The Problem
Cold Start Wear Is The #1 Source of Engine Damage
Every engine ever built suffers from the same fatal flaw:
It starts without oil pressure
Of All Engine Wear
Occurs during cold starts when there is zero hydrodynamic oil film protection
Critical Window
Metal-to-metal contact happens in the first 1-3 seconds before oil pressure builds
Oil Pressure At Start
The crankshaft rests directly on bearings with zero hydrodynamic lift
What Happens During A Cold Start
Journal bearing surface showing damage from repeated cold-start wear
1. Engine Is At Rest
When an engine sits idle, oil drains back to the pan. The crankshaft, camshaft, and connecting rods settle onto their bearing surfaces with no separation.
- No hydrodynamic oil film exists
- Journal surfaces in direct contact with bearing overlay
- Oil pressure gauge reads zero
2. Starter Motor Engages
The starter begins rotating the crankshaft. But there's still no oil pressure—the mechanical pump can't build pressure until the engine is already spinning.
- Crankshaft journals grind against bearing surfaces
- Cam lobes scrape lifters and followers
- Connecting rod bearings experience metal-to-metal contact
3. Oil Pressure Builds Slowly
After 1-3 seconds of unprotected rotation, oil finally reaches critical bearing surfaces. But the damage is already happening.
- Bearing overlay material sheds microscopic particles
- Clearances increase over thousands of starts
- Metal contamination enters the oil
4. Cumulative Damage
This process repeats every single time the engine starts. Over tens of thousands of cold starts:
- •Bearing clearances increase beyond specification
- •Oil pressure drops at idle
- •Timing chains stretch
- •Cam lobes flatten
- •Turbos develop shaft play
- •Engine life is dramatically shortened
What Cold Starts Destroy
Main Bearings
The crankshaft journals grind the soft bearing overlay layer, creating metal particles and increasing clearance.
Rod Bearings
Connecting rod journals experience the highest loads during combustion—without oil film, micro-scuffing is inevitable.
Cam Lobes & Lifters
Overhead cam engines are especially vulnerable. High spring pressure + no oil = accelerated lobe wear.
Turbochargers
Turbo bearings rely on hydrodynamic lift. Dry startup is the #1 cause of turbo failure—bearings scuff and develop shaft play.
Timing Chains
Dry startup delays proper lubrication to chain guides and tensioners, accelerating stretch and wear.
Piston Rings
Without cylinder wall lubrication, rings scrape dry metal, leading to blow-by and oil consumption.
Cold Weather Makes It Worse
At low temperatures, oil viscosity increases dramatically. Thick, cold oil takes even longer to reach critical bearing surfaces.
0°F (-18°C)
Oil is 10x more viscous. It can take 5-10 seconds for proper oil pressure to stabilize.
-20°F (-29°C)
Extreme cold makes oil flow like honey. Wear rate can be 20x higher than a warm start.
The Industry Has Accepted This Failure
For over a century, automakers have known about cold-start wear. But no consumer-friendly solution has ever existed—until now.
Every Vehicle Ever Built Suffers From This
- •Fleet vehicles with frequent starts experience shortened engine life
- •Municipal trucks, delivery vehicles, taxis—all suffer accelerated wear
- •Performance engines with tight clearances fail even faster
- •Cold-climate operation dramatically reduces engine longevity