Getting the repairs your engine needs
How do you know your car needs engine repair? Well, you’ll know if you have engine problems, symptoms are pretty obvious. If not, then as a car owner, you need to familiarize yourself with these symptoms, because they aren’t going to go away, in fact, they’ll only get worse.
- Knocking Sound: An engine should never have a knocking sound coming out from under the hood, more importantly if it gets louder and softer as you push on the gas pedal. When the increase and decrease of the RPMs is making a knocking sound, that is an indicator the engine bearings are failing. These are important part of an engine that supports the moving engine parts. When the bearing seize up, the engine seizes too, and you’ll have major engine damage that could be more than just engine repair.
- Exhaust Smoke: If you notice smoke coming from the tailpipe more than normal, depending on the color of the smoke. White smoke, you could have problems with the combustion chamber of the engine, that will need professional engine repair. Blue-ish smoke is the engine burning oil, which probably is minor engine repair, and black smoke means the car has too much gas usage, another minor engine repair.
- Check Engine Light: This light could be telling you there is something minor or major wrong with your engine and never be ignored. As soon as this light comes on, take it your mechanic. It could be a minor engine repair, or it could indicate a bigger problem.
- Performance Decreased: Your car’s fuel efficiency isn’t what it was, or it lags when you give it the gas, you need your mechanic to check the engine. It may not be anything more than needing a tune up, but until a professional mechanic has check it out, you won’t know.
- Idling Rough: If your car has a difficult time running while you’re stopped at signal light, it may have a fuel problem and should be looked at by a professional mechanic. The possible engine repair it needs could be major or minor, but either way, it isn’t running right.
What is engine failure?
Engine failure could be anything from the engine simply dies and won’t start again or you could have run out of gas. You’ll know has happened as you’re driving because your power steering locks up, the power brakes aren’t working, and not matter how much you try to give it the gas, it won’t speed up.
With this type of engine failure car, what to do is important to know so that you can remain safe. As you notice losing engine power, it will take a lot of strength, steer the car to the side of the road. Coast to the safest place possible and exit the car through the door that is not in traffic, then call a tow truck or 911.
You’ll need your car towed to your mechanic where they can inspect the engine and determine the problem. Once they have found the problem and provided you a written estimate, you can approve it and have them begin the needed engine repair.
How do you know engine is blown?
Your car could have multiple symptoms and problems, but that won’t necessarily mean the engine is blown up. Many problems that may seem major can be corrected with some engine repair work. Some common signs that your engine may be blown are:
- Dense White Exhaust: White smoke coming from the tailpipe usually indicates that the coolant or water from the engine has seeped into the combustion chamber. The white exhaust will linger where normal exhaust dissipates. in the air unlike that of normal exhaust smoke.
- A Blue Exhaust: This is often indication of an engine that is about to blow up or already has because water has gotten into the combustion chamber.
- Knocking Noises: When your car’s engine has noises coming from inside the engine like banging, knocking, or rattling, something is seriously wrong. If the engine hasn’t already blown, it is going to at any time. This will definitely require an engine rebuild or a new engine.
- Coolant and Oil Mixed: The coolant and oil should never be mixed together in a car engine. When coolant has got into the oil, the engine is blown, and the only engine repair is to rebuild it or buy a new engine.
- Car Wont’ Start: When your car won’t start, it could be anything from a dead battery, the starter went out, or any number of things. Among those things, it could be engine problems like the timing or heating, either one of those gets really bad, engine repair is not enough.
What causes a blown engine?
Any of the following could be the cause of a blown engine:
- A Blown Piston- A common cause of blown engines and it isn’t specifically the piston, but the piston rings.
- Hole in the Engine Block – This is a catastrophe and is usually caused by a blown rod that literally can blow through the side of an engine block, leaving a hole. An engine repair is going to fix this.
- Engine Seized – When the engine doesn’t have enough lubrication, aka motor oil, the engine will seize up.
- Timing Belt or Chain Broken – A rubber belt or steel chain is what keeps your car engine working with the crankshaft and camshaft. When either of these break, the cylinder head valves will move by themselves instead of with the pistons.
What are the signs of a blown head gasket?
A car engine operates in extreme heat and if it becomes too hot, it will overheat, and the head gasket will blow because that extra heat can result in too much expanding of the cylinder head and engine block. Indicators that are telling you that your car has a blown head gasket are:
- White smoke out of the tailpipe
- Bubbling from top of radiator and reservoir
- Coolant loss but no bubbling or leaking
- Milky white engine oil
- Engine is overheated
Does insurance cover blown engine?
No, routine maintenance and upkeep of a car is the owner’s responsibility and as such, auto insurance does not cover any mechanical failure that results in a blown engine, including but not limited to engine repair, engine rebuild, or engine replacement.
Can a damaged engine be fixed?
It all depends on how damaged and what kind of damage has been done to the engine. With minimal damage, yes engine repair is possible. Extensive, extreme engine damage, your only hope is the mechanic can rebuild it or you’ll have to have a new engine installed. The 0worst car engine problem you can have is an overheated engine, especially if you ignore it and keep driving it. For your engine repair needs, call 609-737-7226 today.