How to Spot the Most Common Engine Ailments

It’s pretty obvious to most that the engine underneath your hood is a pretty complex piece of machinery. We therefore rely on well-trained and skilled mechanics at our local dealership to help us when we encounter any difficulty. The ordinary driver may not be a trained automotive professional, but there are still important signs you can look for that indicate your car’s engine is having a problem. Sometimes, these early signs can mean the difference between a minor maintenance invoice and a huge repair bill.

 

Typical engine problems include examples like:

l  Eroded, bent or otherwise damaged gaskets and valves

l  A build-up of carbon on spark plugs

l  Contaminants in the engine oil that build over time

l  Electrical problems

l  Filters are clogged up

l  Belts get worn out

So, what signs can you look out for that can warn you of these problems? Many can turn into serious problems if left unchecked. Let’s see:

1. Look out for a dash warning light

Your dash is quite proficient at lighting up when one of your key systems is experiencing an issue. Your first line of defense lies right there on the dash. Heed its warnings and take your car to the dealership for a checkup or tune up if you see one. The lights are not arbitrary! Don’t ignore them.

2. Excessive engine noise or apparent shaking

If you sense (or see with the hood open) that the engine is shaking and/or making much more noise than usual, then this is also a strong warning. The additional noise is typically generated more by your exhaust system rather than the engine, but the problem is likely to originate in your car’s engine. One of your gaskets or seals may have ruptured, or a hose might be damaged, or the timing belt might have a hole. All of these possibilities warrant a professional opinion.

3. Smoke (of any color)

If you see black smoke, then that is probably a clogged filter. If you see blue smoke, it’s likely to be a valve that has worn out. White smoke suggests a blown gasket. Did you ever think that so much different smoke could come from your engine? If you catch sight of any, it’s a certainty that something is wrong.

4. Unwelcome or unfamiliar smells/noises

The normal operation of your car shouldn’t allow any strange smells or persistent noises to enter the passenger compartment. If you smell burning, or oil, or hear tapping, knocking or grinding, none of these things are normal in any car, especially new cars.

With many of these signs, you can’t afford to wait and see what they turn into later. This kind of mechanical problem won’t resolve itself. It will only get worse (and more expensive to fix). If you spot anything, get on the horn to your dealership and get help.

All-Season Tires Vs. Winter Tires

“I have all-season tires. I’m ready for any kind of weather.” We hear you, but unfortunately, you are wrong about this. If you live in California, Florida or Texas, then your all-season tires are undoubtedly sufficient for the weather and road conditions in those states. Up here in New England, however, it’s a different story. You need to have tires that give you the traction and stability to meet the challenge of winter roads up here. Sure, driving an SUV with 4WD and advanced traction control like the Jeep Grand Cherokee is a start, but when it comes to tires, the only ones able to provide what your car really needs are winter tires.

 

Below we’ll analyze the basic differences between the two:

1. Tread pattern

All-season tires usually feature a simple tread pattern and are recognizable by the three or four straight lines they have running through the middle of the tire. Winter tires, on the other hand, have more jagged and even random-looking patterns. They almost look aggressive; ready to roll into battle. The winter tire tread gives much better stability on the road, and some even come with metal studs in them for extra traction.

2. Materials

All-season tires are typically made from a firmer material compounds, which are not suitable for the extreme cold. They do, however, ensure a longer tread life in a temperate climate free of any temperature extreme. Frigid temperatures require softer tires that make better contact with the road, thus giving better traction.

3. Use in different weather conditions

Winter tires are typically recommended for any area that experiences winter weather below 44-45 degrees (7 degrees Celsius). Unfortunately, all-season tires are not designed to maintain proper traction below these temperatures. The snow and ice brought on by the New England winter demands a more durable and purpose-built tire.

It’s understandable why some drivers are hesitant to make a special purchase of winter tires. They’re not the cheapest item on the shelf, nor are they easy to store unless you have a garage with enough free space. It’s also a hassle to get them put on and then taken off again in the spring. Furthermore, the other type of tire is billed as “ALL season,” right? The truth is, they are more like “three-season” tires. They are fine in the mild-to-hot months of the year, but winter is a harsh mistress, especially in Connecticut and the rest of the Northeast. For better traction, safer braking distances, and greater safety for you and your passengers in winter, we strongly recommend you consider winter tires.

