The invention relates to engine oil compositions with reduced deposit-formation tendency which contain between 0.05 and 10% by weight, in relation to the total weight of the engine oil composition, of an alkyl alkoxylate of formula (I), in which R 1 , R 2 and R 3 independently are hydrogen or a hydrocarbon rest with up to 40 carbon atoms; R 4 is hydrogen, a methyl or ethyl rest; L is a linking group; n is a whole number between 4 and 40; A is an alkoxy group with between 2 and 25 recurring units derived from ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide and comprises homopolymers and statistical copolymers of at least two of the above compounds; and z is 1 or 2. The nonpolar part of compound (I) of the formula (II) contains at least 9 carbon atoms. The invention also relates to the preparation of such engine oils and to the use of alkyl alkoxylates of formula (I) for the reduction of deposit formation.