When shopping for a used car you should make an appointment to view a car for sale and specifically request that they do not have the car started or warmed up until you get there. When you arrive you can pop the hood and feel the engine temperature by placing your hand on or near the block which is the main component of the bulk of the engine. This large piece of metal will retain heat for hours after warming up. If the engine is still warm consider coming back another time or moving on to the next prospective car.
Starting a car from a cold start is critical in helping to gauge the condition of the motor. Difficulties in starting, or weak cranking or funny noises are all indications of systems in the engine which are no longer running optimally. Still, before you even want to start the car you need to do a complete inspection of the fluids in the engine.
The first thing to check is the engine oil. To get an accurate level reading the car must be parked on a flat and level surface and it is best if the car has been parked overnight and not running. The oil that is on the dipstick when you remove it should be amber in color and mostly translucent. The darker and more gritty the oil the worse the vehicle has been maintained. The level of the oil is also important as this will tell you if the car is leaking or burning oil as well as tell you a little about the maintenance history of the car. Ideally the oil level should be to the full line indicator on the dipstick. Continue reading ‘How to Inspect an Engine When Used Car Shopping’ »