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Most Common Engine Problems - Car Talk - Nairaland

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Most Common Engine Problems by Gantautos(m): 10:50pm On Feb 01, 2020
The engine as we all know is the heart of any functioning vehicle. The aspect of looking after and running a vehicle is something that can't be compromised. Taking care of your engine is a must to ensure that the engine is healthy and runs smoothly.

Engine failures may cause your car to stop for good. As long as it is maintained well, you don’t need to be tensed. If your engine develops a fault, it is always not easy diagnosing the fault and could be even harder to repair.

Not all engine problems are serious and can be remedied relatively quickly, but all of them can cause engine breakdowns and, in the worst-case scenarios, require a brand-new engine.

Take a look at some of the most common engine problems:

Poor Lubrication

The engines comprises of so many moving parts and it is very vital that those part are lubricated. A lack of lubrication of the the moving parts will cause unnecessary friction inside the engine, leading to overheating and worse still, the engine seizing up. Make sure that you get your vehicle periodically serviced, which includes a regular oil change to keep quantities at an appropriate level.


Damaged Oxygen Sensors

Oxygen sensors are one very important component on a modern vehicle's engine management system. Oxygen sensors are responsible for monitoring the air fuel mixture of the engine. The readings from the oxygen sensors affect important engine functions such as timing and air fuel mixture. An inaccurate oxygen sensor is dangerous not only for your engine but for the rest of the car too. If the sensor does not give your car the right data about how much oxygen remains in the exhaust and how much fuel is in the petrol/diesel tank, you run the risk of inefficiencies with your driving, wasting lots of money in the long run.

Symptoms of a Faulty oxygen sensor are:

Decreased engine performance
Decreased fuel efficiency
Rough idle
Engine misfires

A faulty oxygen sensor, usually sets off a check engine light; specifying which sensor on what bank has failed.


Failing oil pump

The failure of an oil pump is extremely serious for the lifespan of any engine. If an oil pump fails it will almost certainly starve the engine of necessary lubrication. Always ensure that the engine oil you use in your engine is of a genuine viscosity, making it light enough to flow fast through the pump.

Bad Catalytic Converter

The Catalytic converter is a component that is mounted in the exhaust pipe that warms up the exhaust to an operating temperature of 260-649 degrees Celsius to convert the dirt in the exhaust to water vapour and carbon dioxide. The Catalyst inside comprises of precious metals such as platinum, rhodium or palladium. Failure of the catalyst to burn off the unburned hydrocarbons in the exhaust; an unpleasant odour can occur and a rough run or misfire maybe felt. A bad catalytic Converter may trigger a check engine light.

Inadequate fuel and air compression

Poor compression of both fuel and air inside a car engine is a recipe for disaster. The most common reasons for poor engine combustion is due to broken valve seals, holes within cylinders and overused piston rings, forcing air to leak out.


Faulty Ignition Coil

Ignition coils are components that transform low voltage electrical power 12 volts D.C. to high voltage current to about 50,000 volts D.C. or more. Electrical signals are received by the spark plugs from the ignition coil through the vehicle's computer and then the sparks generated by the spark plugs ignites the fuel and air mixture in the engine that enables the engine to start and run.

Ignition coil gives a sign it is failing when no spark is present to ignite the air and fuel mixture, causing a misfire. A faulty ignition coil causes the engine to stall or idle abruptly and can damage the engine or catalytic converter.


Failing Spark Plugs

Spark plugs are designed to ignite the compressed fuel in the engine of your car. An aged spark plug creates a weak ignition and can stop an engine from turning over i.e. misfiring. This is another issue that results in inefficient fuel economy and can also cause serious long-term damage to the engine.

Oil deposits and debris

Dirty oil has the propensity to leave deposits and debris on engine fittings such as intake valves and spark plugs, not to mention combustion chambers. As part of a periodic service at your local garage, they will regularly clean your engine’s oil filters to avoid debris becoming lodged within your vehicle’s bearings.

Bad Thermostat

A thermostat is part of the cooling system that regulates the temperature of the coolants in the engine. The thermostat is a metal valve that has a temperature sensor built in. it can either be closed or open. When the thermostat is closed, it keeps the coolant in the engine. When the engine gets to a predetermined temperature; the thermostat opens allowing coolant to circulate.

