Preventative maintenance helps to extend the life of your vehicle’s engine. It catches minor fixes that need to be done before they become major problems. In some cases, your car’s engine can breakdown even if you are faithful about the vehicle’s factory-scheduled maintenance. In other cases, the engine might suffer because you couldn’t get the services done when they were due. J&S Auto Repair can help with engine repair that resolves the following five signs of trouble.
1. Clunking, Humming, or Whining Sounds
A malfunctioning engine will usually make noise. Clunking can be a serious sign of combustion or transmission problems. Humming or whining can come from the transmission, but it can also signal a belt problem or an issue with the alternator or fuel pump. You shouldn’t hear any of these sounds from your engine, nor should you hear squealing or squeaking.
2. Excess Engine Exhaust
Even if you drive a diesel-powered vehicle, you should never see a ton of engine exhaust behind you. If you’ve got a ton of black, blue, or white exhaust coming out of the tailpipe(s), you’re looking at a serious fuel, oil, or engine coolant compromise. For example, if the exhaust is white, you might have a blown head gasket that is spraying pressurized coolant on the engine.
3. Gas Mileage Reduction
Anytime your vehicle starts using more fuel than normal, this could be a sign of engine trouble. Small differences in how many miles you get out of each tank are normal, but a significant change in how much gas your car, truck, or utility vehicles uses is not. If you’re filling up more often than you normally do, you might have an exhaust or fuel system problem.
4. Idling/Stalling Issues
Your vehicle should idle smoothly while you’re at a stop. The engine shouldn’t sputter and you shouldn’t feel your car vibrate. Once you start your automobile, it should keep running until you turn it off. It shouldn’t stall, whether due to an idling issue or otherwise. Rough idling and/or stalling can signal a problem with the air/fuel mixture, fuel system, or transmission problems.
5. Dashboard Warning Lights
Finally, if a dashboard warning light comes on or an engine gauge hits the critical reading, you’ve got an engine problem. The check engine light in particular will illuminate if something is going on in the engine that shouldn’t be. Oftentimes, this light will turn on if there is an issue in the exhaust system, but it will also turn on if the transmission sensor reports a problem.
Call J&S Auto Repair in Warwick, RI, to schedule an appointment for an engine inspection. We’ll find what’s wrong and repair it.
