What are the symptoms of oil emulsification?
2 Answers
The symptom of oil emulsification is the appearance of some white milky substances on the engine oil filler cap. The following are the hazards of oil emulsification: 1. When emulsified oil leaks water at places like the bearings of mechanical equipment, it is likely to destroy the oil film. 2. The emulsified liquid contains liquid water, which stays on the surface of mechanical parts, leading to rusting of equipment components and affecting the normal operation of the unit. 3. Emulsified oil deposits in the lubrication system, affecting the normal circulation of lubricating oil, resulting in insufficient oil supply to mechanical equipment and causing mechanical failures. 4. If emulsified oil is not treated in time with equipment such as oil filters, it will accelerate the overall aging of the oil. At the same time, the aged oil will produce harmful substances such as naphthenic acid soap and colloid, further accelerating the emulsification of healthy oil. 5. After the engine oil is emulsified, the lubricating effect of the engine oil is greatly reduced, increasing the friction coefficient among various mechanical equipment components. During the operation of mechanical equipment, bearings are very likely to be damaged due to overheating.
A few days ago, I encountered an engine oil emulsification issue that remains fresh in my memory. When I opened the hood and unscrewed the oil cap, I found a milky white foam floating on what should have been clear and smooth oil, with a sticky layer covering the cap and surrounding components. Pulling out the dipstick revealed the metal part coated with a toothpaste-like emulsion, and the oil itself had turned cloudy and thickened, completely unlike its normal fluid state. Subsequently, the engine ran noticeably underpowered, accompanied by slight clicking noises, which I suspected were due to increased friction from lubrication failure. I immediately drove to a repair shop where, after inspection, it was confirmed that coolant leakage had mixed with the engine oil. The mechanic replaced the entire set of oil seals and changed the oil, restoring normal operation. Since then, I make it a habit to manually check the oil before every change to avoid similar hazards disrupting my travels.
