When buying a used car, you need to carefully consider its assessment already at the stage of inspection and purchase. The peculiarity of buying used cars is that warranty obligations the seller to the buyer subsequently does not bear. So it's better to identify possible shortcomings before buying, and not after it. Traditionally originally appearance cars. However, without a serviceable engine, a beautiful body is of little value. So, you need to look under the hood.

Checking the engine should begin with an inspection of the area under the hood. Of course, if you buy a used car in the cabin, the engine will be washed. There cars pass obligatory pre-sale preparation. But if you buy a car from an individual, then a perfectly washed engine should definitely alert you. Perhaps in this way the seller tried to hide various oil smudges. When the engine is in its normal working condition, in other words, dirty, then it is easier to judge its technical condition. Inspect the engine for oil leaks, they should not be. Pay attention to the condition of the hoses. And also look at the condition of the mounting bolts. The presence of characteristic scratches from a screwdriver indicates that some kind of repair was made with the engine. Immediately ask the seller what they did with this engine.

Assess the condition of the engine oil. For this, a special probe is provided. Light oil - was replaced; be sure to specify in connection with which the oil was changed. Slightly darkened oil does not pose a serious danger, most likely, it is just the time for its replacement. If the oil on it is foamy and white, you can immediately stop inspecting the car and start looking for another one. Similar signs show that there was overheating in or. Unscrew the cap through which the oil is poured. With a few scratches with a screwdriver on the inside, rust can be detected, this indicates that at one time the engine was boiling.

Take a look at the expansion tank of the engine cooling system, there should not be a problem here either. The color and smell of the fluid are normal, and the level is between the MIN and MAX marks.

Video of engine and suspension diagnostics:

After a visual inspection, you should proceed to practical tests. Contact the owner to start the engine. At this time, watch how the smoke comes out of the exhaust pipe. The blue color of the smoke is a signal to complete the inspection. The engine needs serious attention. And this applies to both diesel and gasoline engines. Black smoke is not such a dangerous signal, however, it is a serious reason to bargain. Here, the cause may be an incorrect adjustment of the fuel supply or ignition system. White smoke indicates condensation- this is not scary, drops from the pipe cut are also allowed, of course, if these are drops, and not a stream of water. In winter, this is inherent in all cars and is the norm. In the summer, of course, it should not be visible. This may be a signal of a damaged cylinder head cover, or a burnt gasket.

Black smoke from the chimney it can also go because of the long parking of the car, and this is a temporary phenomenon. Another reason may be incorrect adjustment of the carburetor or injection system, depending on the type of car. If the fuel supply system is not properly adjusted, a lot of carbon deposits form on the pistons, this also happens when the car works for a long time under heavy load at low revs. may produce black smoke in normal conditions. idling, however, on average it should no longer be. Eliminating such reasons is quite simple and at no extra cost, in this situation you just need to decide right away whether you agree to do this, or look for a better car. In any case, the final answer can only be given by SRT.


note that the sound from the muffler should be smooth without twitches and failures, the same applies to the operation of the engine. With increasing pressure on the accelerator pedal, the speed should increase accordingly, and vice versa, when you release the pedal, the speed should also drop smoothly, there should be no swimming. This can be well demonstrated by the on-board computer, if, of course, it is available. If at this moment you pay attention to, then there should not be excessive vibration and shaking.

After making sure that the engine runs smoothly, there are no extraneous strange sounds and knocks, outwardly the motor looks decent and, preferably, there are no signs of repair, one can testify to its technical serviceability. It remains to be seen if the muffler is normal. Plug it with something - the engine should stall. If not, then there is a leak in the exhaust system. If, in addition to this, there are traces of repairs, then you will have to invest a certain amount of money here. And only you have the right to decide whether you are ready for it or not.

