Any vehicle is equipped with a gasoline or diesel engine. The operability and proper condition of the power unit ensures normal vehicle operation. Otherwise, current or major repairs will be required, which are complex and expensive. To avoid such situations, regular maintenance must be performed according to manufacturer recommendations. In this article we gathered some of the main causes of engine failure and what must be done to prevent them.
Oil Starvation
The main reason engines experience lubrication deficiency is simple forgetfulness and negligence of the vehicle owner. Many drivers, in a hurry or due to laziness, don’t check under the hood at all, leaving it to QueensATS technicians during maintenance, and worse – ignore the corresponding indicator on the dashboard. Consequently, lubricant isn’t topped up and the engine begins working “dry” under load. Another common cause of oil starvation is careless off-road driving.
A punctured engine crankcase, broken ventilation system, or damaged oil supply tubes can cause oil leaks leading to complete drainage. When lubrication becomes critically low, the power unit simply lacks pressure to lubricate the friction elements.
This scenario can also be caused by:
- Low oil pump performance
- Clogged oil channels
- Oil mixing with coolant
Without sufficient lubricant, failures occur in this order:
- Crankshaft and rod bearings
- Plain bearings
- Piston group and cylinder walls
- Eventually, engine seizure
Incorrect Oil Usage
Using or topping up with unsuitable or counterfeit lubricant is another common cause of power unit failures. For example, using oil that’s too thick in sub-zero temperatures, or conversely, too fluid lubricant in extreme (hot) conditions, will be equally harmful to the internal combustion engine. A thin oil film forms that doesn’t settle on the engine’s friction parts. Over time, this can lead to damage to metal components. Additionally, you shouldn’t use diesel engine oil in gasoline engines and vice versa. Diesel oil additives have stronger cleaning characteristics. Gasoline engine oils focus on oil film stability and resistance to burning. The cleaning properties of diesel oil will cause increased carbon deposit in gasoline engines. These contaminants can eventually clog oil channels leading to engine seizure.
Poor Fuel Quality
Another cause of engine failure is poor-quality fuel. For instance, lower octane than recommended can cause destructive detonation and overheating. If you get counterfeit fuel with high content of lead, methanol, naphthalene, or acetone, possible consequences include:
- Fuel system malfunction
- Clogged filters and injectors
- Low engine efficiency
- Incomplete fuel combustion leading to carbon deposits
Water in fuel is another common issue. In modern vehicles, the fuel filter screen prevents moisture from reaching the combustion chamber. In winter, this can have unpleasant consequences – water freezes and can “seal” the filter. The combination of water and sulfur in fuel is particularly harmful to the engine.
Service Recommendations
QueensATS recommends several basic rules for operating internal combustion engines owners should follow:
- Avoid prolonged operation at elevated RPMs (not higher than 1800-2100 RPM depending on engine type)
- Don’t start moving immediately after engine start — the engine needs to warm up for at least 3-5 minutes
- Don’t sharply increase engine RPMs immediately after startup; warm-up should occur at idle speed. This is especially important for engines equipped with turbochargers — suddenly hitting the gas can damage the turbo due to insufficient lubrication
These practices ensure reliable vehicle operation after repair and minimize future issues.
