Engine Sludge Can Destroy Your Vehicle

Engine sludge is a byproduct of engine oil oxidation and can destroy your car’s engine. When the engine’s oil breaks down, a tar-like substance forms. It is caused by heat, contaminants and failure to change the oil at regular intervals. This sludgy mess causes friction, overheating and eventually, engine seizure.

Preventing engine sludge is far more manageable than curing it. Regular oil changes with high-quality oil, adhering to manufacturer-recommended maintenance schedules, and ensuring proper engine operation can significantly reduce the risk of sludge formation. It is a straightforward yet powerful approach to safeguarding the heart of your vehicle.

Premium Filters Go the Extra Mile

Cars that indicate when to change the oil use a software system. It can’t detect the condition of the oil. It is a mathematical formula that guesstimates. The owner’s manual is generic or “one size fits all.” Manufacturers can’t produce a separate manual based on each driver’s situation or environment. How often you need to have your car serviced depends greatly on you.

Oil isn’t the problem. It is the dirt and debris that gets into it.
Today’s engines have smaller passages, so we need to keep the dirt and/or sludge out.

The Filter’s Role

Regular filters are smaller now than they used to be. If sludge develops it crushes the filter and stresses the engine. Imagine using the same coffee filter and grounds for one month. You still get coffee, but the chemistry has changed.

The Oil’s Role

One important element in keeping our vehicles efficient is not to run them even a quart low on oil. A 25% decrease in oil equals a 33% increase in contaminants. With plenty of hot weather on the way it can seriously impair the cooling system. If you use your vehicle to tow, it is extremely important not to run low on oil.

Synthetic oils, for example, are designed to resist high temperatures and oxidation, making them less prone to sludge formation. Regularly checking and changing your oil, according to your vehicle’s specific needs and the manufacturer’s guidelines, is crucial in this battle against sludge.

Early Detection

Early detection of engine sludge is vital. Automotive technicians can tell when sludge is forming. They can recommend a solution to rid your vehicle of the dreaded sludge. Sometimes, an engine flush might be necessary to remove sludge deposits, followed by a fresh oil change to restore the engine to its optimal state.

Keep in Mind

Understanding what causes engine sludge, its impacts, and prevention strategies, you can ensure that this unwelcome substance doesn’t stay in your vehicle’s engine. Regular maintenance is not just routine; it is protection against the destructive force of engine sludge.

Hometown Service You Can Count On!

Gasoline has been around for decades and the changes to the formulation have been incredible.

The basic refined crude is mostly the same. What makes each brand unique is the additives and detergents package mixed in. Regular fuel has fewer additives than the premium blend.

One of the biggest changes to gasoline is the introduction of ethanol. Ethanol has brought us lower emissions and a little better MPG, but it also has caused some new drivability issues. Most fuels started with a small amount of ethanol; now the base amount is 10%. As we randomly test fuel from the tanks we see as much as 30% ethanol.

What that means is the ethanol and the detergents added do not work together! Ethanol washes the detergent away that is supposed to help stop carbon build up inside the engine. Type “engine carbon” into a browser and there are many articles to scan. The tough part for you, the driver, is you don’t know it’s happening until it gets bad.

How Do You Know When There Is Build-Up?

Here are the symptoms of carbon build-up:

Drivability issues; engine not running smoothly or stalling
Engine vibration or shaking
Car jerking or surging at stops
Check engine light may be on
Cold start misfires

The cure is to be proactive by cleaning the fuel injectors and air intake system every 15,000 miles. For most drivers that is once a year. This is great insurance to protect the investment you drive. Previous year cars did not have the carbon concern, so this will be something to be educated on. If ignored the cost to disassemble the engine to clean out the carbon is not pretty.

Cars, year 2000 and newer, have a different type of fuel system than previous years and 2010 and newer have gasoline direct injection (GDI) that is even more susceptible to carbon build-up.

Certified Auto Specialists wants to be your GO-TO place! Feel free to call 626-963-0814 with any questions and we will be glad to help!

Is Your Engine Gasping for Air?

Your car is chock-full of expensive, complicated devices. It also carries very valuable cargo—like you, your family, and friends. Filters may not seem like the most critical technology in your vehicle, but filters protect all that costly equipment from harmful debris. It also ensures you get that precious payload where it needs to go.

Think about the furnace in your house for a minute. If you don’t change or clean it every so often, it gets clogged. Ignoring it, your heater stops working efficiently over time. This costs you in fuel and potential future repair bills. The air filter in your car or truck works the same way. It stops damaging dirt and dust from harming the motor.

Your engine demands a precise ratio of air and fuel to run at peak efficiency. The longer you wait to change your air filter, the more fuel mileage and acceleration decreases. Waiting to change your air filter can also increase emissions. When the system has operated with a prolonged poor air-fuel mixture, you may even get a “Check Engine” or “Service Engine Soon” light. This is avoidable. In addition, in the long run, you’ll be protecting your investment by changing out the filter. Something as small as a grain of salt can disrupt and damage cylinders and pistons.

Air filters should be changed every 12,000 to 15,000 miles. But when you decide to change your air filter depends on how and where you drive. Do you live in a rural or desert location that has lots of dirt and dust in the air? Do you drive through construction zones every day? Then you’ll need to have your filter replaced more often than other drivers. Fortunately, the air filter is just one of the components we check when you bring in your vehicle for regular maintenance. Keeping up with maintenance improves vehicle performance and reliability—crucial for safely transporting your priceless loved ones to work, school, errands and safely back home!