24/02/2026
Education post - oil sludge!
Every now and then a vehicle comes in with oil that has turned into sludge. This happens when the oil has not been changed in a long time. In this case, the last service was done about 35,000km ago.
Engine oil that is sludgy is incredibly bad for your engine. Over time it builds up like cholesterol in our arteries. What happens to our bodies when that happens? Serious health events like heart attacks for example. Unfortunately, sludgy oil is the start of the decline of your engine, because even if you get back to regular servicing and do your best to clean the sludge out of your engine, the damage has been done.
Manufacturers generally recommend servicing every 10,000km / 6 months, or every 15,000km / 12 months. There are some variations to this, but these are the most common service intervals.
Fresh, new oil will look clear and golden and flow easily. It does get dark / dirty looking over time, but it should never get thick and gluggy. There are many fast-moving parts in your engine that NEED that viscosity to be there.
Education is what could have prevented this - stick to your manufacturer's recommendations for servicing your vehicle, even if it seems to be running well. It will save you and your vehicle in the long run!