Low Speed Pre-Ignition and Why You Want to Avoid It

Do you know about Low Speed Pre Ignition (LSPI) and what it can do to your vehicle? If not, you should be interested to know about it and why you want to avoid it. LSPI refers to an event within the engine where ignition takes place before the planned ignition sequence. When you have a premature explosion in the combustion chamber, it actually counteracts the correct piston movement. If you think about how a piston movement sequence goes, and all the moving parts in that sequence, it doesn’t take much of a stretch to see just how quickly that can lead to some severe mechanical issues that have pretty massive repair bills attached.

What kinds of damage can you expect? LSPI is essentially minor explosions within the engine that aren’t part of the regular combustion sequence. This can lead to increased pressure in the combustion chamber and abnormal cylinder pressure – and everything attached to it – and that will lead directly to some major damage like a blown head gasket, overly worn or broken piston rings, a busted connecting rod bearing, or worse. None of it is good, and you don’t want any part of it.

Is Your Vehicle At Risk?

LSPI really only occurs in modern, high-compression engines with direct fuel injection and turbocharger, running in the lower engine-speed range while under a high load. These types of engines are designed for maximum power output with combustion taking place faster and hotter than with “conventional” engines. Because of this design that is engineered to wrangle every bit of power out of the engine, fuel has a shortened time to evaporate. This and other factors such as unburned fuel, using a wrong oil formulation and deposits inside the combustion chamber increases the risk of LSPI.

How Can You Avoid It?

There are ways you can avoid some of the issues that lead to LSPI. Some of it involves how you drive your vehicle and others involve your maintenance routine.

Motor Oils

There are some maintenance steps you can take to help out. For starters, always refer to your vehicle owner’s manual or use the LIQUI MOLY online oil guide for proper motor oils recommended for use in your vehicle. LIQUI MOLY leads the way here with specially designed motor oils such as oils from its Special Tec AA range for example. As for the API SP specification, these are subjected to an additional test to minimize the risk of LSPI.

LIQUI MOLY’s Special Tec AA are premium-class motor oils specially formulated for the high demands of modern Asian and American gasoline vehicles. Special Tec AA oil use additive packages that minimize or even avoid LSPI events. As an added bonus, they were developed for maximum efficiency, best engine performance and excellent wear protection even with longer oil change intervals.

Using the wrong motor oil can promote LSPI and increase wear because modern direct fuel injection engines require specific oils. Low viscosity oils for example reach lube points faster and can withstand more heat, thus work better for the faster and hotter combustion processes. LIQUI MOLY’s Special Tec AA oils are the perfect blend to add protection at this critical point.

Injector Cleaner

Another line of defense against LSPI is LIQUI MOLY’s DIJectron injector cleaner that is specially formulated for direct injection engines. It achieves maximum cleaning performance in the combustion chamber, in and around the injector tip and the entire fuel system. This helps prevent the build-up of debris and deposits that can help LSPI develop. Regular use of DIJectron injector cleaner significantly reduces the risk of engine damage caused by LSPI, optimizes engine performance, reduces exhaust gas emissions, and prevents corrosion even with ethanol content in fuels.

By using the right kind of motor oil for your vehicle and adding DIJectron injector cleaner to your fuel system, you can save yourself a lot of troubles down the road. Check in with the experts at LIQUI MOLY for more information about their line of products to help fight LSPI.

NOTE: This is sponsored content produced in partnership with LIQUI MOLY