Video about car diagnostics when buying:

Summing up, it can be noted that the question of how to check the engine when buying a car should be asked before buying, and not after. With a correct assessment of the condition of the engine, the result of the transaction will be a car that will leave a positive feeling for the new owner. And this is the most important thing, if, of course, you bought it to use it for its intended purpose, and not to become permanent.

How to check the engine when buying a car?

How to check the engine when buying a car? Good advice to avoid trouble

The topic of buying a car, perhaps, can be called one of the most popular, and if we talk about used cars, then it’s a TOP topic.

The biggest difficulty in checking the engine is that, unlike the body or interior, its condition cannot be determined "by eye". Outwardly, it can be clean and tidy, but inside it you can expect very big troubles. How to check the motor when buying a car and not "get on the money", we will now tell you.

Indeed, no one will give you a look inside someone else's motor, and this is normal, nothing can be done about it. However, do not be upset, because there are certain tricks and secrets that allow you to determine the condition of the motor with a very high degree of accuracy, which allows you to understand whether this car is worth buying or not. Service station specialists and experienced minders know all these secrets, and of course, "outbidding", who, if not they, know everything about cars. But what to do when such a specialist is not "at hand" or his services are indecently expensive? Everything is elementary, you just need to know where and what to look for!

The first thing you should never tell a car salesman is that you are zero in cars and engines, basically. Either say nothing at all and maintain a mysterious silence, or pretend that you have seen so many motors in your lifetime that it’s time to invent a “perpetual motion machine” ... Speak evenly, keeping calm, in no case show your joy from what you see or hear, you we need this very "poker face" - a face devoid of emotions. Watch how the seller answers your questions, verbosity or dodging a direct question is a clear sign of the "dark past" of the typewriter. Pay attention to how the owner of the car reacts to your inspection, allows you to look everywhere or does not allow climbing somewhere.

Checking the engine: visual inspection of the engine compartment

Engine cleanliness. Ask to open the hood and make a visual inspection of the engine, guided by certain criteria. If the motor is not running, look for the presence or absence of oil marks. If it "throws" know that somewhere the oil seal or gasket is "snotty". It is difficult to call this a big trouble, but if you think logically, an untidy engine and the owner’s untimely reaction to leaky gaskets suggests that the owner is sloppy or irresponsible. If so, then where is the guarantee that maintenance was carried out in a timely manner and oils, as well as other consumables, were changed on time, and this is already a hint of a "dead motor". Although, again, these are just assumptions, it is not correct to draw a specific conclusion only on the cleanliness of the motor. You can simply determine the condition of the motor without special equipment precisely by such small nuances, which in the end will indicate to you what is with the motor and in what condition it is.

On the other hand, an engine that is perfectly clean also does not bode well for you. The fact is that it is not a fact that this cleanest motor yesterday was not covered in oil and other dirt. Modern chemistry for car and engine washing work wonders, and what was just dirty will radiate crystal clearness in 15-20 minutes. In the first case, with a dirty engine that the owner shows you, you at least see what you are buying and initially prepare yourself for the fact that you will have to spend money on repairs. Moreover, sellers of such "tired" motors, as a rule, are ready to give up the price in order for you to change oil seals, gaskets and other seals. Therefore, in this case, a perfectly washed motor is a reason to think, perhaps a “tired” motor is hidden under the mask of cleanliness.

Oil condition. Open the lid, it should be clean, and the inside of the case, which will be visible from the neck, should not have any deposits or dirt. The oil should be clean, black oil indicates that the oil has been changed for a long time, so you will have to fork out here too. Moreover, it is not known how much the owner himself drove on this "blackness". Although, on the other hand, when buying a car, all oils and filters are supposed to be changed, this is, as it were, already a tradition, so you should not be very upset about the upcoming oil change.

If the oil foams, this may indicate that water has entered it. Seeing such a phenomenon, further checking the engine no longer makes absolutely no sense. To finally "put an end" on this car, start the engine and watch what will happen if splashes fly from the neck, the assumption is correct, they are trying to "suck in" a car with a motor that needs to be capitalized.

