Revved up and ready to hit the road, everyone takes solace in the magnificent accessibility of cars and motor vehicles. However, sometimes it's hard to know for certain when our cars' engines are just not up for another ride. Here we will explore six telltale signs that something is wrong with your car engine.
The first major sign that your engine may be experiencing technical difficulties is a loss of power to your car. Most gas-powered mobile vehicle engines operate through the four-stroke combustion cycle for the process of converting the gasoline you use to fuel your car into power to make it function. Whether it is the intake stroke, combustion stroke, exhaust stroke, or the compression stroke, a loss of power can more than likely indicate that one of the strokes are damaged or not functioning properly. Lack of functionality in one of the strokes leads to an inability for your car to complete the combustion process, and this without a doubt, is a clear sign that your engine may need repair.
Another major signal that your engine is not up to par is an abundance of obscure sounds. If you hear hissing, popping, thumping, or cracking when you start your car, there is no doubt that the combustion flow of your engine is compromised. Moreover, these sounds can also indicate an exhaust leak, a worn engine belt, or you could be experiencing the pre-cursor for an engine backfire. Be sure to seek repair immediately to avoid a dangerous drive or become stranded. Either issue these sounds may be the result of, you are undoubtedly having severe engine trouble.
Furthermore, if you are having difficulties with your engine, a dead give-away is smoke coming from your engine ranging from black, to white, or even blue. No matter the color, any smoke is never good. The different colors are often associated with a different issue. Black smoke could mean that your car is suffering from a clogged air filter or a number of different things. White or blue are often attributed to a blown head gasket or worn valves or leaking piston rings respectively. Whatever the assessment may be, a smoking engine is dangerous and clearly means the engine is damaged.
In addition to a smoking engine, your car can also produce veil oil puddles when it is experiencing trouble. Oil puddles can mean a variety of different things including but not limited to problems with your oil pain seals, valve cover gaskets, timing cover seal, and many others. There is even the possibility that oil can be leaking directly into your engine block, which undeniably can cause a slew of issues. Oil puddles are especially dangerous as they are a direct fire hazard and the wrong combination of oxygen and/ or flammable gases can cause a chemical combustion, which just isn't good for anyone. Be sure to always take the proper precautions: always carry a fire extinguisher on hand for emergencies, tighten any loose components, and always be in tune with your sense of smell as this is the one of the most effective means of detecting an oil leak and potential problems with your engine.
In the same way smoke can be emitting from the engine, another sure example of an issue is vehement shaking. Although this does not necessarily effect the starting of the engine, volatile shaking can most certainly be a potential problem. More commonly, this can be attributed to a bad spark plug or damaged hoses. Be sure to get these components fixed or replaced before you start your engine again to avoid further inconvenience.
The final most deliberate telltale sign that that your engine is in trouble is the engine light on the inside of your car! In modern day mobile vehicles, the car itself often identifies when there is a problem with the engine by igniting the engine light found on or near the dash board. Be sure to very close attention and do not ignore when you see this light flickering. For cars that do not have a built in light, drivers have the option of purchasing an external engine monitor that pretty much works the same way. Be sure to check cautiously when you see this indicator. Assess and management the damage accordingly or take your car in for repair.
There are various ways to identify when there is an issue brewing under the hood. Whether there is smoke, violent shaking, oil puddles, weird sounds, loss of power, or even a blinking orange light, be sure to pay very close attention to signs that your engine may be in trouble. Before you go for your next drive, take the proper precautions, drive safely and carefully.
Tom James,
