Buying A Car - Engine Checks
The engine checks are the hardest checks to do on a car that you you are looking at purchasing. The reason for this is that most of us can tell if our car isn't running as it should but we wouldn't be able to identify the reason. Due to the fact that most of us are pretty oblivious to the workings of an engine the best piece of advice when checking the engine is to take along a mechanic or a friend who is more educated than yourself. This article will identify a few simple checks that you can carry out yourself if you don't have the option of having a mechanic escort you.
Bonnet - The first thing to do is locate the bonnet release and check that it works in a smooth fashion. If the bonnet release is hard to use then make sure the bonnet is secured properly.
Oil - Once you have lifted and secured the bonnet the first and simplest check to make is the oil in the car. Check the oil level with the dip stick to make sure that the car has sufficient oil, if the oil level is low then it could have a leak as most car sellers will make sure that the level is at maximum before showing the car. Check the oil on the dip stick is clean, not really black and sticky. Clean oil is a sign of oil changes and therefore a well looked after and serviced vehicle. Also look under the oil cap and check for a milky white substance, this can show costly problems with the engine. Finally check that the engine is not covered in excess amounts of oil as it could mean that there is oil leaking onto the engine when hot.
Water - Another simple check is to look at the water to see if it is at the correct level, insufficient water level could also point to a leak in the cooling system. Check that the water has coolant added to it as again it can be a measure of how well the car has been cared for in its history.
Spark Plugs and Leads - Make sure that the spark plugs and the leads look to be in good condition because if they are old and eroded it can severely effect the performance of the car.
Panels - Look at all of the panels that make up the engine bay as these can be a good indicator of accident damage. Cars that have been involved in severe accidents and written off can be hard to insure with your car insurance company so take your time while checking. Make sure all the panels line up as making sure the car hasn't been in a major accident can mean cheaper car insurance for you.
Colour - Check the colour of the engine bay, it should match the colour of the rest of the car. If the engine bay is a different colour to the rest of the car then the car has been resprayed at some point. Ask the owner for an explanation as stolen cars can be resprayed in order to sell them on which means that car insurance will be the least of your worries as your car will most likely be seized by the police. If the car has been resprayed legitimately for personal preference then this is classed as a modification and must be disclosed to your car insurance company and may have an effect on your car insurance premium.
Belts - While the engine is off have a look at some of the belts on the car, check that they are tight and in good condition. If you can reach them the two most important ones to check are the fan belt and cam belt.
Engine number - Have a good look around the engine bay for the engine number, this number should be the same as the one displayed on the registration documents. If this number is not the same approach the owner for an explanation as this could void your car insurance or worse be a stolen car.
When parting with your well earned cash you should also take the car for a test drive, this will be discussed in detail in the next article but make sure you have sufficient car insurance to cover you in case of an accident. If you do not have sufficientcar insurance cover then take someone with you who's car insurance premium will cover them. Once the test drive is complete then be sure to go back and repeat the simple checks listed above as an engine can act much differently when hot. This can also identify any leaks in the engine, which could end up costing you money.
