You are on the road and suddenly an engine management light comes on. All alarm bells are going off and most people have no idea why the check engine light comes on and what is going on at that moment. What could this mean and how do you deal with it? Can you continue driving or do you have to visit a garage immediately? An engine failure can be caused by various causes. In this blog we take a closer look at engine failures, their causes and how certain problems can be resolved or prevented.
Many engine failures are the result of an engine that has overheated. Correct and good engine oil plays an important role, because without oil parts start to wear against each other and the engine can eventually overheat. These malfunctions can occur suddenly or due to aging. After an engine failure, it is always good to consult a dealer. It goes without saying that properly maintaining the engine is also very important. Poor maintenance can also lead to engine failures and this is something we would prefer to prevent.
Overheated engine
The operating temperature of an engine is in most cases around 90 degrees Celsius. When an engine becomes warmer than the maximum operating temperature, an engine fault will occur and will be displayed on the dashboard. A warning light will illuminate on the dashboard. When an engine overheats, steam is created inside the engine. This means that the coolant cannot do its job well enough to dissipate the heat. Certain parts such as cylinders, exhaust valves and the combustion chamber become too hot and the steam ensures that the heat will only increase. This results in a lower oil viscosity, which increases the friction between the parts and ultimately increases the temperature even higher. The engine is overheating!
Over time, the piston rings will expand against the cylinder wall. Eventually the pistons seizing and the pistons, piston rings and cylinder walls will be damaged or broken and cause a seized engine. These are big problems going on too little lubrication (oil) cause an overheated engine. When an engine does not receive the right lubricants to keep it running properly and at the right temperature, due to poor maintenance or the wrong type of oil, the lubrication and film layer in the engine disappears. An oil additive can add value to the engine oil. You can read more about this later in this blog.
You can read about the problems that an overheated engine can cause here:
- Oil level too low or oil loss
- High oil consumption
- Oil leakage
- Improper lubricants
- Cooling system not working properly
- Clogged filter
Overheating due to poor engine maintenance
Poor engine maintenance can lead to engine failure. Driving for too long with contaminated oil and oil filter can result in accumulation and blockage due to white sludge formation. This will cause deposits to form, friction will increase as a result of poorer oil viscosity and the engine temperature will rise over time. You can easily change your oil yourself. Not changing your oil or changing it too late can cause metal-to-metal contact, resulting in engine wear. With the Lindemann Engine Performance Treatment you can prevent engine wear.
In addition, it is important to have the timing belt replaced in a timely manner. Normally a timing belt will need to be replaced every 90,000 to 120,000 kilometers or every 4/5 years. If this is not done, it may break, resulting in the engine seizing. This is very dangerous and the costs can also run into thousands of euros.
Early and preventive maintenance is very important for the preservation of your vehicle. This allows you to avoid possible problems. Of course, a dealer or garage can never guarantee that nothing will happen to your car. You are responsible for early detection of problems in certain situations. Tip: Always make sure that you keep the maintenance booklets up to date and that the car is serviced at an early stage.
Of course, there are many more parts that require proper maintenance. We have a lot solutions that can contribute to fewer and better maintenance of cars. The use of Lindemann additives results in fuel savings, fewer emissions and more engine power. Prevention is better than cure!
Driving behavior
We have now discussed a number of possible causes, but poor driving can also cause engine failure. Short journeys are not good for a car, because the engine does not reach operating temperature and is therefore more likely to become polluted. The situation of starting and stopping can cause deposits in the form of sludge, which in turn results in poorer oil viscosity. Nowadays, many modern cars have a start-stop system. This system is specially designed to reduce emissions and save fuel, among other things. However, this system also has disadvantages, namely wear and tear. With this product you can... protect the start-stop system against wear.
Continuously driving too fast and at high revs or driving with heavy loaded loads such as a trailer can also cause deposits and sludge formation. In addition, engines that are subjected to too much and heavy load can also experience damaged bearings, cracked or broken pistons, valves, etc. These are the ultimate problems, but also immediately result in a seizure and thousands of euros in damage.
Prevent engine failure
As you have read in this blog, there are more causes that can cause an engine failure. The combination of all the above factors can cause engine failures, unnecessary engine damage and a seizure. Even under perfect and ideal conditions, an engine can still experience problems.
There is no type of engine that lasts forever. In almost all cases, every engine will suffer from engine wear later in life. However, this will not lead to major engine failures. Most of these engines can experience low oil levels, high oil consumption, oil leaks, contaminated oil or fuel systems and clogged or leaking radiators. "Serious" engine failures can be prevented through proper maintenance and early recognition of these signals.
The use of the right lubricants (oil and oil additives) is essential in the long term to maintain or improve engine performance. Oil additives can be used both preventively and curatively! The additives from Lindemann extend the life of the engine!
Do you have any questions regarding this blog? Please feel free to contact us. Do you want to buy an oil additive? You can order through our own shop or through one of our dealers. Via the “Order here” button you will be directly referred to the products in our shop.
