The 3 Most Common Car Engine Problems
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How to Avoid and Detect Engine Problems
Not everyone who buys a car has the interest to understand its various parts and how they function. Many vehicle owners see their ride as simply a machine that they use to comfortably go to work and avoid taking a ride inside a crowded subway train or bus. It’s a thing that they simply fill with gas to take them to wherever they want.
The car that we often take for granted, however, is a remarkable machine showcasing human ingenuity and topnotch engineering. Behind the hood of your vehicle lies years of innovation and research, all bundled together to create today’s efficient and high-tech automobile. At its heart lies the powerful internal combustion engine, the main reason why your vehicle can start and move.
Whether you’re driving a Corolla or the latest Porsche model, the engine inside it works the same way. It converts energy from the heat of burning gasoline into torque, which is then applied to the wheels and allows your car to move.
The engine is composed of multiple parts that include the gaskets, air filters, the timing belt, and the manifolds. All of these parts smoothly work together to make your car run. If a single component gets damaged and performs poorly, your engine’s performance will be affected. Worse, a damaged component can cause damages to the other parts of your engine, causing you to suffer a car breakdown.
Don’t Let These Car Engine Problems Happen to You
Car owners agree that experiencing an engine problem is one of the worse things that can happen to them. You wouldn’t want to be caught in the middle of nowhere with a busted engine! Engine problems are also notoriously hard to diagnose and often expensive to repair.
You can mitigate the chances of engine issues by following the manufacturer’s recommended schedule for car maintenance. However, not everyone follows recommendations to the letter. Some vehicles can even go unchecked or serviced by their owners for years.
Early detection of possible engine problems is the key. Take a look at the top 3 common car engine problems experienced by car owners.
- Worn-out or faulty spark plugs
Spark plugs may be small in size but they play a big role in the performance of your car’s engine. Spark plugs are responsible for igniting the fuel-air mixture in the engine cylinders to produce energy that moves your car. Worn-out spark plugs are easily solved by simply replacing them. However, a damaged spark plug can cause the engine to misfire, affecting its performance, and damaging other car parts.
To avoid engine problems, spark plugs need to be replaced every 30,000 miles. This is part of regular servicing carried out in most auto repair centers.
- Faulty oxygen sensor
Your car’s oxygen sensor monitors how much unburned oxygen is present in the exhaust as the exhaust exits the engine. By monitoring oxygen levels, the sensor provides a means of measuring fuel mixture.
A faulty oxygen sensor can impact your engine’s timing, combustion intervals, and other essential functions. You’ll also experience stalling or slow acceleration
You’ll know that your oxygen sensor is failing and needs replacement when you have reduced gas mileage, a bad smell like rotten eggs comes from the exhaust, the check engine light comes on, your engine idles roughly, and your car is suddenly hard to start.
- Clogged radiator
The radiator cools the engine and prevents it from overheating. To absorb the heat, the car’s engine uses coolant to absorb the heat. It then transfers the fluid to the radiator where it cools down. Once it cools, the coolant is sent back into the engine and the process starts over again.
When your radiator is clogged, not enough cooling takes place inside the engine. This can result in your car overheating. If this problem persists, your engine may suffer permanent damage.
Signs of a clogged radiator include high temperature gauge readings, coolant leaks, fluid discoloration, exterior radiator fins blocked, and bent or damaged fins on the radiator.
Is Your Old Car Giving You Lots of Headaches?
If you’ve been experiencing car engine problems despite several trips to the repair shop, perhaps your old car is telling you that it’s time for you to retire it. Give it up before something bad happens to you on the road.
If you’re thinking of how to properly retire your old ride, your best option is to turn it over to a charity that will provide you the best benefits while using your donation to support a cause close to your heart. When you hand over such a vehicle to us at Goodwill Car Donations, you can put check marks on those two points.
We will auction off your donated vehicle to raise funds for the community-based programs and services of the Goodwill organizations serving your area. These IRS-certified 501(c)(3) nonprofits seek to empower individuals saddled with disabilities, lack of education or essential skills, and other disadvantages such as having a prison record.
These Goodwill nonprofits use the money sourced from vehicle donations to provide their beneficiaries with job training, employment opportunities, scholarships, livelihood assistance, disability benefits, and other critical community-building support services.
As a Goodwill donor, you’ll enjoy awesome perks. Aside from the joy of knowing that you’ll be helping less fortunate folks in your community achieve financial stability and a much better quality of life, you’ll also find satisfaction when we haul off your vehicle for free and enable you to receive the maximum tax deduction in the next tax season.
We accept nearly all vehicle types, even those that are no longer working properly.
If you need more information about our quick and easy donation process, head over to our FAQs page. For your questions or concerns, call us at 866-233-8586 or write to us here.
Donate Your Clunker to Support a Worthy Cause Today!
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Free yourself from the troubles of owning a problematic auto by using it to help the disadvantaged residents in your area. Your gift can make a difference in their lives. Call Goodwill Car Donations at 866-233-8586 or fill out our online donation form now!
Last Updated: February 28th, 2023