Unless you’ve only owned brand-new cars, chances are you’ve experienced some kind of engine trouble at least once.
While some of these problems can be simple to fix, others can mean total engine failure, so it’s important that you know what you’re dealing with.
We’ve compiled 13 of the most common engine issues and explained how to diagnose them. However, to ensure they don’t get worse, you should have a mechanic check them out.
Engine Misfire
Engine misfires happen when one or more of the engine’s cylinders don’t burn right, or the combustion is incomplete. Signs of engine misfire can come in the form of hesitation or power loss when accelerating, rough idling, shaking, or stalling.
There are even distinct sounds to listen for, such as popping or banging noises from the exhaust due to unburnt fuel. In most cases, misfires are caused by worn spark plugs, but they can also be due to faulty emissions equipment or even mechanical failure within the engine.
The Engine Won’t Start
There are plenty of reasons why a car won’t start, but the most common reason is a dead battery. If that’s the case, you’ll have to figure out if it’s the battery or alternator that’s to blame. If it’s battery-related, there’s usually a clicking noise when you turn the ignition.
The starter motor can also fail; if that’s the case, nothing will happen when you turn the key. If the starter runs, there can be a bunch of reasons why your engine won’t start, such as a clogged fuel line or filter, empty gas tank, worn spark plugs, broken distributor cap, or timing belt failure.
Check Engine Light
The check engine light turns on to tell you there’s an engine-related issue somewhere, but unless you have an engine code reader, you’ll need a mechanic to find out where the problem lies.
It can be caused by something as simple as a loose gas cap, so if it turned on after filling the tank, check that first. It can also be low-quality gas. If you’ve eliminated those, it can be caused by more serious issues, such as a damaged mass airflow sensor or oxygen sensor, faulty spark plugs, plug wires, or ignition coils, catalytic converter issues, or internal engine damage.
Timing Chain Failure
If the timing chain fails, it will leave you stranded, and most likely in need of a new engine, so it’s important to know which signs to look and listen for before that happens.
With time, the chain can stretch, and the tensioners and guides can become worn. Before it fails, you’ll usually get some chain rattling or ticking noise. If the noise increases when you rev the engine, that’s a clear sign. Acceleration and fuel efficiency may suffer, you could get engine misfires, and the check engine light sometimes comes on.
Engine Overheating
Modern cars don’t overheat very often because they’re jam-packed with sensors and complex systems to prevent it. However, if it does happen, it can cause severe damage if you keep driving.
All cars come with a temperature gauge; unless that’s broken, it’ll tell you if the temperature rises. Pull over, let it cool, and find out what causes it. Overheating can be caused by low coolant levels, clogged or leaking radiator or hoses, a damaged expansion tank, low oil levels, or even a blown head gasket.
Blue, White, or Black Exhaust Smoke
If your car’s exhaust pipe billows out smoke, you may be looking at an expensive repair bill. A bit of white smoke when you start the car is probably just harmless water vapor. Black smoke indicates that the fuel/air mixture is off, and you should get it fixed.
Blue or grayish smoke indicates that the engine is burning oil inside the combustion chamber. This can be caused by leaky valve seals, damaged piston rings, or poor crankcase ventilation. Worst case scenario, your engine is nearing the end of its life. Lots of white smoke means coolant is being burned in the engine. At the very least, it’s a blown head gasket, but it can also be caused by a cracked cylinder or engine block.
Excessive Oil Consumption
Your car needs fresh oil to work properly, but if you find yourself topping it up more often than you think is normal, there can be some serious underlying issues.
If you’ve used the wrong oil type for your car’s engine or low-quality oil, the engine internals may have been damaged. Even if you didn’t, components still wear out over time. An old, high-mileage engine will use more oil. Worn or damaged piston rings, valve guide seals, gaskets, etc., will also increase oil consumption. Look for blue exhaust smoke and get a compression test done to pinpoint what causes the oil consumption.
Faulty Sensors
For decades, cars have been fitted with sensors that monitor various aspects of engine performance, such as airflow, engine speed, temperature, pressure, and so on. These sensors are there to protect the engine, but sometimes, they malfunction, and things are thrown out of whack.
When a sensor fails, it can bring a whole host of symptoms, depending on its job. There should definitely be a check engine light, and reading that code will tell you where the problem lies. Sometimes, the engine won’t start at all; other times, it’ll run rough or drink fuel. One of the most common issues is with the fuel-air sensors, so that’s a good place to start.
Blown Head Gasket
The head gasket acts as a seal between the engine block and cylinder head, preventing combustion gases from escaping and keeping coolant and oil out of the cylinders.
We’ve already mentioned that lots of white smoke and engine overheating can be signs of a blown head gasket, so if your car suffers from one of those, get it checked out sooner rather than later. Other signs include misfiring and milky oil that’s been contaminated by coolant.
Dirty Oil
Dirty oil is different from the milky oil we mentioned concerning the head gasket issues. If you’re servicing your car yourself and notice that the oil is getting darker and thicker and maybe even contains small metal particles, you need to figure out what causes it.
Even if you’re not servicing your car, there may be symptoms, such as reduced fuel efficiency, overheating, engine ticking noises, loss of performance, smoky exhaust, or even warning lights. Dirty oil can be caused by old oil, wear and tear on the engine, heat, or neglect. Use high-quality oil and an oil filter, and keep an eye on it.
Fuel Economy is Dropping
An engine that runs efficiently will burn less fuel than one where parts are starting to wear out and aren’t replaced. If you notice that your car’s fuel economy has taken a turn for the worse and you haven’t changed your driving habits, there’s a problem somewhere.
We suggest you start by looking at the fuel and air filters, fuel injectors, O2, and mass air sensors, and give your car a proper service with new oil, oil filters, and spark plugs. Underinflated tires, poor alignment, or stuck brakes can even cause the problem.
Starter Motor Failure
We briefly mentioned the starter motor at the beginning of this article. As its name suggests, this component cranks the engine over when you turn the key to start the car.
If you can’t hear it when you turn the key, it can be caused by electrical solenoid damage, starter motor failure, or other electrical faults. It’s hard to predict when a starter motor will call it quits, but in some cases, you may hear it click before the car starts, which is a definitive sign you’ll need to replace it soon.
Dead Battery
While getting a flat battery is one of the most common car issues, that doesn’t make it any less stressful and inconvenient. Modern cars tend to turn off everything electric when you lock the car, but in older ones, leaving the stereo or lights on meant the battery would be dead by the time you returned.
However, forgetting to turn off the lights isn’t the only thing that causes a dead battery. If the battery is old, it may be worn out, and you’ll have to change it. Sometimes, the problem lies elsewhere, such as alternator issues or problems within the charging system. If it’s a relatively new battery, chances are it’s the alternator that’s given up the ghost and stopped charging it.
Read More From Things That Make People Go Aww — 13 Ultra-Rare Corvettes That Are Must-Haves for Collectors
The Chevrolet Corvette is arguably the most significant sports car in American history. Yet it nearly didn’t have a history at all, as the first generation almost killed the project before it got off the ground. Now, though, the Corvette is standing firm in its eighth generation.
Across those eight generations, along with the standard production models, Chevrolet has also produced one or two Corvettes that have become the stuff of dreams. Rare and mysterious models that collectors all want to own.
We’ve examined 13 of the rarest, placed them in this list, and detailed what makes them unique. Their rarity is the criteria for making this list, but we’ve also chosen them based on their performance and what they had to offer over standard Corvettes.
