What are the symptoms of cylinder scuffing?
4 Answers
Cylinder scuffing may exhibit the following symptoms: 1. Reduced cylinder compression pressure leading to loss of power; 2. Downward leakage of combustible mixture increasing crankcase pressure, potentially causing crankcase explosion in severe cases; 3. Upward oil migration into cylinders resulting in oil burning; 4. Excessive smoke from exhaust pipe; 5. Abnormal engine noise; 6. Engine malfunction or even stalling. The causes of cylinder scuffing include: 1. Insufficient or interrupted cylinder lubrication; 2. Inadequate break-in period followed by immediate high-load operation; 3. Excessive piston temperature with poor lubrication; 4. Severe carbon buildup causing piston rings to stick in grooves, losing elasticity and potentially breaking or leaking combustion gases; 5. Use of low-quality gasoline. Solutions for cylinder scuffing are: 1. Replace pistons and piston rings; 2. Use high-quality engine oil; 3. Clean any foreign objects in the cylinder.
You asked about engine seizure, and I've had the misfortune of experiencing it several times. While driving, the engine starts making a 'clanking' noise, especially noticeable during acceleration, like metal grinding against metal, which is really annoying to hear. The power suddenly drops, and even with the pedal to the metal, it feels sluggish, making overtaking a struggle. Fuel consumption also skyrockets—normally, a full tank could get you 500 kilometers, but after seizure, it might barely make it past 300, draining your wallet fast. Worse, the exhaust sometimes emits bluish smoke, a sign that oil is burning, indicating severe internal wear. If not addressed promptly, the engine might just give up, significantly increasing the risk of a breakdown. The main causes are usually low oil levels or overheating leading to piston seizure. My advice: pull over immediately to check the oil level, top it up if low, and book a repair shop ASAP—don’t wait for disaster. For prevention, I check the dipstick weekly and avoid prolonged high RPMs in hot weather. Bottom line: early detection and repair save both hassle and money.
As someone who frequently helps others with car repairs, I have to say that cylinder scoring is no small matter. The symptoms are quite obvious: scratches or wear points inside the engine, knocking or hissing noises during operation, and possibly a drop in oil pressure gauge readings, affecting overall power output. The power loss makes you feel like the throttle response is sluggish, and climbing hills or accelerating becomes difficult. For diagnosis, we use a stethoscope to listen to the cylinder area or measure oil pressure to confirm. Repairs usually require cylinder boring or replacement of new parts, which involves significant labor time and high costs. In terms of prevention, the key is regular maintenance, such as changing high-quality engine oil every 5,000 kilometers, avoiding engine overheating, and especially not pushing the car too hard on highways in summer. Experienced drivers know that ignoring the oil warning light is a major trigger for cylinder scoring. At the first sign, you should stop driving and head straight to the shop for inspection to prevent a minor issue from turning into a major repair. Experience tells me that keeping the cooling system and lubrication in good condition can save a lot of trouble.
After decades of driving, I experienced cylinder scuffing once. At that time, the engine kept making a knocking sound, like a drum, which got worse when accelerating. The car had no power at all, struggling to overtake even a truck, and fuel consumption doubled. Later, it was found that the cylinder walls were worn and the piston was stuck. The repair cost several thousand, a profound lesson: never delay maintenance. Always pay attention to unusual sounds and power changes.
