When buying a used car, you know that you’re going to have to give it a thorough inspection before you buy. But what exactly are you looking for? Even experienced drivers may have no idea. Thankfully, we’ve got ChrisFix to let us know how to check the engine.
So how do you check a used car’s engine before buying?
ChrisFix provides us with a handy-dandy checklist.
ChrisFix’s series covers everything you need to know about inspecting and buying a used car, but it all starts with the engine. Anything else might be worth fixing, but if the engine’s shot, you might as well walk away. Let’s get started.
It all starts with the scan. You can usually find the scanner port somewhere above the brake pedal.
You’ll want to plug that in, fire up the app, turn the car on and cross-reference the scan with the dashboard lights.
Sometimes you’ll see the problem right away as warning lights start coming on. Or you might get a problem code on your app. In Chris’s case, he gets a P1000 code, showing that someone has cleared the check engine light.
The driver lets Chris know that this had to do with an oxygen sensor replacement. Always ask, and if there are too many codes popping up, there are plenty of other cars out there to buy.
You might see right away that something’s busted, or there might be harder-to-spot problems. Chris points out that an engine that looks a little too clean may be a sign that the driver is trying to hide something.
Look at the fender, front core support, bumper and front cross member. You’re looking for creases, serious rust, and bowing. A little cosmetic damage might be fine, but serious damages are going to affect how the car drives and be very expensive to fix.
Start by taking a look under the car. If you find any major drips or puddles, you’ll know right away this is a junker.
If the ground is clean, check the cooling system. Open the cap and look for a bright-colored coolant and make sure it’s free of oil or brown sludge.
Now check the brake master cylinder to make sure it’s at the fill-line and not leaking.
Now check the power-steering reservoir. Make sure you’re not seeing any dark fluid or black specks when you pull the cap. Follow the power steering lines to the pump, and make sure that’s dry, too.
Take the oil fill cap and make sure there’s no frothy white oil on the cap. Take a peek inside and make sure there’s no “chocolate syrup” sludge in there. Check the dipstick and make sure the oil is filled.
Find the transmission dipstick if the car has one and give it a check.
Cracked and bulging hoses are pretty easy to spot. Go through the engine and feel around, making sure you don’t have any brittle hoses that split when you give them a little tug.
Now look at the belts. You’re looking for any frays or cracks or other signs of wear. If the belt is in good condition, it’ll still have some shine to it and it will feel tight when you press it with your finger.
The first thing you’ll want to look at as the engine starts up is the exhaust. No smoke is good. Blue smoke is going to be a sign that your valve seals are leaking into the combustion chamber.
Have the owner rev the car up. A little smoke will come out as the car burns through the condensation in the system. But excessive white smoke means a head gasket leak, and blue smoke means worn-out piston rings.
Do the exhaust test again after the car has warmed up.
Turn the car off and head to the front. Open the hood up again and take a look as the owner starts the engine. Take another look for leaks, and check for anything like rattling and shaking, and anything popping loose or making weird noises.
Open the oil cap and check with your hand for any pulsing hot air coming out of the tank. You don’t want to see any smoke or have it chugging away like a locomotive.
Once the engine is warmed up, shut the engine off and turn it back on. You’re going to have a different set of problems when it’s cold vs. when it’s hot, so you want to check both.
The more thorough your inspection, the better. But a lousy car is a lousy car no matter what shape it’s in. So, combine this inspection with some research on the car’s Vehicle History. Make sure that you’re buying a great car in great shape.