Submitted:
10 October 2025
Posted:
10 October 2025
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Abstract

Keywords:
1. Introduction
States of Water in Engine Oil

2. Results








3. Discussion
- Stage 1 - in the low-temperature range, a sharp decrease in dynamic viscosity is observed with increasing temperature, regardless of the degree of contamination. This is due to the phenomenon of relative slippage between the oil and water layers.
- Stage 2 - as the temperature increases, gradual absorption of water into the oil occurs, accompanied by a slight increase in viscosity with higher water contamination levels.
- Stage 3 - finally, a phenomenon of oil oversaturation with water takes place, leading to the formation of colloidal structures or stable emulsions that interfere with the free flow of oil and alter its rheological properties - an irreversible process.
4. Materials and Methods
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
| PCV | Positive Crankcase Ventilation |
| PAO | Poly Alpha Olefin |
| LPG | Liquefied Petroleum Gas |
| TAN | Total Acid Number |
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| Source category | Specific pathway | Key indicators/symptoms |
| Condensation/Blowby | Cold engine operation, frequent short trips, clogged PCV system | Steam from tailpipe (cold), dark sludge in oil, milky oil (later stages) |
| Coolant leaks | Faulty head gasket, internal water pump failure, cracked engine block, non-watertight seals | Milky brown oil, coolant level drop, bubbles on dipstick, sweet smell in oil |
| External/human error | High humidity, improper lubricant storage, accidental water addition, cross-contamination | Visible water layer in sump, milky oil, unusual oil level changes |
| Type of oil | Dynamic viscosity [cP] | |||
| New oil [8,9,10] | Used oil before water contamination | |||
| At 40°C | At 100°C | At 40°C | At 100°C | |
| Diesel (ELF Evolution Full-Tech FE 5W-30) |
58.2 | 10.21 | 84 | 25.5 |
| Gasoline (ELF Evolution 900 SXR 5W-40) |
76.95 | 12.56 | 67 | 28 |
| LPG (ELF Evolution 300 CNG 20W-50) |
148.4 | 15.9 | 72 | 22 |
| Degradation mechanism | Chemical process/Reactants | Harmful byproducts | Impact on oil/engine |
| Hydrolysis | Water + base oil/additives | Carboxylic acids, modified compounds | Viscosity changes, additive depletion, reduced loadcarrying capacity |
| Accelerated oxidation | Oil + oxygen + water (catalytic metals) | Organic acids, peroxides, high-molecular-weight polymers |
Increased TAN, sludge, varnish, premature oil aging |
| Acid formation | Organic acids + water | Inorganic acids, corrosive substances |
Severe corrosion, rust, damage to engine parts (e.g., bearings) |
| Sludge/varnish formation | Degraded additives/oxidation products + water | Dark sludge, varnish, gums, precipitates, "black mayonnaise" |
Clogged oil passages, filter blockage, lubricant starvation, reduced engine life |
| Emulsification | Water droplets + oil + detergents + energy | Milky/hazy appearance, increased apparent viscosity | Impaired oil flow, reduced lubrication, increased friction |
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