What Is Engine Lugging—and Why It Hurts Your Car?

Vehicles equipped with a manual gearbox might seem challenging to understand initially, but after some practice, you can pick up several techniques. For example, you can actually boost your gas mileage by changing gears when appropriate However, individuals who lack experience with manual transmissions may easily commit the basic error of engine lugging.

Engine lugging happens when you attempt to speed up while in a higher gear instead of shifting down to a lower gear. Initially, this might seem unusual, but lower gears provide the necessary torque to help your vehicle gain speed. In fact, it’s best to use fifth (or sixth) gear solely for maintaining a constant speed—trying to push forward aggressively in a high gear can cause extra stress on your engine.

This type of stress may cause damage over time. If you notice a pinging or knocking noise from your engine, it might indicate that your engine block is experiencing issues due to engine lugging. In the end, this can result in expensive fixes down the road. Let’s look at how engine lugging affects your car and what steps you can take to prevent it.

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The Harm Resulting From Overloading an Engine

If your engine block becomes overloaded due to excessive strain from engine lugging, parts including the engine pistons and cylinder surfaces may suffer damage. Substances such as soot build-up can gather inside the cylinders, and when the pistons get hot, the piston ring seals might stick to this residue, leading to gradual wear. Eventually, this issue causes gas from the combustion area to escape into the oil sump. a mechanical problem referred to as blow-by If these gases enter the crankcase, they may raise the pressure and temperature around it, affecting the crankcase's capacity to provide proper lubrication to different parts of the engine.

Additionally, should exhaust gases come into contact with humidity, you might end up with an acid-based pollutant that can cause more damage to the pistons and other parts. Frankly, even moisture—essentially another term for water—by itself can pollute your motor oil, resulting in oil sludge and deterioration of engine elements.

Fortunately, avoiding engine lugging is simple — all it takes is proper use of the gears. You'll soon understand when to speed up and when to drive at a steady pace, which helps improve gas mileage. For instance, move to a higher gear after reaching your preferred speed and plan to keep it constant. If you want to go faster, shift into a lower gear to produce greater power. When preparing to slow down, be prepared to drop a gear, but make sure to press the brake pedal first.

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