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Over numerous hours of operation factors such as contamination, heat, lack of lubrication, and misalignment can all contribute to deterioration of the main bearings. Unclean conditions such as failure to routinely change the compressor's oil or replace the air filter, can allow dirt or other contaminants to make their way into the oil and eventually into the bearings. This foreign material can become embedded in the soft bearing material and even further score or damage the crankshaft.

Heat is also a primary factor that causes the bearings to wear prematurely and will lead to failure if the bearings get too hot. Being primarily cooled by the flow of oil through and around the bearing, anything that disrupts this oil flow raises bearing temperature and increases the risk of damage to the bearing. Lack of lubrication can cause fusing due to the excessive friction from metal to metal contact that happens in the absence of oil. Another contributing factor to bearing wear is misalignment, which is indicated by an uneven or diagonal wear pattern on the rod bearings. This usually indicates that the connecting rod has been bent and should be replaced.