Do I Need to Replace My Car’s Engine? Many people opt to replace their cars’ engines rather than buy new cars because their vehicle is something they never want to get rid of. It might be the first car they’ve ever driven, or it might be their dream car. Urb’s Garage lists several signs below that indicate that your engine is on its last leg.
Exhaust
Excess exhaust is a common sign that a car’s engine is damaged beyond repair and needs to be replaced. If you see black exhaust coming out of the tailpipe, the engine is burning too much fuel and this can be caused by a serious fuel leak. Blue exhaust means that oil is mixing with the gas and air in the cylinders, which indicates you have a cracked engine gasket. White exhaust means the engine is hemorrhaging coolant.
Knocking
Knocking sounds coming from the engine can be caused by the pistons crashing into the cylinder walls. This happens when the rod bearings need to be replaced. Unfortunately, if you keep driving your automobile, you can cause enough engine damage that the engine will need to be replaced. The engine is also a goner if you break any of the rods.
Metal Shavings
Another sign that your engine needs to be replaced is metal shavings in the motor oil. When this happens, your engine is basically disintegrating into the oil. Usually, your vehicle will stop running within 30 minutes to a few hours when it is operating under this condition. The disintegrating engine must be replaced.
Overheating
Constant overheating can be a sign that you’ve blown the head gasket. While the head gasket can be replaced if caught early, the constant engine overheating can also crack the engine block. If this has happened, you’ll need to have your engine replaced. It’s important that you never drive your automobile when it is overheating. Rather, pull over and call for a tow truck to prevent the engine-life-ending condition of a cracked engine block.
Power Loss
Finally, if you can’t get your vehicle’s engine to generate any power, it’s probably time to replace it. As with any machine, the engine has a limited lifespan even if you take good care of it. Eventually, the engine will wear down, such as disintegrate into the motor oil, and you will need to get a new engine installed in your automobile. Power loss is a sign of this problem.
Urb’s Garage has two auto service shops in Kentucky, one in Burlington and one in Erlanger. We’d be happy to inspect your engine to let you know if it can be rebuilt or needs to be replaced.
