When your car’s engine oil is low, it can lead to several unfavorable consequences. Let’s explore what happens:
- Reduced Lubrication: Engine oil serves as a lubricant for various moving parts within the engine. When the oil level drops, these components experience increased friction due to inadequate lubrication. This can lead to wear and tear on critical parts like bearings, pistons, and cylinder walls.
- Overheating: As the oil supply diminishes, the remaining oil becomes hotter because it doesn’t have enough time to cool down before re-entering the engine. This heat buildup accelerates the breakdown of the oil. Even fully synthetic oil, which generally lasts longer, eventually succumbs to wear and degradation under extreme conditions.
- Deposits and Contaminants: The breakdown of oil results in the formation of tar, sludge, varnish, and soot. These substances are deposited on internal engine components, including rings, bearings, and cylinder walls. Carbon, a significant component of oil, contributes to these deposits. As carbon accumulates, it can harden and create additional friction, further damaging engine parts.
- Increased Engine Noise: Low oil levels can cause the engine to become noisier. The oil acts as a dampener, and when it’s insufficient, the clatter from the engine becomes more pronounced.
- Loss of Power and Fuel Efficiency: Inadequate lubrication leads to increased friction between parts. This results in a reduction in engine performance, including power loss and decreased fuel economy.
- Warning Lights: Modern vehicles have an oil pressure warning light on the instrument panel. When oil pressure drops too low, these light illuminates, alerting you to the problem.
In summary, running an engine with low oil can cause significant damage, affecting performance, longevity, and overall reliability. Regular oil checks and timely oil changes are essential to keep your engine running smoothly and avoid these issues.
Read More: Engine Oil Flow Diagram
