What are the causes of engine oil solidification?
2 Answers
Engine oil solidification causes: 1. Failure to maintain the vehicle for an extended period, leading to oil deterioration after circulation; 2. Use of substandard quality oil during maintenance, which turns into sludge under high-load vehicle operation; 3. Existing engine faults allowing gasoline or contaminants to mix with the oil during operation, causing oil deterioration. Engine oil sludge poses significant harm to the engine. The primary functions of engine oil are cooling, cleaning, lubrication, and sealing. Once it deteriorates into sludge, these functions gradually diminish. The engine operating at high speeds under elevated temperatures becomes particularly prone to seizure.
I've encountered engine oil solidification quite a few times, mainly caused by low temperatures. When the temperature drops below freezing, the oil becomes thick like jelly, especially in vehicles using high-viscosity oil. Another reason is poor oil quality, such as inferior oil or deteriorated oil stored for too long, which is more prone to emulsification and solidification when moisture gets mixed in. My old car had this issue several times during northern winters, making it hard to start. Later, I switched to low-temperature oil like 5W-30 and regularly checked the oil quality, which significantly reduced the problem. I recommend changing the oil before the cold season, parking in a garage whenever possible, and warming up the engine for five minutes before starting to avoid hard starts that can damage the engine.