If possible, check the spark plugs, if they have traces of oil, after buying such a car, you will have to replace the piston rings very soon. For more information on how to determine the "disease" by spark plugs, read this article.

If all of the above is in order, continue checking the engine. Ask the owner of the car to start the engine, open the hood and listen to the engine, and also watch how it works. I will say what should not be: vibration, shaking, knocking and uneven operation, a serviceable engine does not have all this. If the engine is gasoline, but it works like a diesel engine and when it is gasped, it “throws up and turns over”, we conclude that something is wrong with the engine.

In the question of how to check the engine, the exhaust pipe plays a key role

We continue the inspection with the engine running. We go from the exhaust side and evaluate the color and density of the exhaust. Something similar happens when you breathe in the cold. The color of the exhaust, as well as its consistency, must be transparent.
If white smoke in the form of steam is visible from the exhaust, this may indicate a burnt gasket or leaks in the cooling jacket.
Important Note: If you check your engine in winter, thick smoke from the exhaust may be the result of simple evaporation (condensation) when hot air enters a cold environment and forms steam. Something similar happens when you breathe fresh frosty air...

Black smoke comes out of the exhaust - problems with the carburetor or injector, this is at least. In the worst case, the engine may have more serious breakdowns, problems with the piston group, soot in the cylinders and the need to decoke the engine. In general, in any case, seeing the "blackness" we thank the owner for the demonstration, we wish you a successful sale and go without looking back. It's better not to risk it and look for a car without rubbish.
Blue smoke - indicates that the engine is eating oil. In this case, everything is the same as with black smoke - we refuse the deal and move on.
Ask to give gas and listen to how the muffler works. The work should be smooth, there should not be any "choking and shooting". Carefully put your hand on the exhaust, and evaluate whether there is pressure in the hand, if there is no pressure or it is very slight, then the exhaust system has a burnout.

Checking the engine when buying a car: the final stage - a test drive

If the engine of the car you liked passed all the above tests successfully, all that is left for you is to test it in practice, that is, to ride. The very first thing buyers of used cars neglect is too short a test drive. Most often, everything is limited to short rides in the car dealership, and this is often not enough to understand what kind of “beast” is in front of you. If the engine performed well for a short distance, and the car is still interesting to you, ask the owner to drive 10 kilometers, promise to compensate for the expense and time spent. Believe me, it’s better to spend money now than to puzzle over the question of where to find a good minder later. While driving, turn off the music and anything that can drown out the sound of the engine, instead listen to the sound of the engine with the window open and closed, ask the owner to accelerate a little, experiment with hard acceleration and see how the car behaves. Accelerate the car to a hundred or more (if possible, and does not contradict the traffic rules) and see if there is vibration, if there are any jerks, what sound the motor makes, if there are any extraneous noises, knocking and other "left echoes".

When the test run is completed, we raise the hood again and see if there are any fresh smudges, and if everything remains as it was. If after the trip you saw a hint of leakage, while the motor itself is clean and beautiful, most likely this is the second case when the motor was washed in order to shove the car. However, if all the other points during the check did not arouse any suspicion in you, then perhaps this place of oil leakage is nothing to worry about and for a small discount you can agree to buy this car. If the engine behaved inadequately during the test drive, and after that you saw a lot of oil traces, refuse to buy, pay the cost of gasoline and continue searching, this is not your car, this car will be bought by someone who needs repairs, not a vehicle.

1 year

When purchasing a used car for yourself, you must be very scrupulous about its assessment before buying at the inspection stage. The main feature of a used car is that the previous owner does not bear any warranty obligations to the buyer. Therefore, it is recommended that at the stage preceding the purchase of the car, as much as possible to identify all possible shortcomings so that they do not make themselves felt at the moment when it will already be your property. As a rule, the first thing the buyer examines is how the car looks on the outside, in terms of touch-ups, etc. But without a well-functioning engine, a beautiful body has no special value at all. So, you should definitely look under the hood of the car you are buying.

