6 Ways to Identify Damage to a Car Engine

 Although maintaining your car's engine is crucial, it can be simple to overlook, ignore, or reject any warning signs as "just a blip" or something that can wait until a later time. But it's worth recognising and taking into account the symptoms that could mean anything is wrong with your engine before it's too late and you risk significant engine damage.

So, in order to assist you in identifying the warning indications of engine damage, we're going to look at some of the symptoms and signals that let you know when anything is amiss under the bonnet. You'll be better equipped to manage your vehicle and prevent costly repair fees if you know what to look out for, from strange noises and smoke to other obvious indications.

Before we begin the post, a brief note: if your vehicle is having any of these issues, we generally suggest that you look for a qualified technician by conducting an online search for auto repair near me garages. The sooner you can treat engine damage, the easier it will be to fix; you'll also save money and time in the process.

The following are 10 ways to identify possible engine damage symptoms:

1.      Suspicious Sounds - If you spend a lot of time in your vehicle, you’ll get used to the noises it makes and likely notice when they change. The noises listed below should worry you:

 

·         Knocking - It may be that the rod bearings have worn out or become too loose if you hear a knocking or thumping sounds. Driving while the vehicle is in this condition is not advised until it has been thoroughly inspected and fixed because the bearings will likely fail soon.

·         Squealing - The fan belt is suffering serious damage if your engine is hitting those high notes and emitting ear-splitting squeaks and squeals. A grating high-pitched sound is produced when the belt becomes loose and worn out and stops moving at the same rate as the pulleys that are controlling it. You can tighten it up yourself if it's not too loose; check your car's manual for any necessary repair instructions. Otherwise, if it's too worn out, you might need to search for car repair Reading garages and schedule a replacement appointment with a professional mechanic.

·         Grinding - A grinding sound not only irritates the ears, but it also suggests that your front brake pads are wearing down every time you drive. The metal backing plate clamps directly onto the brake disc when the last portion of the pad is gone, drastically decreasing the efficacy of the car's braking system. When things become this terrible, we strongly advise against getting in your car.

2.      Excessive Smoke - Clear smoke from your tailpipe is not a problem, but if your engine starts to emit blue, black, or white smoke, your car has a problem. You should check MOT status of your car and have this issue diagnosed and repaired as soon as possible because this will cause an emissions test failure on your next MOT:

 

·         Blue smoke - This indicates oil is leaking from the engine and burning together with the fuel if it is blue in colour. Maintaining the crankcase's engine oil level is a temporary cure, but you should take the car in to have any worn or damaged seals replaced.

·         White smoke - This is a symptom that either antifreeze or water condensation has mixed with the fuel source. Adding more coolant or antifreeze prevents it from overheating and offers a temporary fix but getting a professional inspection would be the smarter course of action.

·         Black Smoke - If you notice black smoke and it doesn't go away when the engine heats up, the air filter may have been blocked. A straightforward replacement will solve the issue, but if it continues, the air-to-fuel ratio is likely out of balance. If you want your car to stop smoking so much while you're driving, you'll need to replace a defective fuel pressure regulator or a leaking fuel injector.

3.      Check Engine Light: Your car's ECU causes the check engine light to illuminate on the dashboard as a warning (electronic control unit). Some of the causes of a check engine light include the following:

 

·         Damaged or worn spark plugs

·         The fuel filler cap wasn't properly replaced.

·         Damage to the oxygen sensor requires replacement.

·         The airflow sensor has to be replaced because it is malfunctioning.

·         Faulty fuel injectors with a faulty engine coil

·         Defective thermostat

If you check MOT history of any car, a common reason for a car to fail the MOT test is due to an illuminated engine management light.

4.      Under the Car Fluid or Oil - Where you parked your vehicle, did you notice a spot of fluid or oil? A significant engine issue, such as an oil or coolant/antifreeze leak, could be indicated by this. You may find the source of the issue before it gets more expensive to correct with knowledge of the many fluids that can leak from your car and what they look, feel, and smell like.

5.      Fuel Consumption Below Average - Have you observed that your car's MPG is below average? Or perhaps you notice that you exhaust your petrol more quickly when travelling on a regular basis? Your engine may use more fuel due to a number of issues, such as:

 

·         Blocked or faulty injectors

·         Blocked air filter

·         A fuel leak

·         Faulty air sensor in the combustion chamber

·         Defective spark plug

6        Engine Power Loss - Does your vehicle feel completely different to drive because of a loss of engine power? Maybe there's a brief lag after pressing the accelerator, it's not revving as it should, or it idles harsh. These signs could all point to an underlying engine issue. If something doesn't feel right or your car's performance declines, take it to a mechanic. Even though minor problems, like a clogged air filter, are simple to fix, you shouldn't wait until they worsen.