In Louisville-Cars.com‘s previous post, we discussed what to look for when inspecting a used car’s interior to gauge its value (you can read it here: Buying KY Used Cars Part 1: Examining the Interior). In this post, we will be discussing things to consider when it comes to gauging the value of the heart of a used car: its engine. Here is a terrific checklist to run through when evaluating the health of a used car’s motor brought to you by the guys over at Engineblox.com (see the original post here):
Oil sludge – Remove and look under the oil cap. If it’s grimy, then you should know what to expect if you look into the oil compartment. Using a flashlight, inspect the internal engine parts through the oil filler neck. If there are black deposits, those are oil sludge telling you not to buy that vehicle because its owner probably seldom cared for oil change or high-quality engine lubricants.
Oil sludge covers an engine
Engine knocks – To check for this, you should of course test run the engine. If you hear pinging or rattling from the engine, then decline the seller’s offer politely. Engine knocks have a range of causes. It can be due to the things that go into the chambers or due to the engine design itself. (Yes, cylinder block design somehow determines if your engine is knock-prone or not. The nearer the fuel injector is to the spark plug, the lesser the chances of knocking.)
Timing belt – For plain view checking, inspect the chain or belt for fraying or corrosion. For performance check, remove the valve cover and idle the engine. If there’s no chain tensioner, watch the timing mark on the gear. If it slightly moves back and forth, it means the chain or belt is already loose. Turn off the engine. Check for a stretched chain by pulling on the chain resting on the top side teeth of the sprocket or gear.
Noises – Test drive the engine and listen for whistling, tapping, or rattling noises from the engine. An engine in good condition shouldn’t have irregular noises coming from it. Whistling may come from loose drive belts and sprockets, while rattling may indicate engine knock.
Radiator fluid – This can be of any color—green, red, or yellow—but the color should be uniform. There should be no trace of brownish orange color, which indicates rust. Any indication of rust means the coolant has not been regularly changed.
Idle the engine – The car shouldn’t seem to be struggling if you idle it. Open the hood and watch the engine parts. There should be no irregular movements in the engine; everything should be running and moving smoothly.
But aside from all the things to check listed here, it would also do you good to practice inspecting cars of the type you want to buy. That way, you can compare and make a wiser decision. Also, just to be sure, you can check with Carfax for the record of the vehicle you’re planning to buy; you only need to provide its Vehicle Identification Number. Checking this and that on a used vehicle can be tiring. But we tell you, it’s better to get tired that way and get a good second-hand car afterwards, than to easily get a second-hand car only to eventually get tired of repairing it.
Well said. Do you have any suggestions in addition to those supplied above? Do you have any stories of buying a lemon? What did you overlook?
Here to help.
Jerry, from Louisville-Cars.com
jerry.richards47@yahoo.com
