What are the hazards of excessively high or low engine temperatures?
2 Answers
The hazards of excessively high or low engine temperatures are as follows: The hazards of excessively high temperatures are: 1. It causes the mechanical properties of metal materials to gradually decrease, leading to deformation and damage; 2. The normal clearances between components will be disrupted due to thermal expansion of parts; 3. It thins the engine oil viscosity and causes oxidation and deterioration, reducing lubrication and exacerbating part wear. The hazards of excessively low temperatures are: 1. It leads to reduced engine power and increased fuel consumption; 2. The viscosity of engine oil increases, causing poor lubrication and exacerbating part wear; 3. It damages the lubricating oil film, accelerating part wear.
I've been driving for over a decade and what scares me most is engine overheating. Once the temperature gauge went red, nearly causing cylinder seizure requiring major repairs. High temperatures make pistons expand and jam in cylinders, thin out oil until it can't maintain lubrication, cause bearing wear from dry friction, and in severe cases blow head gaskets allowing coolant to mix with oil - potentially destroying the entire engine. Low temperatures are equally dangerous - during winter cold starts when coolant can't reach operating temperature, fuel atomizes poorly leading to incomplete combustion (creating carbon deposits), increasing fuel consumption by 20% with black smoke. The worst scenario is gasoline washing down cylinder walls, diluting crankcase oil to water-like consistency, leaving engine internals unprotected. Remember to maintain coolant temperature around 90°C, and always check antifreeze concentration and level before long trips.
