So the most common problems with car engine:
Pistons. In the previous article we mentioned about the rings separating the combustion chamber from the crankcase. From time to time these rings tend to wear out. As the result of this fuel, air and oil can get mixed and oil becomes diluted. Diluted oil loses its lubricating abilities and can not protect the engine properly. So engine’s parts get worn earlier. Also worn rings alow oil get into the combustion chambers which results in oil burning. So, grayish white smoke coming out of your tail pipe shows that the rings are worn down and need to be replaced. But if the smoke disappears after start-up you should pay your attention to the valvetrain.

Crankshaft. It rides on bearings which are also getting worn with time these bearings serve as supports for the crankshaft and connecting rods. If your engine makes loud medium pitched knocking noise shows that the bearings should be replaced. Usually this repair is rather expensive and needs removing the crankshaft and either machining its surface scorned by the bearing or replacing the crankshaft. Using high quality oil you can prevent this problem. Also you should change the oil each 3 months or 3000 miles and maintain constant level of the oil. And remember that to take care of bearings is much more economical than to rebuild damaged engine.

Valvetrain. In the first section we mentioned oil smoke problems. They can be caused by leaking valve seals. Valve seals prevent oil from getting into the combustion chamber and collecting there. When the engine is running you don’t get oil leaking as the heat makes valve expand and plug the leak.

Another problem is caused by timing chain or belt which can slip or even break and lead to rotation stoppage. You remember that the camshaft regulates the valves’ opening and closing and if it stops spinning the valves stop their work. Valves don’t move, engine doesn’t run.

Have you ever heard the term “interference engine”? At intervals pistons and very close and when the valves stop moving but the crankshaft continues spinning they just crash into the pistons. This type of damage is called “interference engine” and it causes bad consequences for the engine broken valve, bended pushrods, and cracked pistons. That’s why it is recommended to change the timing belt every 60 000 miles. Eventually the belts tend to stretch, dry out, get spoilt and if your car doesn’t have 60 000 miles yet you should change it every 6 years.

Preventive maintenance
• You should change the oil regularly and use the recommended oil weight. In order to use correct kind of oil check with the owner’s manual.

• If you have time let your engine warm before driving. This allows oil to lubricate all the engine’s parts before you put a load on them. This measure is absolutely necessary under cold weather conditions when the oil is sluggish and cold.

• You should change the timing chain or belt at the intervals recommended by the manufacturer of your car.

• Avoid using all those “snake oil” additives widely advertised on TV. The best thing for you engine is good maintenance habit and regular oil changes.

• If your car is equipped with a turbo-charged engine, let it get cooled for a couple of minutes before to switch it off. During this time the oil circulates and cools down the turbo bearings. If you turn off the engine immediately after fast driving the oil can gum up around hot bearings and later this will cause many additional problems on the road.

Discuss with your mechanic:

1. In the event you decided to replace the engine find out all the benefits of buying old and new one. If you are not going to sell your vehicle at the nearest time the new engine is the best alternative. Besides very often to buy a new engine will not cost you much more than to rebuild the old one. Discuss all the solutions.

2. When you are trying to describe engine noises to the mechanic do this in details. Pay attention to when the noise happens. If you have changed the weight or brand of your oil recently tell to your mechanic about this.

William McKay