Are the challenges associated with engine repairs giving you a scare? You are not alone.
No one should have to make frequent visits to the mechanic garage like it's a fuel station. But ignorance about engine maintenance cause turn this undesirable life yours. Put differently, you can reduce car engine repair visits to a minimum if you take appropriate measures towards effective maintenance.
The older a car gets, the more likely it is to have an engine breakdown. That’s why you need to be attentive and keep an eye out for any minor problems before they graduate into full-blown problems. Below are some of the possible causes of engine damage and how you can avert them.
What Causes Engine Damage?
1. Lack of Oil
Many vehicle owners are still oblivious of how vital oil is in the operation of a car. It will only take minutes for an engine to run with very little or no oil before it self-destructs. Several engine parts are made of metal that glide over each other due to the action of a lubricant or oil. When the engine is short of oil, these parts will scrape (instead of glide) and grind. The continuous grinding will bring about heat and friction until the engine eventually seizes from wear and tear.
Not changing your oil for a long time can also cause engine seizure. The deposits from constant engine work will increase friction and cause engine failure over time. Low oil levels, either due to oil leaks or the engine burning oil at a ridiculous rate, can also destroy an engine.
2. Damage to the Head Gasket
The head gasket forms the seal between the head and the block of an engine. If anything happens to the gasket, it will require the mechanic to take the engine apart, piece by piece. This will take time and energy from the mechanic. And as you can guess, it's going to be a pretty expensive repair.
The head gasket keeps fluids, like oil, sealed away. It's like a barrier stopping fluids from mixing with other engine parts. Since the engine temperature changes—heats and cools—the seal expands and shrinks too. Over time, the gasket may start to leak, leaving room for the oil to cross into the cylinders. This leads to oil shortage and may cause the engine to seize if it isn’t fixed promptly.
3. Engine Misfire
Combustion is the primary reaction that causes an engine to run. This reaction occurs within the cylinders. If any form of discharge happens outside of the cylinders, the engine is said to misfire.
Engine misfire could be anywhere at the intake or exhaust. A backfire at the latter will increase exhaust emission from your vehicle because the catalytic converter has been damaged. Repairing a damaged catalytic converter is expensive. To prevent forking out huge sums for such car repairs, get an engine misfire problem checked yesterday.
4. Engine Overheating
Low oil levels are not the sole cause of engine failures; high temperatures can also cause an engine to fail. How? Your vehicle is built with a cooling system to regulate engine temperature. When the cooling system is defective, the engine's temperature will rise. As a result, the metal parts will expand, deform, or could even melt and fuse as one. You now have a seized engine, voila!
Manufacturers know that not all car owners will be able to tell when their car is feverish, you know, hot. That is why there is an indicator to tell you how hot your car gets. When your car temperature gauge signals that the engine is getting hotter than average, find a safe place to park and turn it off. It's possible that all you need to do is fill the radiator with water. But if you're unable to ascertain the cause of the overheating, it’s safer to have your vehicle towed to a service center.
Precautions to Take to Prevent Major Car Engine Repair
Highlighted below are simple car maintenance tips you can employ to prevent a significant car engine repair.
1. Weekly Oil Checks
You should check your car oil levels weekly, but don't stop with oil checks alone. Check every fluid level in your car too. If any of the fluids runs below the minimum level designated by the manufacturer, fill it back up. Be on the lookout for possible engine leaks too.
2. Don’t Ignore the Check Engine Light
You should never ignore your car’s check engine light whenever it goes up. Turning a blind eye to it will not make the problem disappear. You’re preventing a significant financial hurdle by checking your engine promptly.
3. Follow the Recommended Engine Check Intervals
Every part of your car's engine has a lifespan, and these parts need to be replaced when due or your vehicle may not function as well as it used to. Beware of auto mechanics who make a habit of calling for engine checks unnecessarily.
In Summary
Although you cannot avoid repairs in totality, you can reduce the frequency of repairs by following the good practices I’ve shared.
So don't just hop in your car and drive off mindlessly. When you turn on the ignition, all your senses should be alert. Does anything smell funny? Does the engine start like it used to or make any strange noises? Is exhaust pipe emitting more soot than usual? Being attentive to these clues will save you a ton of money and stress that would have been otherwise spent on engine repair.
To learn more about car engines or other car-related topics, browse our blog at CarPartAU. Our site also features a free Parts Finder tool, which you can use as an alternative to searching. So if you need any replacement parts for your engine repairs, be sure to request a part via our site!
By Damilare Olasinde