Engine oil performs vital functions which aids in maintaining optimum engine performance, maximizing engine life as well as cooling the engine. When this engine oil isn’t pure as it should be, it can bring up a problem to the car. This problem can be called Engine Sludge. Engine sludge is in its simplest term Accumulated mass of impure carbon particles due to incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons. It is a dirty, sticky, grease-like substance formed due to oxidation/contamination of engine oil. There are several things that can cause a car engine to be filled with sludge. Some of them are: 1. Delayed service/maintenance: When the engine oil is used longer than prescribed by the manufacturer, it is prone to form sludge. When service is delayed, there is a high chance that sludge will be formed. This will make the oil not to flow freely in the engine compartment. 2. Making use of inferior oil: You’re likely to fall into this trap if you don’t make use of your car manual. It is wise to use the engine oil recommended by your car manufacturer. German car owners should take note. They are mostly affected. 3. Bad fuel: Bad fuel leads to carbon build up which is engine sludge formation. This gradually suffocates the engine and cause problem to the fuel system. 4. Excessive car idling: The term idling simply refers to as the engine running but the car is stationary and not moving. A lot of people do this to warm up their car first thing in the morning. Excessive idling can reduce the accuracy of when your car is due for servicing. And when not serviced when due, sludge can start building up. How can one know their car is affected with this sludge? Check for oil spatters where it should not be: Any signs of oil or engine sludge on the outside of the vehicle or engine is a sure sign that you have an engine sludge problem inside. Check the oil pan: Remove the oil cap from your oil pan. Check the cap and peer inside. You may need a flashlight to be able to see clearly. The contents of your oil pan should appear clean. Although the walls and parts will be covered in oil, they should still appear metallic silver underneath. Any sign of engine sludge in the oil pan is an indicator of high levels of engine sludge in your motor. It is important you follow the service interval as recommended by the manufacturer of your car brand. To ignore or extend the engine oil service interval exposes your engine to this risk. Sludge can cause much damage to your engine and may require the engine to be replaced. Save yourself the stress of this by maintaining a good engine oil servicing culture. Tell us your experience with engine sludge in the comment section.

Five sign of failure of car fuel pump

Fuel pump problem is one of the most frustrating car faults your car can give you. The work of this fuel pump is to pump fuel from the fuel tank of your car to the engine where it is needed. When the fuel pump malfunctions, there will be problem in the way your car behaves. Just like when there is not proper blood circulation in the body. This post is to bring to the notice of various car owners symptoms that they should be aware of about a malfunctioning fuel pump. When you notice these symptoms, proper preventive measures should be taken before the situation gets worst. This fuel pump is an essential component of internal combustion engine. When the fuel pump starts malfunctioning, it either delivers too much or little fuel from the gas tank to the engine. The two main purpose of this fuel pump is to pump fuel from the gas tank to the fuel injector or carburetor and then to create the proper amount of pressure to ensure that the right amount of fuel will be delivered to the engine, regardless of external conditions. Below are the symptoms of a failing fuel pump: 1. Your car jerks especially at high speed: It might be a sign of a failing fuel pump when you notice your car jerk at high speed. This problem comes up because the fuel pump can't deliver smooth flow of fuel to the engine, hence the jerking. This interruption causes the engine to skip several power strokes. This jerking effect might last for some minutes and then return to normal 2. Your car lose power when accelerating: Your fuel pump may be in trouble when you notice your car often loses power when you try to accelerate. In accelerating, more fuel is required which forces the pump to work a little bit harder. If the fuel pump is failing, it won't be able to deliver. It will just starve your engine of the fuel it needs. In essence, if your car is very reluctant when you try to accelerate from a stop, know something is wrong. 3. Your car starts losing power while driving uphill or towing a load: When the fuel pump start failing, certain driving activities like climbing uphill seems to be tug of war. You start having that feeling of your car struggling to take 50 bags of cement uphill; whereas, it's not carrying anything. 4. Your engine starts surging: You may find your car suddenly accelerating even when you did not depress the gas pedal of your car. 5. Your car won't start: This is the final bus-stop of a failing fuel pump. This is the end result you get after ignore other warning signs of a failing fuel pump. When there is no life in the fuel pump, it can never again supply fuel to the engine. Imagine what happens when there is no flow of blood from the body to the heart. That's what will happen to your car. To be sure it's fuel pump, check your car’s fuse box; a blown fuel pump fuse is another reliable symptom of a failed pump. If in any way you start noticing all these symptoms, have your car checked. It's good you know that there are other car faults that can bring about these symptoms. So make sure you have your car checked by the right people.