How to Check the Condition of a Car Engine

Checking the condition of your engine before problems get too bad can potentially save you thousands of dollars, not to mention a car breaking down when you least can afford it. A very simple but cursory inspection of certain aspects of the engine can put your mind at rest.

Instructions

1. Pop the hood and do a visual inspection. Things to look for are any damaged vacuum hoses that may need to be replaced, loose connections at the sensors or solenoid, tears in the air cleaner duct work and poorly connected spark plug wires.

2. Check the idle figures. A well-conditioned engine should run anywhere between 750 to 850 rpm while idling when the engine has had time to warm up. Press the accelerator and make sure the rpm increases gradually as you slow push down further on the gas pedal.

3. Inspect the spark plugs. If all or most of the plugs have a black carbon coating, this is a sign of a bad oxygen sensor. If just one plug has a black coating that indicates a leaking fuel injector.

4. Check the batteries and solenoid switch for corrosion. Minor corrosion can probably be cleaned away with a wire brush and may not be cause for concern. If the corrosion is major, however, this can indicate a more serious problem with either the battery or solenoid and could keep the car from starting.

5. Start the engine and aim the timing light at the timing marks located on an opening in the transmission bell housing. There should be a fixed mark that aligns with the illuminated mark on the crankshaft pulley, damper or flywheel. Should the marks be out of alignment, an adjustment needs to be made on the distributor.