The engine
in your car generates power through the combustion of gasoline and oxygen. This
combustion causes the crankshaft to spin, thus providing the mechanical energy
necessary to move your wheels. Your engine contains a set of bearings located
where the moving parts of your engine meet the non-moving parts.
Also known
as main bearings, the engine bearings provide support to the crankshaft, while
also minimizing the amount of friction as it spins. Engine bearings must work
in especially punishing conditions and will soon break down if not maintained
properly.
If you would
like to learn more about engine bearings, keep reading. This article takes a
closer look at three common causes of engine bearing failure.
1. Lack of Lubrication
Many people
assume that engine bearings consist of polished metal spheres. Yet engine
bearings actually consist of flat cylinders, each of which consists of two
halves known as inserts or shells. Manufacturers make bearings from special
blends of metal, precisely balanced to optimize wear resistance without
becoming so hard that the bearings damage the crankshaft.
In a
well-working bearing system, the crankshaft never actually contacts the bearing
surface. Instead, a thin layer of oil creates a protective buffer between the
two components, while also reducing the amount of friction exerted on both.
Without sufficient lubrication, both the bearing and the crankshaft would soon
succumb to frictionrelated damage.
Engine
bearings receive their lubrication from the common supply of motor oil in your
car. As your engine runs, oil naturally moves into the bearing casings. Yet if
your car's oil supply falls below recommended levels, your engine bearings may
fail to receive an adequate measure of lubrication, thus increasing the chances
of failure.
Ultimately,
too little lubrication will lead to one of the most catastrophic of all engine
problems - seized bearings. Should your car fall prey to this issue, you may
have no choice but to replace your entire engine.
2. Dirt and Debris
Bearing
failure can still occur even when your oil supply remains within acceptable
limits. Here the problem involves contaminants in the oil supply. Dirt, dust,
and debris can all wreak havoc on your engine bearings. As the bearings move at
extremely high speeds, even tiny particles of debris can cause circumferential
scratches along the bearing.
Once the
bearing develops pits and grooves, bits of debris can even lodge themselves on
the surface. The raised area created in this manner will break through the
protective film of oil and damage the crankshaft.
The solution
here involves having your oil checked regularly for signs of excessive
contamination. If a mechanic deems that debris levels in your oil have risen
too far, they will flush your system and restock it with fresh oil.
3. Excessive Bearing Crush
Engine
bearings have a slightly wider diameter than the housing bore they sit inside
of. This extra diameter creates an outward force commonly referred to as
bearing crush, which increases the surface contact between bearing and bore. In
other words, bearing crush literally holds the bearings in place, thus
preventing unwanted movement.
Yet if
bearing crush exceeds the appropriate amount for a given engine, serious
problems may ensue. In that case, the bearings exert too much pressure on the
bores. As a result, the bearings may bulge or bend inward. Bearing crush often
occurs as the result of over-torqueing when building or servicing an engine.
For this
reason, you must always hire an experienced professional to perform engine
maintenance.
To learn
more about what a professional can do to keep your engine bearings working
correctly, please contact
our
automotive experts at Dualtone Auto Repair.
