What are the symptoms of cylinder scoring in a car?
3 Answers
Cylinder scoring in a car manifests as severe smoke from the exhaust pipe, abnormal engine noise, loss of power, engine malfunction, or even stalling. Below is a detailed explanation of cylinder scoring in cars: 1. Definition: Cylinder scoring is one of the common faults in car engines. The so-called 'cylinder scoring' refers to deep grooves being formed on the inner wall of the cylinder, causing the piston and piston rings to lose their sealing ability when rubbing against the cylinder wall. This results in reduced cylinder compression pressure and loss of power. 2. Preventive measures: For new or overhauled engines, it is essential to go through a proper running-in period. This means operating under good lubrication conditions, gradually increasing the speed from low to high and the load from small to large, strictly following the running-in procedures before putting the engine into full-load operation. Additionally, it is important to correctly select the clearance between the piston skirt and the cylinder liner, as well as the opening and side clearances of the piston rings, according to the manufacturer's specifications. During repairs, attention must be paid to preventing piston misalignment and ensuring the dimensional accuracy of the cylinder liner.
When driving, the engine sound becomes particularly strange, as if someone is hitting metal inside; the power suddenly drops, making even starting on a flat road feel sluggish, and climbing a small slope requires stepping hard on the accelerator; then blue smoke might appear, with a burning smell, and the fuel in the tank depletes rapidly; the worst part is severe shaking, with the steering wheel vibrating, and the temperature gauge rising to the red zone. I’ve encountered this a few times—it’s mostly caused by too little oil or excessively high temperatures. Delaying repairs can burn out the entire engine, so it’s best to check the oil and cooling system early, before the car breaks down on the road.
My car suffered from cylinder scoring last year, and the memory is still fresh: while driving on the highway, there was suddenly a rattling noise, like metal grinding; then the power dropped sharply, and the car wouldn't move no matter how hard I pressed the accelerator; faint blue smoke appeared, and fuel consumption increased significantly; the scariest part was the violent shaking of the car body, and the water temperature warning light came on. At the time, I spent a lot of money replacing the pistons, and the mechanic said the cylinder scoring was due to insufficient oil or cooling failure. I suggest everyone check the oil level regularly, especially before long trips. If you delay fixing this, it will really hurt your wallet.
