Which is More Severe: Cylinder Scoring or Cylinder Explosion?
2 Answers
Cylinder explosion is more severe. In severe cases, cylinder explosion may cause engine oil to leak onto the road surface, directly posing a high risk to other vehicles. Causes of cylinder explosion: Oil issues: Severe mechanical failures caused by insufficient engine oil, clogged oil passages or filters, or a damaged oil pump. This results in the cylinder block, piston, and piston rings melting and bonding together due to high-temperature friction without proper lubrication. Cooling issues: Motorcycles can experience cylinder explosion if the temperature becomes too high. Therefore, motorcycle RPM should not be too high, as it may cause the engine to exceed its designed operating temperature. Causes of cylinder scoring: Prolonged engine overload leading to excessive cylinder temperature. Improper fit between the piston or piston rings and the cylinder, such as excessively small clearances. Damage or deformation due to poor-quality pistons or piston rings. Cylinder deformation caused by insufficient cooling system circulation or lack of lubrication, leading to overheating and resulting in cylinder scoring.
Cylinder scoring refers to scratches or grooves on the cylinder wall surface. Initially, the car may only experience reduced power or increased noise, and can still be driven for a while. Repairs are relatively inexpensive, requiring either a new cylinder liner replacement or polishing. However, engine seizure is far worse—it means an internal explosion in the cylinder, such as piston seizure or severe overheating, leading to complete engine failure. It cannot be repaired and requires a full engine replacement. I've seen many cases where engine seizures resulted in losses of tens of thousands of dollars, and they can easily trigger fires or road accidents. Generally, the risk of engine seizure is higher, especially when maintenance is neglected long-term. If cylinder scoring isn’t addressed promptly and worsens into engine seizure, the consequences are dire. Therefore, engine seizure is undoubtedly much more severe. It’s recommended that car owners regularly check engine oil and cooling systems to avoid such disasters.
