WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR ENGINE ISN’T
LUBRICATED
Your car’s engine will operate efficiently and last longer if you change the oil
and filter regularly. When you neglect oil and filter changes, the moving parts of
your engine are not lubricated adequately. Proper lubrication of bearing and
mating surfaces is essential to the life of your engine. Over time, dirt and internal
wear material clogs up the oil filter. In addition, a phenomenon called “sludging”
occurs. During this process, overheating and oxidation causes the oil to lose its
ability to lubricate and a cake-like substance called sludge builds up inside the
engine. As the process continues, this sludge soaks up the engine’s oil and builds
on itself. As a result, decreased lubrication causes friction that produces heat
between bearing and mating surfaces. The friction and heat wear down the metal
surfaces, ultimately resulting in catastrophic engine failure.