How Engine Sludge Develops. You Can Easily Prevent It.

It’s ugly. It’s sludge.

Sludge.

It’s a disgusting phenomenon. Even the word sounds gross, like the thing it’s describing. The word for this is onomatopoeia, a strange word that many of us learned in high school English class. Splash. Grunt. Whoosh. Swish. Hiss. Frumpy. You know what I’m talking about.

What is sludge?

Sludge is a black gelatinous goo that renders equipment inoperable if not dealt with. And long before the engine’s demise, sludge can foul its sensors and interfere with performance. Some mechanics call it the “black death.”

How does motor oil, which is fluid, become a semi-solid paste or gel inside an engine?

How engine sludge forms

Essentially the formation of engine sludge is the result of a series of chemical reactions. The lubricant itself degrades as it is exposed to oxygen and elevated temperatures. The higher the temperature, the more rapid the rate of degradation. The by-products of this reaction form highly reactive compounds that further degrade the lubricant. Their by-products then react with other contaminants, forming organic acids and high-molecular-weight polymeric products. These products further react, forming the insoluble product known more commonly as sludge. What begins as a thin film of lacquer or varnish deposits on hot or cold metal surfaces eventually bakes into an expensive mess.

Synthetic base oils help prevent sludge

Fortunately, sludge and varnish deposits are something we oil manufacturers have a measure of control over. Using thermally stable base oils reduces the rate of initial degradation (oxidation). A good example of this is the use of common synthetic base oils such as API Group III, PAOs and Esters. Anti-oxidant additives help reduce the rate of degradation as well. One of the most widely used is zinc dithiophosphate. Not only is it an excellent oxidation inhibitor, it is an outstanding anti-wear additive as well. If you want to try AMSOIL and are on a budget please try a case of the OE line – Here’s the 5w-30 in a 100% synthetic and outperforms shelf oils priced higher. It also won’t leave deposits and won’t fail API sting operation testing as many bulk oil lube centers have been found to.

So do high-quality additives

We can further address many of the issues occurring after the initial oxidation stage. Additive chemistry such as detergents and dispersants are commonly part of motor oil formulation. They help promote the suspension of contaminants within the oil and keep them from agglomerating. Detergents, which are also alkaline in nature, assist in neutralizing acids that are generated in the sludge-building process. Anti-oxidant, dispersant and detergent additives are consumed during use. To achieve maximum life expectancy, use an oil with high concentrations of these additives.

Severe service invites sludge

Good lubricants minimize sludge and varnish issues. How the equipment is used also has a bearing on the likelihood of sludge or varnish issues.

Stop-and-go driving, frequent/long-term idling and operation in excessively hot or cold weather can all increase the likelihood of sludge and varnish, especially if using more volatile conventional oils.

Interestingly, most auto manufactures note in their owner’s manual that operation under any of the above conditions is considered severe service and requires more frequent oil changes. From a mechanical standpoint, things like adding too much oil to the oil sump, antifreeze contamination, excessive soot loading, excessive oil foaming, poor engine combustion efficiency, excessive blow-by and emission-control-system issues can all lead to the formation of sludge and varnish.

By practicing good maintenance and using properly formulated, premium synthetic lubricants, like AMSOIL synthetic motor oil, your vehicle won’t succumb to the “black death.”

LOOK UP MY VEHICLE

 

Polaris used to test AMSOIL ATV UTV oils pushed to the limits. 280F transmission oil temperature seen here

A must upgrade for Polaris Rangers is our indestructible 100% Synthetic 0W-50 UTV and ATV oil The way a lot of our customers use their ATV’s demand proper lubrication and cooling when most competitor oils sheer out. Why pay more for an oil that isn’t the viscosity you paid for after a few uses? You […]

chevy c10 pickup and CEMA

1968 Chevrolet C10 Pickup Truck Wins GM Design Award for Truck of the Year  Kerry Johnson |Mar 17, 2017 4:30 PM The SEMA Show is the place to see and be seen in the automotive scene. A no-holds-barred display of custom car builds, as well as the latest and greatest in the automobile aftermarket, SEMA really […]

2-cycle oil deposits

Yeah, Why are There several 2-stroke oil mix ratios for chainsaws? John Baker|Jun 20, 2017 8:36 AM Swamp mix. That’s what you call a concoction of two-stroke oil and gas that’s been slopped together with no measuring tools and no regard for engine protection. Your chainsaw or string trimmer could be running on a 50:1 […]

Deposits minimized on turbocharges using AMSOIL

Turbocharger vs Supercharger: What’s the Difference? John Baker | Oct 16, 2020 10:06 AM An engine is nothing more than an air pump. The more air it ingests, the more fuel it can burn. And more fuel equals more power. Sometimes an engine just needs a little boost Engineers have a few methods at their disposal […]

Tires in snow

Are you ready for the Surprises of winter driving? Tips to prepare your vehicle for hazardous roads before winter arrives. _by David Hilgendorf |October 2024 Ice storms are most common when the air temperature is close to freezing and blizzards become more likely as temperatures fall below freezing. Both can reduce visibility and create slippery […]

Motorcycle shock cutaway demonstrating the use of fluid.

Fork Oil – Which do I use? I didn’t realize it went bad John Baker | Aug 22, 2019 10:33 AM A fork oil’s number-one task is to deliver consistency. Consistent dampening despite temperature changes. Consistent rebounds despite different terrain. Consistent performance so you can ride or drive confidently. Consistency. What fluid would provide the […]