Engine Maintenance

Periodically you should check your car’s belts, which are located in the engine bay. Squealing coming from the engine bay while you are driving usually indicates a belt is too loose. You should inspect the belts by examining their overall appearance. If any of the belts are frayed, cracking, are covered with oil or are missing pieces, they need to be replaced immediately. Belts that move more than a few millimeters when you push on them with your fingers need to be tightened or replaced by your mechanic. Some belts might be hidden behind covers or housings, meaning your mechanic needs to check them periodically. A slipped or broken belt can result in serious damage to your engine, water pump, air conditioning or other belt-driven parts.

You should also check a car’s spark plugs periodically since their condition can help you detect problems with how the engine is operating. Once you remove the spark plug wires from the engine block, you must use a spark plug wrench to unthread the spark plugs from their positions in the wells. While you have the spark plugs removed, check the gap between the center and side electrodes using a gap tool and the specifications in your car’s maintenance manual. Finding oil on the spark plugs indicates that oil is leaking into the engine’s cylinders. Spark plugs that are caked in black dust-like material indicate that you need to swap out the spark plugs for ones that operate at a higher temperature. If the spark plugs look melted or scorched it can indicate that the engine’s timing is off, the engine has been overheating, the gap between the electrodes is too wide or the improper spark plugs are being used. Spark plugs that have highly worn electrodes are old and are in need of replacement.

Since you spend so much time with your car, you should notice right away when the engine starts making funny or strange noises. Never ignore these noises, since they can indicate the beginning of a serious problem that if caught early can help you avoid extensive and expensive engine damage. One of the most common noises to hear from an engine is a knocking or pinging. This can be caused by using fuel with a low octane rating, using the wrong kind of spark plugs for the engine, deposit accumulation on the engine’s cylinder walls or other potential sources. When you hear strange noises from your car’s engine, the best thing to do is to take your car to a qualified mechanic for servicing.

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