Oil sludge or black sludge is a

gel A gel is a semi-solid that can have properties ranging from soft and weak to hard and tough. Gels are defined as a substantially dilute cross-linked system, which exhibits no flow when in the steady-state, although the liquid phase may still dif ...

-like or semi-solid deposit inside an

internal combustion engine An internal combustion engine (ICE or IC engine) is a heat engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer (usually air) in a combustion chamber that is an integral part of the working fluid flow circuit. In an internal combus ...

, that can create a catastrophic buildup. It is often the result of contaminated

engine oil Motor oil, engine oil, or engine lubricant is any one of various substances used for the lubrication of internal combustion engines. They typically consist of base oils enhanced with various additives, particularly antiwear additives, deter ...

and occurs when moisture and/or high heat is introduced to engine oil.

Causes

Oil sludge may occur due to a variety of different factors. Some of the most common causes are: * Defective

crankcase ventilation system A crankcase ventilation system removes unwanted gases from the crankcase of an internal combustion engine. The system usually consists of a tube, a one-way valve and a vacuum source (such as the inlet manifold). The unwanted gases, called "blo ...

* Oil/coolant contamination * Neglecting oil changes * Low oil level * Poor engine design

Precautions

Oil sludge is generally preventable through frequent oil changes at manufacturer specified intervals, however, while uncommon, some engines do have a tendency to build up more sludge than others.

References

External links

burn oil sludge utilization

Installation for saving of heavy fuel on boilers,utilization of condensate water and heavy residuals of fuel in tankfarm

waste oil Waste oil is defined as any petroleum-based or synthetic oil that, through contamination, has become unsuitable for its original purpose due to the presence of impurities or loss of original properties. Differentiating between "waste oil" and "use ...

residues and oiled condensate water in ports and tank farms
sludge - dispersion and utilisation as fuel
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oil Sludge Engines Motor vehicle maintenance