What are the symptoms of engine seizure in a vehicle?
2 Answers
Engine seizure in a car directly affects the engine's operation, leading to the phenomenon of the vehicle failing to start. The following are the causes of engine seizure: 1. Poor engine cooling, causing the engine's operating temperature to exceed the designed tolerable limit; 2. Insufficient lubrication due to poor quality or circulation of engine oil; 3. Inaccurate adjustment of the engine's intake and exhaust systems and ignition timing; excessive engine workload can all lead to the so-called engine seizure or cylinder shrinkage phenomenon. 4. Extension: The true meaning of engine seizure should actually be written as "cylinder seizure," simply put, it refers to the piston and cylinder barrel in the car engine seizing together.
The symptoms of engine seizure are quite alarming. First, the engine suddenly makes a loud metallic banging noise, sounding like a hammer hitting internal parts. Then, you'll feel a sharp drop in power—stepping on the gas pedal does nothing or the car moves only sluggishly. The oil pressure warning light on the dashboard lights up, the coolant temperature soars, and sometimes blue or white smoke appears. Blue smoke indicates burning oil, while white smoke means coolant is leaking into the cylinders. At idle, the car shakes violently, as if it's about to fall apart. Worse yet, the engine may completely stall. Engine seizure is caused by overheating or insufficient lubrication, such as oil leaks or cooling system failure. It's best to stop immediately and avoid driving further, or the engine will be ruined, leading to extremely high repair costs. Regularly check oil and coolant levels and perform scheduled maintenance to prevent such major failures.
