How To Catch Engine Damage Early On

Your engine is one of the most important components of your vehicle. That being said, knowing how to spot engine damage is essential to being a good car owner. The problem is not everyone knows how to recognize these signs. So today Toyota of Orlando is here to give you some tips on how to recognize a damaged engine and make you a better car owner. 

 

Signs you need car maintenance

The key to saving money with auto repairs is catching them early on. When you catch engine damage in its earliest stages your car maintenance costs will be much lower and the damage to your vehicle will be less serious. Acting quickly is always best when it comes to car maintenance. That’s why our Orlando service center has given us a list of the top signs that your engine is damaged for you to recognize:

Engine Light

The easiest sign that your engine has suffered damage is the check engine light. Even if your car seems to be performing fine this light indicates an issue with one of your vehicle systems – emissions, fuel injection, ignition, etc. The underlying issue could range from something minor to something serious. That being said, this light isn’t something you should be driving around with on. Ignoring it can cause your fuel economy to drop and lead to more expensive car maintenance down the road.

Dark Smoke & Steam

An easy-to-catch sign of a damaged engine is excessive steam or smoke. It is perfectly normal for your vehicle to produce smoke or steam in small doses every now and then, but an excessive amount of dark smoke indicates you have a problem. Our Orlando techs warn that a smoking or steaming vehicle means oil is entering your combustion chamber; meaning oil and gasoline are being burned together. This combination is detrimental to your car’s overall health.

Foreign Sounds

Every car owner should be familiar with the sounds their car makes day to day when it’s running as it should. This is important because a foreign sound can indicate engine trouble. Therefore, if you’re ever met with a strange or new sound you need have the engine checked out. The noises that typically indicate a problem are grinding, squealing, thumping, or hissing coming from under the hood.

Interior Emissions

Since cars burn fossil fuels they produce odorous emissions. A properly functioning car will only produce these emissions outside of the vehicle. If you begin to smell the emissions inside your car you have a problem. The smells that specifically indicate engine trouble are burnt rubber, sweet syrup, hot oil, gasoline, or burning carpet. Being met with these smells is something you should never ignore.

  

Affordable auto service in Orlando

Trust Toyota of Orlando with your car maintenance needs and we’ll be sure to have your car running at its best! We are open seven days a week and are located at 3575 Vineland Rd. just off I-4. Call and schedule your appointment today!