You may know how important it is for you to take care of your car’s engine, but at the end of the day, there are various things that are easy to overlook. If you dismiss potential warnings as being blips, or something that you don’t need to look into, then you may be putting yourself at serious risk. That being said, if you make the repair quickly enough, you may find that you can save your engine entirely, which is always a good thing if you are on a budget.
KNOCKING AND THUMPING NOISES
If you hear any kind of knocking or thumping noise, then there is a high chance that the rod bearings in your engine have worn out. If they haven’t gone entirely then there’s a chance that they are just loose. Either way, the bearings will fail if you do not get them looked at. If you drive around in this kind of state, then you may be putting your engine in danger. If you want to fix this issue, make sure that you take your car to an auto repair specialist to get it looked at.
SQUEALING SOUNDS
If your engine is making some very ear-splitting squeaks, this would indicate that there is something wrong with your fan belt. When this gets loose and worn, you may find that the belts stop moving at the same pace and that the pulleys are not able to do their job properly. This can deliver a grating noise that is very high-pitched. If it isn’t too loose, then you may be able to fix the issue yourself. It’s a good idea for you to look into your car manual to find out if there is a certain procedure that you need to carry out in order to fix the issue. Talk to your mechanic to find out more if you’re not sure.
GRINDING
A grinding noise is irritating to the ears, but on top of that, it can also indicate that there is an issue with your front brake pads. They may be getting shaved away every single time you hit the road. When the last bit of the pad has gone, the backing plate will slam onto the disc and this will reduce your car’s braking effectiveness. It’s strongly advised that you do not get in your car if you know that it is this bad. You need to call out a mechanic if possible. If you know your brake pads are fine, it may be that you have an engine issue instead.
CLEAR SMOKE
Clear smoke coming from your exhaust isn’t really a problem. If you know that your motor is puffing out black or even blue smoke, however, then this would indicate that your car has got an issue and you’ll want to get it fixed as soon as possible. If you have blue smoke, this indicates that you have oil escaping from the engine and that it is being burned as well as the fuel.
Of course, a quick fix would be for you to carry on adding engine oil to the crank base. White smoke is a sign that you have water condensation. It may be that you also have antifreeze that has combined with the fuel supply. Topping up your antifreeze will give you a temporary solution to the issue as it will stop your engine from overheating but that being said, you are still due a professional check-up if possible.
BLACK SMOKE
When you begin to see black smoke, this indicates that you have a clogged air filter. If you want to get around this then you need to try and get it replaced as soon as possible. If you know that the issue is persisting, it may be that your fuel and air ratio is just off-balance. This will be down to a bad pressure regulator in most cases, but it can also be because you have a fuel injector that is leaking. Both issues will ultimately require a replacement, as this will cut down on the amount of smoke you produce when you are out driving.
Of course, any issues with your car need to be checked out but engine issues tend to be the worst, and the most expensive if you do not act quickly. If you need some help with your car, then make sure that you take your vehicle to your local mechanic as they will be able to advise you on the steps you can take to get your car repaired before the issue gets worse.
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