When you first notice a sign of engine trouble, you'll want to take action to address it. If you delay, the issue could quickly worsen and potentially cause engine failure, which is obviously an extremely expensive problem. By being familiar with symptoms of engine trouble, you'll know to get to the shop when they arise. Here's a look at seven signs of a serious engine problem.

Power Loss

If you drive an old car with high mileage, you don't necessarily need to worry if it's gradually lost a bit of power over the years. However, if significant power loss occurs out of the blue, then you could be dealing with a serious problem, such as worn-out pistons causing low compression.

Knocking/Tapping Sound

If your oil level gets extremely low, then a knocking or tapping noise could develop. You might be able to address this problem by just adding fresh oil. But there's also a chance that you'll need a rebuild on the bottom end of your engine.

Vibrating

Dangerously low oil could also result in vibrations coming from the engine, which arise due to metal-on-metal contact.

Overheating

Leaks in the cooling system are often responsible for overheating. Another possibility is that you're dealing with a faulty water pump. By quickly addressing cooling system problems, you can minimize the risk of overheating causing engine failure.

Check Engine Light Illuminates

When the check engine light turns on, it doesn't necessarily mean that engine failure is imminent. Still, it's smart to promptly get to the shop for computerized diagnostics so that any issues can hopefully be addressed before they worsen and require more expensive repairs.

Burning Smell

Burning oil can lead to insufficient lubrication. As a result, moving engine parts could seize up.

Excessive/Discolored Exhaust Smoke

Whenever exhaust smoke looks discolored, you'll want to try to identify the underlying issue. Blue-tinged smoke is a sign of an oil leak. Black smoke suggests that an excessive amount of fuel is burning up. Leaking coolant can cause white smoke to emerge.

If you need engine repair, be sure to bring your vehicle to a reputable mechanic. For engine repair in Corona, Eastvale, and Norco, CA, contact the experts at Harvey's Autotech at (951) 432-5373. Feel free to give Harvey's Autotech a call today to schedule an appointment for any of your vehicle's repair or maintenance needs!

Harvey's Autotech Blog
Posted: December 31, 2020

Written and Published By MORBiZ