The engine is the heart of the car. Let's say you've decided to pick a used car, but have no idea what to look for. Or are you just curious, want to know the state of the engine of a particular car. Below are some tips that will help even beginners navigate how to determine the condition of the engine.
Instructions
Step 1
Park the car on level ground, turn off the engine and apply the handbrake. Find the engine oil dipstick, pull it out, wipe it off with a clean cloth and insert it back. Pull it out again and take a closer look. If the oil is black (this is normal for a diesel engine), excessive oil consumption or infrequent maintenance is possible. Carbon deposits covering the dipstick can be another sign of poor maintenance.
Step 2
Unscrew the lid where the oil is poured and shine a flashlight inward.
There should be no huge pieces of fuel oil, dirt, etc. inside. If this is the case, then either the oil used was of low grade, or the engine was often overheating.
Step 3
Many cars, especially those with a four-cylinder engine, have a timing belt that must be replaced at a certain interval - usually between 100,000-160,000 mileage. It is usually difficult to check its condition because the toothed belt of the drive is covered with protective covers. Although sometimes dealers put a plate with information that indicates the date and mileage when the belt was replaced.
Step 4
Blue smoke when starting can indicate a problem with the engine. Black smoke means the engine is consuming too much gas - a possible fuel injection problem. White smoke with a sweet smell from the tailpipe, even when the engine roars to its fullest, can indicate a poor cylinder head gasket. Usually, there should be no smoke at all. (A diesel engine may have a little black smoke when cold starts - this is normal.) A small amount of steam and condensation water dripping from the exhaust pipe is allowed.
Step 5
There should be no loud noises from the engine. Incidentally, a crackling or rattling noise during a cold start is one indicator of poor maintenance. Grinding, rattling, and other noises indicate excessive wear on internal engine parts. Whistling sound can be caused by a loose drive belt. Please note that diesel engines are always noisier.
