It pays to have the right tools. When it comes to taking care of your car, there really is no substitute for the efficiency offered by screwdrivers, hex keys, and wrenches. The same holds true when you need a drastic engine rebuild. You just can’t do it with your bare hands.
Well, if you’re a strong man like the Mountain, Hafþór Björnsson, or Eddie Hall you might pull it off. Still, even these super-strong dudes will highly-likely need the services of a wrench to get bolts and nuts of a car in place.
And yet, when it comes to knowing if your car needs an engine rebuild, you can actually rely on your senses. At a time when the coronavirus is still raging in America, it’s a huge lift. Indeed, you may not need so much technology to take a hint. Your senses can actually do the job for you. Assuming, of course, that you have full faculty of them. However, it’s paramount you know where to look so you can deduce well. Or you could end up driving a car that in a reality is a disaster about to blow up on your face.
Nose Job
Let’s face it. A car needs tending just like you need to look after plants in your garden. While your reliable automobile doesn’t grow in time, it has needs. And if you’re not careful, your car could die on you while you’re on the road.
Now, something like that is manageable if you’re near home. But what if you’re in the middle of an Australian desert with your whole family. And there’s no way for you to call anyone as your phone has no signal.
That situation may sound extreme. But it happened to a young family in 2018 and four people died, an event considered “one of the worst” Outback tragedies. The place is Alice Springs, Central Australia.
Of course, we don’t drive through miles and miles of hot desert every day. Still, it goes to show keeping your car in tiptop shape is a must. Luckily, your nose can help you detect if your car needs immediate attention.
An automobile is designed so gaseous emissions won’t be noticed by passengers inside the vehicle. However, when you start to notice strong fumes or for that matter, odors that you never experienced before, you need to do a thorough check. And it should be right away.
In this regard, those 2-post car lifts should come in handy. It allows you to do your due diligence without having to crawl underneath the vehicle. In effect, you speed things up without getting dirty.
Eye Catcher
A car has its own way of warning you in the form of dashboard warning lights. OBD or On-Board Diagnostics is a big lift in detecting car trouble. If you’re CEL or Check Engine Light is on, you better deal with the issue right away. A lot of factors can trigger the CEL. Thus, a thorough check-up should be in order.
Spark plugs or the oxygen sensor could need replacing for one. Or it can be just the fuel cap not placed tight enough. The important thing is you don’t ignore dashboard warnings, not even for once.
Another key sign is when under your vehicle, puddles of oil materialize. It’s highly likely your engine is leaking. If not attended to, this can severely damage your engine components as time goes by. ;
Lastly, the smoke coming out of your exhaust is another telltale sign you need to check things out. The color of the smoke can help you determine the problem. Black smoke could mean damaged fuel injectors and damage in the engine. Grey could mean excessive consumption of oil. And dark blue can be a sign your piston rings are all worn out.
Ear to Uncover
Your ears can play a huge role in keeping your car safe too. Listen to the sounds your car is making. Inconsistent noise could be an unmistakable sign your car engine is struggling with internal damage. It’s like a person choking up. Such an engine is likely to shake and stutter as the revolutions increase.
A common solution for you could be to replace the spark plug. Another is to replace those ignition coils.
In the worst-case scenario, your car dies on you. You lose engine power. This usually happens when you run at high speed putting much pressure on your car engine. When your vehicle starts to shake and eventually stalls, then you know you have a problem in your hands. By then, it’s too late.
The best way to take care of your car is to do regular check-ups. Don’t let the problem grow to unmanageable proportions. Fortunately for you, using your body’s senses wisely can help you track an issue and do just that.