Engine can be easy or hard on oil??

[bigjason]

I read a lot of people saying that a certain engine is hard on oil and some other engines are easy on oil.

What does it mean? And how to determine if an engine is easy or hard on oil?

High rev engines are harder on oil in general? And vice verse?

Thanks guys!

 

[sbc350gearhead]

Certain engines can be harder on oil, due to operating temps, shear forces caused by gear driven camshafts or valvespring pressure etc, amount of fuel consumed (combustion products deposited in oil), oil capacity, and countless other factors.

 

[mormit]

Turbos with the high temps and high RPM/tight clearances are typically hard on oil.

 

[Dan4510]

Also add in the higher the rpm, the harder the oil works and the higher output per ci/liter will also stress the oil.

When you start getting over 2 hp/ci, oil takes a beating.

Dan

 

[69 Riv GS]

quote:

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When you start getting over 2 hp/ci, oil takes a beating.

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Yeah, at that level everything takes a beating!

 

[69 Riv GS]

Some engines can abuse oil merely because its oil return passages are undersized. Thus, the oil dwells longer in localized "hot spots".