Motor oil turned to jelly is a relatively rare occurrence, but the results can be messy when it does happen. Motor oil is one of the most critical components in motor vehicles. It lubricates the engine and prevents it from overheating while also cooling down the engine block. Without motor oil, your car will not be able to move at all!
Yet, if your motor oil is not properly cared for, it might turn into jelly. This article discusses what motor oil turned to jelly means and how to avoid this problem so that your vehicle can keep running smoothly for years to come!
The functions of engine oil
The functions of engine motor oil are multiple. The five main objectives of engine oil are lubricating, cooling, cleaning, sealing, and protecting. Keeping the engine running smoothly and effectively requires each of these functions.
The five main functions of engine oil are explained in more detail below:
Lubricating –
Oil is a lubricant that reduces friction between engine components, which might otherwise result in damage or wear due to heat generation during contact. Heat causes metal components to expand, so reducing the contact area between them lowers temperatures and prevents damage.
Cooling –
Engine oil transfers heat away from critical engine components such as pistons, bearings, cams, gears, etc. A thin layer of oil is held between these surfaces, which helps prevent this heat from becoming excessive, which would again cause damage.
Cleaning –
Engine oil picks up combustion byproducts from the engine such as soot, sulfuric acid, and metal particles. It filters out these particulates to prevent damage.
Sealing –
The oil seals are responsible for preventing dirt, dust, leaves, etc entering the moving parts of the engine.
Protecting –
The last part of engine oil’s job is to protect the engine from corrosion, rusting, and oxidation. This protects the internal surfaces of the engine, which would otherwise degrade leading to expensive repairs or even very serious damage.
Causes of motor oil turned to jelly
There are three things that make motor oil turn to jelly: low engine running temperatures, water in the oil, and crankshaft-induced cavitation. All of these problems can cause sludge to build up in your engine over time and eventually lead to motor oil turning into jelly.
If you want to avoid this problem, you must take care of your car’s engine by changing the oil regularly and keeping the engine running at a high temperature. It will help prevent sludge build-up and maintain your vehicle in good condition! You have to face oil jelly. Engine oil gelling is another common name for paraffin wax, one of the main components of congealed oil.
How to fix the issue of engine oil gelling?
Many people have encountered the problem of oil turning into jelly. You’re probably one of them as well. There are several easy ways to fix this issue, but first, let’s learn more about oil turning into jelly and why it is happening.
Oil turned into jelly results from material problems in the engine maintenance cycle. For example, if the engine oil is not replaced on time, or the quality of the replacement oil is poor, this will cause the degradation of engine oil. When the engine oil degrades, it will turn into a jelly-like substance that will decrease the performance of your engine and you may face less oil pressure as requires.
Steps to solve the problems
First, check the quality of your engine oil and replace it with a better one if you haven’t done so in a while. Some of the most common signs that you need a new set of engine oil are:
If you already have the high-quality engine oil and your engine is still turning into jelly. The other solution is to flush out the engine by running it through a car wash or other professional machine to clean up your engine thoroughly. Once everything is done properly, recheck the quality of the oil and see whether or not the problem persists.
If this is the situation, the last alternative is to change the engine oil filter. The engine oil filter is responsible for catching all the dirt and debris in the engine oil, so if it is dirty or clogged, it can cause the oil to turn into jelly.
Even if you don’t know how to fix the problem of oil turned into jelly, you should talk to a professional if you aren’t sure how to do it. They will help you to identify any technical fault for mixing water or coolant with oil, and get your engine back up and running quickly.
FAQ
1. Can thick oil damage the engine?
Yes, it can. The engine oil’s job is to lubricate the moving parts of your car and prevent them from grinding against each other or wearing out prematurely. When there is too much sludge in the oil, these components will have a more challenging time running smoothly, which leads to all sorts of problems down the line for any driver who continues to drive with thick oil.
2. What does antifreeze in oil look like?
When antifreeze appears in your engine oil, it will typically look like light green or clear liquid. In some cases, the antifreeze may be thick and cloudy. If you find this substance in your oil, you should have your car evaluated as fast as possible by a professional.
3. Can you fix oil sludge?
Yes. You can fix oil sludge by changing the engine’s oil and filter every 3000 miles or so if you notice it has gotten very thick. It is recommended to change your car’s oil like o’reilly oil frequently than what an average driver does for maximum protection against any future problems with motor sludge in oils.
4. What does oil sludge look like?
Oil sludge looks like a solid or gel in motor oil generated by the oil gelling or hardening at temperatures over 100°C/212°F. Oil sludge may cause severe damage to internal combustion engines, necessitating engine replacement. Sludge builds up due to the low engine running temperatures, water in the oil, or crank pulley cavitation. Infrequent oil changes or driving with a low oil level cause oil sludge to build up in an engine, causing it to operate poorly or even seize.
Conclusion
As you can see, it is essential to understand what motor oil turned to jelly means and how to avoid this problem. If your car has been running for years without any issues, there may be a good chance that the motor oil cools down the engine block to prevent overheating.
On the other hand, if your vehicle’s engine starts getting hot or doesn’t run smoothly anymore after some time of use, then it could mean that something went wrong with the lubrication process, and you need help. The best thing would be to contact an automotive technician right away so they can