Can Engine Oil Burn?

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Engine oil itself does not burn. Without any attached materials, it won't ignite even when exposed to an open flame. However, if flammable items come into contact with engine oil, they can easily catch fire. For safety reasons, it's best to avoid exposing engine oil to open flames. Here's an introduction to engine oil: Engine oil, also known as engine lubricant, is often referred to as the lifeblood of a car. It serves multiple functions such as lubrication, cleaning, cooling, sealing, reducing friction, preventing rust, and corrosion protection for the engine. The engine is the heart of a vehicle, containing many metal surfaces that rub against each other during operation. These components move at high speeds under harsh conditions, with working temperatures reaching 400 to 600 degrees Celsius. If the oil were flammable, such high temperatures would pose significant safety risks. The reason engine oil doesn't burn: The engine oil in a vehicle doesn't burn because combustion in the engine cylinder doesn't ignite the oil. In current internal combustion engines, diesel engines rely on piston compression for ignition, while gasoline engines use spark plugs. Both require fuel combustion to generate power. After fuel ignition, the high-temperature, high-pressure gases in the cylinder are isolated from the engine oil passages by piston rings, which also prevent oil from entering the combustion chamber.