How to properly check the engine when buying a car

The very first and, perhaps, the main thing is not a word about the fact that you have little understanding of car engines. It is necessary either to say nothing at all and mysteriously remain silent with a smart face, or to pretend to be a hardened motorist who has seen so many engines in his lifetime that he himself can already design breakthrough novelties blindfolded. Speak measuredly, clearly, be calm. Never express joy when you hear something you expected. You need to put on the so-called imperturbable mask, absolutely without emotions.

Analyze all seller responses. If he starts to “pour water” or evade the answer, then something is clearly wrong, and in the past there is some kind of “sin” regarding this car. Pay attention to the seller's reaction when you inspect the car. Does he allow you to watch wherever you please, or in some places he tries to distract you and transfer you to another topic.

What to look for in an engine

To inspect the power unit of the purchased car, you will need:

- work gloves;

Clean rags;

White list.

So, start looking around.

1. External examination

Open the hood of the car and look around the entire engine compartment. Look for oil stains and drips - these are the first signs of an engine malfunction. Even small signs in the future can turn into big oil leak problems for you. Pay special attention to the areas around and distributor.

The causes of leaks can be hidden in leaky gaskets, rubber seals and loose hose clamps. Another cause of oil leaks is a poorly fitting cylinder head cover. Take a good look at the joint and make sure it is free of oil and sealant. Even if the seller brought the engine back to normal in advance, he could still miss something. Feel free to expose! For example, traces on the hood from the inside may indicate an engine malfunction, inspect it more closely. If there are scratches on the bolts and nuts, even minor ones, it means that someone has already opened the motor, and this is clearly not without reason. But it's good if you were notified that the engine was scheduled to be sorted out recently.

2. Check the condition of the engine oil and antifreeze

Check the oil with a dipstick, antifreeze - simply by unscrewing the cap of the expansion tank or radiator. The oil should be transparent, without visible impurities and small chips, not too viscous and not exude incomprehensible odors. There should be no extraneous plaque or streaks on the dipstick.. Bubbles in the oil are the first sign of a leak, and this is a very serious problem. In the case of coolant, the presence of air in it means that it is leaking directly into the engine. And there are two reasons for this: either the gasket leaked, or the head of the block cracked, and this is completely unacceptable. Antifreeze is a corrosive liquid and can damage piston rings, which will subsequently cause irreparable damage to the entire engine.

3. Oil filler cap

Inspect the cover outside and inside. Under it or on the neck itself there should be no foam or white coating. The presence of the latter clearly indicates that antifreeze has entered the engine. And what will happen to the engine in the future, we have already said in the second paragraph.

4. Candles and rubber elements

Hoses and seals must not be damaged, even small cracks are unacceptable. If it is dirty and dusty under the hood, put on gloves, do not be lazy, and use a rag to wipe all the nodes and inspect them. Old soot can hide many defects. If possible, unscrew a couple of candles, you can learn a lot from their appearance. If they are in order, then they will have a thin layer of light grayish or yellowish coating. Slight wear of the electrode is acceptable. If a crack appears on the surface of at least one candle, then the engine will work with a knock. If abundant light deposits appeared on the candles, the oil was chosen incorrectly.

If the center electrode of the spark plug is melted, this can indicate many problems, ranging from early ignition and low-quality fuel to problems with the valves and ignition distributor. The formation of a hard build-up, like a glaze, which consists of soot, or severe wear of the electrodes means that the oil or fuel used was with numerous additives. Oily ones serve as an indicator of excess oil in the lubrication system and serious wear on piston rings, cylinders and valve guides. Soot on them indicates a poor formation of an air-fuel mixture or a clogged air filter that needs to be replaced.

