What does 'bearing seizure' mean?
2 Answers
Bearing seizure refers to the damage of soft bearing pads caused by insufficient lubrication or excessive load, resulting in a locked or semi-locked state of the crankshaft. Here is some related knowledge about bearing seizure: 1. Causes: The main cause of bearing seizure is insufficient lubrication. When the engine oil fails to provide adequate lubrication to the bearings inside the crankshaft, the engine's high-speed operation generates excessive heat, directly burning out the bearings. 2. Repair: If the bearing seizure is in its early stages, only the bearing shells need to be replaced. However, if the bearing shells have become significantly thin over time, it indicates that the crankshaft has been loose during engine operation for a while. This may lead to cylinder or piston wear, or even cylinder seizure, necessitating a major engine overhaul, which can be quite expensive.
After driving for so many years, I've learned that cylinder scoring actually refers to the phenomenon where the piston and cylinder walls of an engine get scratched due to insufficient lubrication or overheating. Typical symptoms include abnormal knocking sounds from the engine, noticeable power loss, weak acceleration, and in severe cases, even blue smoke or increased oil consumption. The main causes are: first, the engine oil has aged and thickened or is insufficient in quantity, failing to provide a cushioning effect; second, the cooling system malfunctions, causing the engine temperature to soar and leading to metal expansion; third, driving habits, such as prolonged high-speed, overloaded operation. Repairing it is quite troublesome—mild cases require disassembling the engine to clean the scratches, while severe cases may need piston replacement or a complete engine overhaul, costing tens of thousands. For prevention, I insist on changing the oil every 5,000 kilometers, using oil with the appropriate viscosity, avoiding high-RPM driving, and regularly checking the radiator and fan to ensure proper cooling. With proper maintenance, the engine's lifespan is extended.
