Prevent engine damage in Limp Mode by keeping the oil above the MIN mark, maintaining coolant, warming the engine before high revs, changing the oil every 500 km, and never running the engine in water 0.7 m deep or more. The engine loses condition only while it is running, and it cannot be repaired: once condition reaches 0%, the engine must be replaced with an engine crane or on a two-post lift.
Keep the oil level safe
Oil-related damage begins when the level falls below the engine's MIN mark. Damage accelerates as the level gets lower. A completely empty engine can fail in about 45 seconds. As an example for a 2.5-litre six-cylinder engine, 3.0 litres may last about 48 minutes, 2.0 litres about 6 minutes, and 1.0 litre less than 2 minutes.
- Carry the correct oil and check the level regularly, especially on turbocharged cars.
- The oil warning lamp and fault code
P0520appear when the level is around 30% of theMINlevel, putting the car into limp mode. - A damaged oil pan can leak even while the car is parked. A puddle underneath the car is a warning to investigate immediately.
- Underbody impacts at 20 km/h or more can damage the oil pan, with lowered cars at greater risk. The source solution is to repair a damaged pan with 2K glue.
- Blue smoke indicates oil burning from a worn engine or turbo. Hot oil above 120 °C can also burn away.
Prevent overheating
| Temperature | Risk |
|---|---|
| 90 °C | Normal operating temperature; the thermostat opens. |
| 108 °C | Dashboard temperature warning. |
| 110 °C | Coolant can be forced out, causing coolant loss. |
| 112 °C | P0217, limp mode, and an additional power cut. |
| 120 °C | Head-gasket damage; failure can follow in about 50 seconds. |
| 130 °C | Pistons can seize; failure can follow in about 2 minutes. |
Stop driving and let the engine cool if the temperature rises. Refill coolant after cooling and repair the cause. A leaking or crash-damaged radiator can be repaired with 2K glue or radiator seal additive. Low coolant, slow driving while producing high power, and a strong tune paired with a small radiator all increase overheating risk. Speed provides airflow through the radiator, while coolant quantity and radiator size affect cooling capacity. A Standard radiator cools twice as much as a Small radiator; Large and Racing radiators cool four times as much as a Small radiator. Stronger tuning also creates more heat: Stage 1 adds 5%, Stage 2 adds 20%, and Stage 3 adds 45%. Turbo boost adds further heat.
Warm the engine before using high revs
When engine oil is below 70 °C, revving above half of maximum RPM causes wear. Colder oil and higher revs increase the rate of damage. Cold idling does not cause this damage, but driving gently for the first few minutes is the safer procedure.
Change oil on schedule
The oil-change interval is 500 km. Blinking service LEDs indicate that the interval has been reached. After the interval, the engine loses 0.1% condition per kilometre, so 100 km overdue costs 10%. A proper oil change requires draining the old oil completely and filling fresh oil above MIN. Resetting the service counter with an OBD reader only resets the counter; it does not replace the oil.
Avoid water intake damage
If water reaches 0.7 m or deeper under the car while the engine is running, the engine can suck in water. It may stutter, stall after about two seconds, and lose approximately 3% condition per second. Each restart attempt in the water costs about 7%. A switched-off engine takes no damage from this situation. Bridges are safe, but after entering deep water, do not try to restart the engine: tow the car out first.
Use warnings to act early
OIL, temperature, coolant, battery, andCHECK / LIMP MODEwarnings require attention.- Below 75% engine condition,
P0300appears and power is reduced. - Below 45%, limp mode and random stalling can occur.
- At 0%,
ENGINE BROKENappears, the starter only clicks, and the engine will not run again.
What does not damage the engine
The rev limiter, a blocked money shift, boost pressure, knock, a lean mixture, and clutch or gearbox wear are not simulated as engine damage in this game. Overfilling oil does not damage the engine, although it can damage the catalytic converter, DPF, and EGR valve. Wrong fuel damages the injectors rather than the engine and is associated with P0169.
Keratatek provides a temporary protective shield of 20 points, but it takes damage at double rate, so it absorbs 10 points of engine damage and lasts about 100 km. It does not repair or revive an engine. Clearing fault codes can keep the car moving, but if the underlying fault remains, the engine wears three times faster.