Checking the engine in operation

1. Start the engine and rev a little on the spot

when starting, it should not rattle and make other extraneous sounds. The engine should start on the first try, no matter how warm it is and what weather conditions are “overboard”. It should work without interruption, absolutely smoothly. If the motor began to pull, extraneous vibrations are observed, the rhythm goes astray, there is only one conclusion - the engine is troit. So, one of the cylinders stopped working. The reason may lie in a faulty ignition system, poor performance of one of the candles, an over-enriched fuel mixture, or a burned-out piston. In any case, discuss this problem with the seller. Estimate how much the repair will cost, and knock off a couple of times more for the car.

2. Check instrument readings

When the engine is running warm, the arrows of the temperature and oil pressure sensors should be within normal limits, ideally in the middle position.

3. What kind of smoke comes out of the exhaust?

If, when starting the power unit, abundant white smoke came out of the pipe, but soon completely disappeared, then there is absolutely no need to worry: this is most likely a simple condensate. If the smoke does not stop coming out of the pipe, then the smell and color can quickly diagnose the problem. If the smoke is white or has a slight bluish tint, which quickly dissipates in the air, leaving a sweet smell, this means that there is antifreeze in the car's engine cylinders.

Clearly blue or gray smoke, which may also have a whitish tint, hanging in the air with a light lilac or gray haze, means that oil is leaking into the combustion chamber. If the car “shines” with such surprises, it’s better not to risk turning a blind eye to it, because repairs can be very expensive for you. And, finally, it signals that the air-fuel mixture burns inefficiently. The reasons for this are several malfunctions: coking of air jets, depressurization, malfunctions in the lambda probe and. The consequences in this case are such that the engine wears out much faster, and exhaust toxicity becomes prohibitive.

4. Test drive

If the car you like passed all the above tests with a bang, then it remains only to ride it. The first mistake that used car buyers make at this stage is a long one. Often they are limited to a short trip around the bazaar, but this is not enough to fully understand what kind of car they drive. If the car engine has exceeded all your expectations in a short distance, ask the seller to drive a few more kilometers. Agree that you compensate for the expense and time costs.

It’s better to check now than to waste later on malfunctions that were not detected in time, puzzling over the question of where to find a good minder cheaper. Focus on the sound of the engine, do not turn on the music and anything that can drown it out. Listen to the engine with the windows open and closed, accelerate, experiment with hard accelerations and observe the behavior of the car. Accelerate to 100 km / h or more, if traffic rules allow, and understand if there are any vibrations and jerks, how the engine sounds, if it makes extraneous noises, knocks and other annoying and abnormal things.

5. Re-diagnosis of the motor

At the end of the trial test drive, look under the hood again and check if there are any smudges and if everything remains as it was before the race. If after the trip you were embarrassed by some hint of leakage, but the engine is clean and looks good, most likely it’s just the owner’s move to sell the car faster - he washed the engine. But if other points do not bother you, then this place of oil leakage is nothing terrible, and you can safely buy a car for a small discount.

If the engine kicked like an unbridled stallion while driving, and then spat out a lot of oil streaks, then refuse to buy such a car. Pay the cost of gas and keep looking, because this car is not for you. This car will be purchased by someone who likes to repair, not drive.

And let's summarize. If all of the above is not enough for you, or you doubt your strengths and capabilities, take a person who understands with you or go to a service station and order a comprehensive engine check. Thus, you will protect yourself and minimize the likelihood of buying a car with a "finished engine".

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On the pages of our site, we try to raise only the most popular and relevant questions, giving them as complete answers as possible. The topic of buying a car, perhaps, can be called one of the most popular, and if we talk about used cars, then it’s a TOP topic.

Somehow we already talked about what you need to pay attention to when buying, etc. Today, the topic is basically similar, only this time we will talk specifically about how to check engine when buying a used car.

The biggest difficulty in checking the engine is that, unlike or, its condition cannot be determined "by eye". Outwardly, it can be clean and tidy, but inside it you can expect very big troubles. How to check the motor when buying a car and not "get on the money", we will now tell you.