So, the circulation of coolant prevents the engine from overheating, and if the thermostat fails to open, the engine will overheat. If the thermostat fails to close, the engine may never reach the optimal operating operating temperature (about 104 degrees Celsius). The Thermostat is one of the most common component in the cooling system to fail, causing the car to overheat.

Engine problems are always around the corner and you should always carry out regularly maintenance to keep your vehicle in optimal working condition.

Learn More from the source below:
Source: https://gantautos.com.ng/2020/02/01/most-common-engine-problems/

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Re: Most Common Engine Problems by Nobody: 11:54pm On Feb 01, 2020
Why does AC make my engine unstable?

The AC works well but it seems to be weighing down on the engine. What's up with that? Corolla 2006
Re: Most Common Engine Problems by Gantautos(m): 3:06am On Feb 02, 2020
The reason might just be as simple as your engine idle been to low to fully power the AC because when a Car AC is turned on, it puts a a lot of load on the engine which powers the compressor. So during the period when the AC is on, the engine is put under a load by the AC system. Then the car’s computer automatically attempts to compensate for that by adjusting the idle.

Another reason might be during AC use, If there is carbon buildup within any part of the system, including the idle air control valve, throttle body, or possibly even the EGR valve, it can cause surging. The car’s computer essentially miscalculates the amount of power necessary, and ends up overshooting, leading to a surging or unstable engine.

Thirdly, any problem with the AC system can also exacerbate or worsen this condition. For instance, if the system is low on refrigerant, the compressor will kick on more often, causing the surging to increase in frequency (if not in intensity). These conditions are:
1. Low refrigerant in the AC system
2. Failing AC compressor
3. Bad AC cycling switch
4. Overfilled AC system.

So have your mechanic increase your car idle speed first and observe if their is a positive change before you look at other options listed above.

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Re: Most Common Engine Problems by Gantautos(m): 3:16am On Feb 03, 2020
The reason might just be as simple as your engine idle been to low to fully power the AC because when a Car AC is turned on, it puts a a lot of load on the engine which powers the compressor. So during the period when the AC is on, the engine is put under a load by the AC system. Then the car’s computer automatically attempts to compensate for that by adjusting the idle.

Another reason might be during AC use, If there is carbon buildup within any part of the system, including the idle air control valve, throttle body, or possibly even the EGR valve, it can cause surging. The car’s computer essentially miscalculates the amount of power necessary, and ends up overshooting, leading to a surging or unstable engine.

Thirdly, any problem with the AC system can also exacerbate or worsen this condition. For instance, if the system is low on refrigerant, the compressor will kick on more often, causing the surging to increase in frequency (if not in intensity). These conditions are:
1. Low refrigerant in the AC system
2. Failing AC compressor
3. Bad AC cycling switch
4. Overfilled AC system.

So have your mechanic increase your car idle speed first and observe if their is a positive change before you look at other options listed above.
Lucid1:
Why does AC make my engine unstable?

The AC works well but it seems to be weighing down on the engine. What's up with that? Corolla 2006

1 Like

Re: Most Common Engine Problems by Nobody: 8:22am On Feb 03, 2020
Gantautos:
The reason might just be as simple as your engine idle been to low to fully power the AC because when a Car AC is turned on, it puts a a lot of load on the engine which powers the compressor. So during the period when the AC is on, the engine is put under a load by the AC system. Then the car’s computer automatically attempts to compensate for that by adjusting the idle.

Another reason might be during AC use, If there is carbon buildup within any part of the system, including the idle air control valve, throttle body, or possibly even the EGR valve, it can cause surging. The car’s computer essentially miscalculates the amount of power necessary, and ends up overshooting, leading to a surging or unstable engine.

Thirdly, any problem with the AC system can also exacerbate or worsen this condition. For instance, if the system is low on refrigerant, the compressor will kick on more often, causing the surging to increase in frequency (if not in intensity). These conditions are:
1. Low refrigerant in the AC system
2. Failing AC compressor
3. Bad AC cycling switch
4. Overfilled AC system.

So have your mechanic increase your car idle speed first and observe if their is a positive change before you look at other options listed above.


Thanks Gee, I'll try the bolded first. Thanks again
Re: Most Common Engine Problems by Gantautos(m): 8:12pm On Feb 03, 2020
Lucid1:



Thanks Gee, I'll try the bolded first. Thanks again
You are welcome

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