Pressure in your engine lubrication system is a function of the flow created by the oil pump flowing through the correct restrictions. The restrictions are the volume of the oil supply (galleries and ports) and the bearing-to-shaft tolerances. The tolerances between shaft journal and plain bearing are very tight to achieve this effect.

Because of these tolerances and the bearing material being relatively soft, plain bearing areas of an engine are extremely prone to damage from contamination or low oil pressure. Either of these situations are typically caused by contaminated or degraded oil, problems that develop over time if old oil is not drained and replaced at regular intervals.

The gummy, sticky residue and varnish left from oil breaking down restricts oil flow in journals, galleries, ports, and oil jets. This may not even noticeably reduce overall oil pressure measured in the gallery, but could be starving an area of your engine when under a higher load. With manufacturers commonly recommending longer periods between oil changes, these conditions are more and more prevalent.

Minor deposits from degraded oil are not permanent, and do not require engine removal and disassembly to remove. Sea Foam Motor Treatment is a petroleum-based product that reliquefies sticky gummy varnish and residue from old oil.

Keep your engine’s lubrication system working properly by adding Sea Foam Motor Treatment or High Mileage to your crankcase a few hundred miles before each oil change. Using Sea Foam as a pre-treatment allows all the varnish in your engine to re-liquefy. This gives all that degraded oil varnish the opportunity to drain out when you change your oil. Use Sea Foam Motor Treatment before each oil change to keep your engine clean and running its best.