When buying a used car, most people tend to look at the exterior body and make to see if the car fits their style whereas. Little attention is paid on the condition of the car’s engine.
Consequently, a car that is fitted with a broken engine will take you on a financial rollercoaster, keeping you in and out of garage shops in an effort to reinstate its proper functional condition.
So, how do you check whether the prospective car has a good engine?
In this article, we highlight seven simple ways of checking the engine health of a used car, assisting you to scrutinize the engine’s functionality.
Check the Condition of the Auxiliary Components
It’s unlikely that your auto dealership will allow you to take the engine apart and check how the internal parts look like. However, the auxiliary components will tell you the exact engine condition of the car, but only if you know what you are precisely looking for.
The first component you want to check is the air intake control, whereby the air filters need to be in good condition and free of dust. Accumulated dust on the air filter is a clear indicator of expanded engine valve tracts, which increases the car’s fuel consumption.
Additionally, your auto dealer Jackson, MI will give you a detailed service schedule of the car that shows the frequency of oil changes and the type of oil they have been using. Low-quality engine oil is the major cause of engine knocks and deformation of the crankshaft.
Last but not least, it would help to check the engine’s driving belts and emission systems. A rusty exhaust manifold shows that the engine overheats frequently, which could be as a result of a faulty cooling system or excessive friction in the engine cylinders.
Furthermore, the driving belts should run very smoothly without any screeching sounds.
Check for Cracks
The engine block might look very solid but it is quite brittle. If subjected to external impact while hot, cracks may develop and cause engine failure.
Intrinsically, it is advisable to pop the hood and check for any visible cracks on the engine’s external walls. Also check under the car for any engine oil leaks, which is the sure way of checking if the engine has cracks or worn out gaskets.
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Smell the Engine
Smelling the engine seems like an odd way of evaluating the health of the engine, but it is an effective way of establishing engine failure.
An overheating engine is likely to blow a gasket out. Therefore, if the engine has a weird smell of burning asphalt, it is likely that the engine has an underlying overheating problem.
Furthermore, burnt plastic-smell is a sign of short-circuitry or a faulty charging alternator that requires replacement.
Start the Engine
The engine should start smoothly, unless the car has been on the yard for a very long time. Starting the engine helps you assess the health of its internal parts.
To start with, check for excess vibrations and engine movement, which are usually a sign of incomplete combustion due to insufficient air supply or faulty spark plugs.
Also, ensure that you re-check for oil and coolant leaks since the systems are pressurized when the engine starts running.
Lastly, look out for any exhaust fumes coming out from the manifold and out of the exhaust pipe, all while noting the color of the fume.
A black exhaust fume indicates that the engine is not igniting the fuel efficiently, while a blue smoke cloud is a sign that the engine is igniting the engine oil together with the fuel—which is an early sign of engine knock and blown gaskets.
Additionally, a white, thick, and foggy smoke cloud shows that the internal engine parts are under high friction due to lack of oil.
Check the Engine Display
Modern cars are fitted with various sensors that are connected to a central computer. These sensors continuously collect data and displays it on a small monitor on the dashboard.
The display shows you the exact engine problems the car has.
Conclusion
The methods discussed above are a checklist that help you avoid additional engine maintenance costs in the future. If your prospective car looks good, take it out for a test drive and see how she performs in terms of power, acceleration, and fuel consumption.
