Causes related to the engine oil

The selection of the engine oil alone is not responsible for the lubricating properties. Oil dilution due to fuel ingress, condensation due to short-distance operation, coolant ingress and soot deposits in the engine oil affect the quality extraordinarily.
 

No regular oil change

With excessive maintenance intervals, the additives in the engine oil have already lost their effect (especially with long-life oil). The light suspended particles such as soot and oil carbon particles remain in suspension and can no longer be stored by the oil filter. During cold starts, the bypass in the oil filter system opens to maintain the oil pressure and allows the oil to pass through unfiltered during this phase. Sensitive position points, such as those of the turbocharger, are supplied with contaminated oil and cause corresponding damage.
 

Lack of lubrication (oil level too low)

Reduced oil pressure reduces the hydrostatic function of the plain bearings in the turbocharger. The rotor shaft, which rotates at high speed, can no longer be centered in its bearings and the lubricant film breaks off. This results in metallic contact between the components and mixed friction (seizure). The reduced oil quantity leads to inadequate cooling of the bearing components in the turbocharger and to partial overheating. In the process, the lubricant polymerizes (thickens) and forms oil coke. This oil coke subsequently acts like a fine-grained abrasive and leads to material removal from the bearing components. The result is increased bearing play, which leads to total failure of the turbocharger.
 

Increased oil consumption can have various causes:

• Clogged air filter or dirty compressor
• Oil return lines clogged or deformed
• Malfunction of crankcase ventilation system
• Excessive exhaust backpressure due to fault in exhaust gas purification system
• Turbocharger bearing damage

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