What Causes Engine Cylinder Scuffing?
2 Answers
Engine cylinder scuffing is caused by: 1. Severe lack of lubrication oil; 2. Rapid changes in the thermal expansion coefficient of metal components; 3. Excessive mechanical lubrication gap between the piston and cylinder wall; 4. Poor quality cylinder gasket with insufficient surface flatness; 5. Improper driving habits, such as long-term aggressive driving. Symptoms of engine cylinder scuffing include: 1. Engine power loss during driving, difficulty in acceleration, and air leakage sounds at the junction of the cylinder head and cylinder block; 2. One or two cylinders not functioning, with bubbles appearing at the radiator water filler; 3. Milky white engine oil when checking the dipstick; 4. Continuous water droplets flowing from the exhaust pipe.
During long-distance drives, I've seen quite a few cases of cylinder head gasket failure. The core issue lies in the aging or improper installation of the gasket. Under high temperature and pressure, that thin sealing layer of the cylinder head gasket can't withstand the stress and ruptures, allowing engine oil and coolant to mix. Once, my friend's car suddenly had coolant turning milky brown—that was engine oil leaking into the coolant passage. Aggressive driving over long periods increases the risk of engine block deformation, especially for older vehicles over ten years. A reminder to everyone: always monitor the temperature gauge, change coolant regularly, and be alert if you notice unexplained oil leaks under the chassis—it could be your engine sounding the alarm!