Indeed, no one will give you a look inside someone else's motor, and this is normal, nothing can be done about it. However, do not be upset, because there are certain tricks and secrets that allow you to determine the condition of the motor with a very high degree of accuracy, which allows you to understand whether this car is worth buying or not. Service station specialists and experienced minders know all these secrets, and of course, "outbidding", who, if not they, know everything about cars. But what to do when such a specialist is not "at hand" or his services are indecently expensive? Everything is elementary, you just need to know where and what to look for!

Checking the engine when buying a car: useful tips

The first thing you should never tell a car salesman is that you are zero in cars and engines, basically. Either say nothing at all and maintain a mysterious silence, or pretend that you have seen so many motors in your lifetime that it’s time to invent a “perpetual motion machine” ... Speak evenly, keeping calm, in no case show your joy from what you see or hear , you need this very "poker face" - a face devoid of emotions. Watch how the seller answers your questions, verbosity or dodging a direct question is a clear sign of the "dark past" of the typewriter. Pay attention to how the owner of the car reacts to your inspection, allows you to look everywhere or does not allow climbing somewhere.

Checking the engine: visual inspection of the engine compartment

Engine cleanliness. Ask to open the hood and make a visual inspection of the engine, guided by certain criteria. If the motor is not running, look for the presence or absence of oil marks. If it "throws" know that somewhere the oil seal or gasket is "snotty". It is difficult to call this a big trouble, but if you think logically, an untidy engine and the owner’s untimely reaction to leaky gaskets suggests that the owner is sloppy or irresponsible. If so, then where is the guarantee that maintenance was carried out in a timely manner and oils, as well as other consumables, were changed on time, and this is already a hint of a "dead motor". Although, again, these are just assumptions, it is not correct to draw a specific conclusion only on the cleanliness of the motor. You can simply determine the condition of the motor without special equipment precisely by such small nuances, which in the end will indicate to you what is with the motor and in what condition it is.

On the other hand, an engine that is perfectly clean also does not bode well for you. The fact is that it is not a fact that this cleanest motor yesterday was not covered in oil and other dirt. Modern chemistry for car and engine washing work wonders, and what was just dirty will radiate crystal clearness in 15-20 minutes. In the first case, with a dirty engine that the owner shows you, you at least see what you are buying and initially prepare yourself for the fact that you will have to spend money on repairs. Moreover, sellers of such "tired" motors, as a rule, are ready to give up the price in order for you to change oil seals, gaskets and other seals. Therefore, in this case - a reason to think, perhaps under the mask of cleanliness, an orderly "tired" motor is hidden.

Oil condition. Open the lid, it should be clean, and the inside of the case, which will be visible from the neck, should not have any deposits or dirt. The oil should be clean, black oil indicates that the oil has been changed for a long time, so you will have to fork out here too. Moreover, it is not known how much the owner himself drove on this "blackness". Although, on the other hand, when buying a car, this is, as it were, already a tradition, so you should not be very upset about the upcoming oil change.

If the oil foams, this may indicate that water has entered it. Seeing such a phenomenon, further engine check no longer makes any sense. To finally "put an end" to this car, start the engine and watch what will happen if splashes fly from the neck, the assumption is correct, they are trying to "suck in" a car with a motor that.

If all of the above is in order, continue checking the engine. Ask the owner of the car to start the engine, open the hood and listen to the engine, and also watch how it works. I will say what should not be: vibration, shaking, knocking and uneven operation, a serviceable engine does not have all this. If the engine is gasoline, but it works like a diesel engine and when it is gasped, it “throws up and turns over”, we conclude that something is wrong with the engine.

In the question of how to check the engine, the exhaust pipe plays a key role

  • We continue the inspection with the engine running. We go from the exhaust side and evaluate the color and density of the exhaust. Something similar happens when you breathe in the cold. The color of the exhaust, as well as its consistency, must be transparent.
  • If white smoke in the form of steam is visible from the exhaust, this may indicate a burnt gasket or leaks in the cooling jacket.

