Some people drive the same car their entire life because it holds a special value to them. Perhaps it is their first car, or it is their dream car. John Ellis and Son Auto Repair advise that you can keep driving an old automobile but there will come a time when you may need to replace the engine; no matter how many repairs we make on it, it has reached the end of its life. Here are signs that you need a new engine in your beloved automobile.
It’s Taken Up Smoking
If your vehicle has taken up smoking, you need a new engine. You may have excess exhaust coming out of the tailpipe, and this is an indication that there is a big problem underneath the hood. The color of the exhaust pinpoints what the problem is. Black exhaust means fuel, blue exhaust means oil, and white exhaust means coolant. You may also have smoke coming out from underneath the hood, which can indicate that you have a blown head gasket and cracked engine block.
It’s Tired All the Time
If your vehicle simply doesn’t have power anymore and runs as if it’s tired all the time, it probably is. Even if you take pristine care of your automobile, the engine will eventually die. It’s a machine, and all machinery has limited life spans. Even diesel engines die, and few make it to the record which is 900,000 miles. If your engine has a couple of hundred thousand miles on it, it’s getting close to the time when we will need to replace it rather than continue to repair or rebuild it.
Knock, Knock! Who’s There?
Knocking engines are also a sign that they need to be replaced. The most common and serious cause of engine knocks is worn rod bearings. These bearings help the pistons move up and down inside the cylinders, and as they wear down, the pistons will start to knock inside the cylinder walls. This not only causes serious engine damage but it’s also a major repair. Depending on how damaged the cylinder block is, you may need to put a new engine in your vehicle.
Oil and Metal Do Not Mix
Finally, oil and metal do not mix and metal shavings in the motor oil are a sign that your engine is literally disintegrating. This not only means you need a new engine, but the metal-filled oil will also kill the engine most likely in less than 30 minutes. There’s no way to repair the damage. This is a definite sign that you need to have a new engine put in your automobile.
John Ellis and Son Auto Repair is the best auto service shop in Sacramento CA, and we’d be happy to talk with you about the condition of your automobile’s engine. Give us a call today to schedule an inspection appointment.
