02 Apr The Removal of Sludge From Your Engine
Sludge presents an enemy to peak engine performance and vehicle longevity, especially in high mileage vehicles. Amsoil 100% synthetic high mileage motor oil is engineered to the removal of sludge.
What is Sludge?
Sludge is typically a thick, dark residue, composed of combustion or oxidation byproducts. It can also be formed by wear particles, water, fuel, and coolant. These contaminants are often acidic and have polarity within their molecular structure which are insoluble in the motor oil and as oils have an affinity for non-polar substrates.
Under the right conditions, these polarized contaminants, scan, agglomerate and fall out of solution. Once deposited on surfaces inside the engine, the polar nature of sludge can accelerate the sludge formation process as it continues to pull other polarize contaminants out of suspension and bond with them. This process can rapidly expand the sludge deposit and begin to cause engine-performance issues.
Where Sludge Forms
Sludge can form anywhere, but it typically builds on non-moving engine components, including the tops of cylinder heads, valve covers and oil pans. Any engine can develop sludge; however, engines that stress the oil are more likely to form sludge and deposits. For example, gasoline direct injection (GDI) engines typically have higher concentrations of fuel dilution. Turbocharged applications expose the engine to higher temperatures and pressures, leading to more combustion byproducts.
Short trips can also contribute to sludge formation. If an engine doesn’t reach normal operating temperature, it can lead to water contamination. Sludge can also form when worn or damaged head gaskets allow coolant into the oil. Older engines will exhibit increase blow-by, which introduce excessive combustion byproducts into the oil.
Why Does It Matter?
Dirty components run poorly, pollute and don’t last. They cause system failures in engines that dramatically increase downtime, increase operating costs and reduce equipment life.
Clean engine components;
- require less maintenance
- produce more energy
- use fuel more efficiently
- increase equipment service life
- run cleaner
Fighting Sludge
There are a few different types of deposits and sludge and some are easier to remove than others. How you attack them is important. Detergents added to lubricants help minimize deposit formation in the engine. The most-used detergents in motor formulations are metallic (ash) soaps with reserve basicity to neutralize the acids formed as byproduct of combustion. Other detergents include metalorganic compounds of sodium, calcium and magnesium phenolates, phosphonates and sulfonates.
The Removal of Sludge
The best from a removal is slow and steady. Cleaning an engine too fast can lead to a large sludge deposit dislodging and clogging narrow oil passageways which leads to oil starvation. Sludge removal that’s too rapid can also clog the oil filter. Steady dissolving sludge through a balancing motor-oil detergent and dispersant package is the safest method without manual intervention. For ultimate cleanliness, Amsoil Engine and Transmission Flush (FLSH) can help speed up sludge removal with its powerful boost of detergents.
Properly selected motor-oil components are critical to remove and prevent sludge. Motor-oil detergents are great as cleaning agents, even at higher temperatures (piston/combustion chamber), neutralizing the acids formed by combustion and oxidation and aiding in solubility. High-quality dispersants that help keep solid contaminants in suspension can also help re-solubilize contaminants that make up sludge and remove them from the engine at the next oil change.
AMSOIL High-Mileage Motor Oil removes sludge
Amsoil 100% synthetic high mileage motor oil is specifically designed for the unique demands of high mileage engines including boosted detergency. To prove it performs, Amsoil subjected it to independent testing. The results: Amsoil High Mileage Motor Oil reduce sludge by 67% demonstrating its cleaning power that helps engines last longer and perform better.
AMSOIL High-Milage Motor Oil prevents deposits
In addition to removing existing sludge, AMSOIL 100% Synthetic High-Mileage Motor Oil provides up to 62% better deposit prevention. You can permanently put the issue of sludge behind you. Your engine will be clean and mean.
