to. Some manufacturers blame customers who fail to change their oil frequently enough, but if it were simply a matter of poor maintenance
more engines would be failing.
Industry experts say modern engines are even more prone to sludge build up than older ones. So what’s the cause, and why is it making a comeback?
There are several key reasons.
- Crankcase Ventilation.Oil vapour and combustion gasses must be removed, usually by being channelled through the combustion process.
If these gasses are not disposed of efficiently, sludge will form. Some modern breather systems are more successful than others. - Temperature.Changes to the positioning of the Catalytic Converter have led to changes in temperature, hot and cold spots, in and around the engine. Hot spots bake oil, cold spots cause acid and sludge.
- Crankcase Acidity.Modern fuels produce much more acid when burnt. A proportion of this acidity enters the crankcase. Experts say that long term engine wear is now as likely to be down to acidity as friction.
- Tighter Tolerances.Engines are no longer manufactured down to Thousandths but Microns. Tighter tolerances mean engines are
using less oil, and as a result customers fail to check levels and miss oil changes - Poor Maintenance.Drivers who miss recommended oil changes are without doubt contributing to the problem. Lease vehicle drivers especially are quoted as being among the worst for neglecting DIY level checks.
- City Driving.Constant stop/start city driving accelerates sludge formation. Drivers who spend most of their time in urban traffi c should be advised to book oil change services more regularly.
Engine Sludge is back toward the top of the agenda for large sections of the auto industry. Engineers say that unless action is taken, the numbers of sludged engines will escalate as vehicles age.
Engine Flushing before an oil change has become the accepted norm once again throughout Europe and the United States. It will improve the situation dramatically. The service industry must also educate customers when these issues strike, and give them the best advice on how to help the industry assist them to look after their cars better.
find one a Authorised Club Evolution service centre near you today
Ask for your engine to be cleaned at service insist on it !!!!
