Let's face it, the engine is the heart of your car, and you wouldn't ignore your own heart if it was giving you trouble, would you? No! Keeping your heart pumping smoothly keeps you alive, which is why it is crucial to provide your car's engine with the love and attention it needs to keep beating mile after mile. While routine maintenance is the primary way to keep things running right, there may be times when you encounter issues you're unfamiliar with. By paying attention to how your engine is performing you can keep often tell if something is amiss. If you notice any of these signs of major engine trouble be sure to contact your favorite mechanic right away for proper diagnostics and repairs.
Knocking Noises
A knocking sound coming from under the hood often indicates worn engine bearings. These bearings are what support the motion of the engine's moving parts and should they seize due to wear or a lack of lubrication, the engine could fail completely. Always let a trained mechanic address strange sounds.
Fluid Leaks
First off, no fluid should ever be leaking from your car. If you spot a drip, drip, drip coming from under your vehicle visit an auto shop immediately. Common fluid leaks that affect the engine's performance include oil leaks and coolant leaks. Each of these can result in devastating damages if not quickly addressed.
Metal in the Oil
When you have the oil changed in your car be sure a technician checks out the old oil to ensure it is free of any metal particles. Metal flaking is often a sign of increased friction between moving parts inside the engine. An increase in friction obviously is cause for concern as it results in excessive wear and tear that requires extensive repair.
Colored Exhaust
Colorful exhaust smoke can indicate a few problems, but depending on the color you can usually get a clue about what's wrong. Blue smoke is a sign that the vehicle is burning oil. White exhaust generally means coolant is leaking into the combustion chamber. Black smoke is a sign the car is burning too much gasoline.
Performance Problems
Any drops in performance need to be addressed immediately, or they will get worse. This includes a decline in fuel economy, a rough idle, hard starting or stalling.
Check Engine Light
Most check engine light triggers are relatively small issues, but if they go undiagnosed and repaired they can turn into much bigger issues. Visit the auto shop as soon as the check engine light comes on to prevent a malfunctioning sensor from turning into a failed catalytic converter.
It is important to provide your car with the services it needs if you want it to remain safe and reliable for years to come. If you believe your car is in need of engine repair in Denton visit the friendly folks at Strande's Garage. We strive to provide high quality, effective service, for all makes and models that come into our auto repair shop. To schedule superior auto repair in Denton call us at (940) 566-2156 today!