Does Engine Sludge Need to Be Cleaned?
2 Answers
Engine sludge needs to be cleaned, and the cleaning methods are: 1. Use a cleaning agent; 2. Disassemble the engine for cleaning. The causes of engine sludge formation include: 1. Poor driving habits; 2. Improper car maintenance; 3. Poor quality engine oil; 4. Excessive gap between piston rings and cylinder walls. The effects of engine sludge are: 1. Reduced heat dissipation capacity of the cylinder block, leading to excessively high oil temperature and decreased engine power; 2. Increased resistance to oil flow, reduced oil flow rate, affecting the lubrication effect of the oil; 3. Clogging of the engine oil passages, resulting in insufficient lubrication between engine components.
Engine sludge definitely needs to be cleaned, otherwise it can cause major trouble. I experienced a situation where my car's acceleration became sluggish. After taking it to the repair shop for inspection, they said it was due to sludge buildup causing internal engine blockage. After cleaning, the car became much more powerful, and fuel consumption also decreased. Sludge is mainly formed from degraded engine oil under high temperatures, creating deposits that can clog oil passages and components, affecting lubrication. If left uncleaned for a long time, it may lead to engine overheating or piston seizure, with repair costs easily exceeding thousands. I recommend checking for sludge every time you change the oil, or doing a professional cleaning every 20,000 kilometers. Using full synthetic oil can reduce sludge formation, and avoiding short trips allows the engine to heat up sufficiently to burn off impurities. A simple cleaning method involves adding an additive to the old oil and idling the engine for ten minutes before changing the oil, or taking it to a 4S shop for a thorough flush. The cost is low but can extend your car's lifespan by several years.
