If the engine operates correctly, its moving parts are adequately lubricated, e.g., the piston ring does not directly contact the cylinder wall, the crankshaft does not touch the bearing shell, etc. – between these components, there is a thin layer of oil film which reduces friction.
However, if this layer disappears and these parts come into direct contact without the intermediary of a lubricant, even minimal, microscopic irregularities will cause friction to increase sharply, resulting in most of the mechanical energy (up to 95 percent) converting into heat. This condition is referred to as dry friction.
Once this process begins, it usually escalates rapidly. The more the rubbing components heat up, the more they expand (due to the action of high temperature), increasing the pressure and displacing the remnants of the oil film.
Even if the lack of lubrication was temporary, after the sudden heating of the components, the oil may no longer be able to reduce the friction between them. In extreme cases, so much heat can be generated that the engine eventually stops, due to the melting of the components of the crankshaft-piston system into one mass.
A seized engine, once cooled down, might start again, but it will never be suitable for normal use again, and each subsequent start will cause even more damage to its components.
During engine operation, the cooperating elements within must be properly lubricated.
What does properly lubricated mean?
To ensure proper lubrication, engine oil must precisely fill all the gaps between the moving components that work together.
For this purpose, the oil should be pumped into these places under the appropriate pressure.
Equally important as the right pressure is the correct quality (viscosity) of the engine oil.
Engines seize due to:
In older engines, too low oil pressure was caused by general engine wear.
In Volkswagen and Audi vehicles with third-generation 3.0 TDI engines (EA897evo), the oil pressure was further reduced by an oil lubrication system with a variable output oil pump.
The reduction of oil pressure at low engine speeds was aimed at decreasing the energy required to generate that pressure. The method for reducing the power needed to drive the oil pump involves using a pump with adjustable output controlled by the engine computer.
Less energy consumed by the oil pump was expected to lead to improved exhaust emissions.
This whole approach was introduced to meet the EURO 6 emission standards.
It works like this: the engine control unit receives data from the oil pressure sensor and then controls a solenoid valve to achieve the target values, that is, those stored in a part of the program (map) that specifies oil pressure values depending on engine RPM and temperature.
Our service receives Audi and Volkswagen 3.0 TDI vehicles equipped with a variable output oil pump, in which engines have seized after tens of thousands of kilometers!
Raise the oil pressure before the engine seizes.
Changing the oil pressure settings will help extend the life of your engine.
Such an adjustment in the engine control unit settings is done while you wait (about half an hour).
Viscosity is the most crucial parameter of engine oil. Too high viscosity prevents the oil from reaching all engine parts requiring lubrication; too low viscosity leads to oil drainage and pressure drops in the system. In both situations, there is a risk of accelerated wear of engine components or their complete seizure.
Over time, used oil wears out and loses its properties,
Drivers who frequently drive in the city are most at risk of rapid engine oil degradation. This is mainly due to frequent acceleration and braking, as well as numerous engine starts. A driver using the vehicle in such a manner should pay particular attention to regular oil changes, as the risk of engine damage in this case is significantly higher.
This happens especially when the filter is frequently regenerated, and the procedure is not completed.
Remember to change the oil and regularly monitor its proper level.
Fuel can appear in engine oil in two situations.
Too frequent regeneration of the particulate filter is a cause of oil dilution by fuel.
How is this possible? Why does it happen?
When the electronic system detects that the filter is full, it initiates a soot burning process. The fuel injection control computer then injects a larger dose of fuel, which increases the temperature in the filter to burn off the soot. During regeneration, excess fuel from the combustion chamber gets into the oil.
If the DPF is not clogged and the vehicle is used on long trips, soot burning occurs once every 500 to 1000 km, the amount of fuel that gets into the oil is negligible and evaporates.
The situation is worse if the vehicle is used in city traffic, on short trips. Then the DPF fills up much faster, causing frequent need for soot burning. Additionally, if the regeneration process is interrupted, the controller attempts to regenerate more frequently. In such a case, enough fuel gets into the oil that it loses its lubricating properties, leading to engine seizure.
Such a filter must be replaced or cleaned.
The cost of a DPF for 3.0 TDI, depending on the vehicle model, ranges from 19,749 to 23,859 PLN.
The service is performed using a professional machine from the Swiss company FFSolution.
Regeneration restores the efficiency of DPF filters up to 98% and catalysts up to 100%.
If the engine oil is diluted with fuel, such a mixture will not provide proper lubrication for the engine, leading to its accelerated wear.
Faulty injectors, providing incorrect dosage or improperly spraying, can lead to engine damage.
Therefore, during every engine overhaul or replacement, we will test your injectors on a professional test bench.
If your injectors are functional - meaning they pass the tests positively, we will generate new codes for them, and they can be installed in the overhauled or new engine.
In our service, we have a professionally equipped workshop for the regeneration of commonrail fuel system components. We test and regenerate injectors and fuel pumps.
Do you have questions about engine replacement or repair?
We will help you make a decision
Street Kolonia 19
43-430 Skoczów