Seek help at your local dealership if you have further questions or need help finding the most suitable tires for your car.

How Regular Maintenance on Your Car Saves You Money

It seems counterintuitive to increase the amount of maintenance and professional care for your car. Doesn’t it just increase your costs? First of all, a lot of routine maintenance won’t set you back a lot --- oil/filter changes, topping up transmission fluid, replacing a brake pad etc. Sure, you pay the mechanic at the dealership for the repairs, but these small bills are actually saving you money in the long term. The reason? You are saving your car from more serious defects and damage that would happen if you left this routine maintenance undone.

 

Your car is made up of many moving parts, all of which are connected to each other. If even one thing is damaged, like the timing belt, for instance, then it starts a chain reaction on its connected parts, leaving dents, bent parts and even holes in the engine. Here are some ways that basic maintenance will pay for itself in savings:

1. You maintain gas mileage --- money saved on gas

Keeping your tires at the right pressure; keeping the car properly aligned; ensuring that the timing belt is working well, and other similar small jobs may cost you some cash, but thy all help your car achieve its best-possible gas mileage, which means you are always saving money you’d otherwise be throwing away buying gas. All this is before those small problems turn into something more serious which then lands you with a huge mechanic’s bill as well.

2. You can use your car for longer

A well-maintained car will last longer without the need for upgrades or major repairs. You’ll enjoy using it at optimum capacity for a longer period, thus removing any need to fork out for a new lease or new vehicle outright.

3. The preventative approach

An oil change might set you back $100, say. And you might get one twice a year, or maybe more, depending on your annual mileage. Failing to maintain fresh engine oil can cause total engine failure. A new engine can cost well into the thousands of dollars. Keep getting the oil changes, and never miss an engine tune up.

4. Re-sale value

We all know and understand that a car is a depreciating asset. It loses about 20 percent of its value as soon as you drive it off the lot. If you decide to sell it on before purchasing another, how well you’ve maintained will be one of the main reasons you give for your higher asking price. People will pay a little more for a pre-owned car that has been looked after to the point where it’s still like new. The extra care is worth it.

Don’t get careless with your car’s maintenance. There’s more at stake than you think, and those simple routine checkups are potentially saving you thousands over the years of your car’s life. Look to the dealership for expert advice and assistance with keeping your car in good order.

Cold Weather and Your Car Battery

Northern Indiana is sure to have a pretty chilly winter, and that can bring a lot of negative impacts to your car, and especially to your car’s battery. We usually remember to check our tire tread, our heating system, and even to pack a winter emergency kit. We may, however, forget to consider what the cold is doing to the critical components and systems inside our vehicle. Here are some of the ways that the winter is impacting your car’s battery.

1. The cold reduces its capacity
Cold weather will reduce the capacity of even the newest car batteries. This means that it may be unable to produce enough amperage to get the engine started. This makes it pretty tricky to start the car to get it warmed up before you head off on your school run or commute.

2. Damage from frozen fluids
If the temperature becomes severely low, it could even freeze the fluids inside the battery. Once frozen, they expand and damage the battery casing. If you try to start up your car when the battery is frozen, it can even explode, so when the thermometer levels are falling, it’s time to be aware.

3. Winter demands more power
In the winter months, it gets darker earlier, you need more heating, and you’re using your wiper blades more often. All of these things need a fully functioning battery. It’s unfortunate that the one time of year that impacts the battery most directly is also the time when you rely on it the most.

In summary:
Knowledge is power when it comes to car batteries. If you want to understand better how well your car’s battery will cope in the winter months, a good place to ask is at the dealership. The well-trained mechanics there will be able to tell you a very important number --- cold cranking amps (CCA) --- which tells you how much amperage the battery can put out when cold.

If the CCA is considered high (check with the mechanic), then it means you’re ready for even the harshest, most frigid winter that the area can throw at you. It’s a good tip also if you’re planning on buying or leasing a new car and want to know if it will be hardy enough for the Indiana winter. All this information and more is available from the dealership experts.

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