What Happens When a Car Engine Runs Out of Oil?
4 Answers
If a car engine runs out of oil, it is highly likely to experience burning of the crankshaft and bearing shells. Without the lubrication provided by the oil, the engine's components will inevitably rub against each other and sustain damage. Additionally, the absence of cooling effects means that during high-speed operation, the engine may suffer from burning of the crankshaft and bearing shells. Below is relevant information: Engine dry burning can be caused by the following two situations: 1. Lack of oil: If caused by insufficient oil, it will not only wear out engine components but also lead to severe consequences such as burning of the crankshaft and bearing shells, or even complete engine failure. In such cases, the only solution is to replace the damaged parts. 2. Lack of coolant: If caused by insufficient coolant, the engine will naturally fail to cool effectively. The remedial measure in this situation is to promptly cool the engine and replenish the coolant. Do not continue driving when the coolant is low, as this can easily result in engine cylinder scuffing and even damage to the car's bearing shells and piston rings.
Oh, my neighbor had this happen last time – halfway down the road, the engine suddenly started crackling like firecrackers. The worst part about running out of oil is that the metal parts inside the engine lose lubrication and start grinding against each other, causing the temperature to skyrocket. Within minutes, the piston rings can seize in the cylinder walls, and the crankshaft and bearings can weld together. Once, when I helped tow a car, I opened up the engine and found metal shavings mixed with rust into a paste, with deep grooves worn into the entire cylinder block—basically, only a new engine could fix it. Now I’ve made it a habit to pull out the dipstick every 2,000 kilometers, wipe it clean, and check the oil level. If it’s even slightly low, I top it up immediately to avoid costly overhauls.
I've seen too many car owners suffer big losses because of this. In the early stages of engine oil shortage, the noise increases significantly, and there's a tractor-like buzzing resonance at idle. When driving, you can feel the power becoming sluggish, and the RPM won't go up even when you floor the accelerator. If you insist on continuing to drive, a metallic screeching sound will soon appear, indicating that the piston rings and cylinder walls are starting to fuse and stick together. Insufficient lubrication will also cause sludge to accumulate in the crankcase, clogging the oil pump filter screen. Repairing such an engine costs at least three to four thousand in labor fees, and the crankshaft and connecting rods basically need to be completely replaced. I suggest you take a photo of the oil change record with your phone during each maintenance and stick it on the windshield, or set a maintenance reminder alarm.
Last year, I lent my car to a friend who forgot how many days the oil warning light had been on. As a result, while driving on the highway, the engine hood suddenly emitted blue smoke. Running out of oil can cause the engine to fail within minutes, as parts expand due to high temperatures and seize up. The most obvious sign is the coolant temperature gauge needle instantly spiking into the red zone, and the engine won't start again after shutting down. Don't force a restart at this point, or the pistons could crack the cylinder block. Towing it to the repair shop usually means replacing the entire middle cylinder assembly, costing as much as half a used car. Now, I always keep a liter of spare oil in my car and top it up immediately if the dipstick shows levels below the mark.