Importantattagging: if you check the engine in winter, then thick smoke from the exhaust may be the result of banal evaporation (condensation) when hot air enters a cold environment and forms steam. Something similar happens when you breathe fresh frosty air...

  • Black smoke comes out of the exhaust - or an injector, that's at least. In the worst case, the engine may have more serious breakdowns, problems with the piston group, soot in the cylinders and the need to decoke the engine. In general, in any case, seeing the "blackness" we thank the owner for the demonstration, we wish you a successful sale and go without looking back. It's better not to risk it and look for a car without rubbish.
  • Blue smoke - indicates that. In this case, everything is the same as with black smoke - we refuse the deal and move on.

Ask to give gas and listen to how the muffler works. The work should be smooth, there should not be any "choking and shooting". Carefully put your hand on the exhaust, and evaluate whether there is pressure in the hand, if there is no pressure or it is very slight, then the exhaust system has a burnout.

More details about how to determine the condition of the engine exhaust color.

Checking the engine when buying a car: the final stage - a test drive

If the engine of the car you liked passed all the above tests successfully, all that is left for you is to test it in practice, that is, to ride. The very first thing buyers of used cars neglect is too short a test drive. Most often, everything is limited to short rides in the car dealership, and this is often not enough to understand what kind of “beast” is in front of you. If the engine performed well for a short distance, and the car is still interesting to you, ask the owner to drive 10 kilometers, promise to compensate for the expense and time spent. Believe me, it’s better to spend money now than to puzzle over the question of where to find a good minder later. While driving, turn off the music and anything that can drown out the sound of the engine, instead listen to the sound of the engine with the window open and closed, ask the owner to accelerate a little, experiment with hard acceleration and see how the car behaves. Accelerate the car to a hundred or more (if possible, and does not contradict) and see if there are any jerks, what sound the motor makes, if there are any extraneous noises, knocking and other "left echoes".

When the test run is completed, we raise the hood again and see if there are any fresh smudges, and if everything remains as it was. If after the trip you saw a hint of leakage, while the motor itself is clean and beautiful, most likely this is the second case when the motor was washed in order to shove the car. However, if all the other points during the check did not arouse any suspicion in you, then perhaps this place of oil leakage is nothing to worry about and for a small discount you can agree to buy this car. If the engine behaved inadequately during the test drive, and after that you saw a lot of oil traces, refuse to buy, pay the cost of gasoline and continue searching, this is not your car, this car will be bought by someone who needs repairs, not a vehicle.

The heart of any car is its engine. It is he who bears the burden of ensuring the life of the "iron horse". And it is the engine that most often suffers from breakdowns.

But when buying a used car, it should be understood that its “insides” will not be in perfect condition, no matter how deceptive its representative appearance is. Many drivers claim that some time after the purchase, breakdowns and countless repairs begin, the history of which sometimes lasts quite a long time. But there are exceptions. Therefore, before buying a car, it is worth checking its engine.

Algorithm of actions when checking the engine ...

1. Look under the hood. The appearance of the motor should give itself away. A neat appearance will indicate that the motor was looked after, its technical serviceability was monitored. Dirt and oil smudges on the motor should lead to disappointing conclusions. The likelihood that the motor was specially cleaned up in order to better present it and give it a more marketable appearance is small, but still there. Most often, an unscrupulous seller will not bother himself with unnecessary actions. Therefore, you need to pay attention not only to the appearance, but also to the quality of the engine.

2. We evaluate bolts and nuts. Edges and threads must not be stripped. It is by this external factor that one can judge the quantity and quality of repairs that the engine has undergone. Moreover, the repair of the engine was carried out, apparently, by amateurs or self-taught. What they repaired there - one can only guess. The death of such an engine is a matter of time.

3. Checking candles. For this, one candle, unscrewed from the car, is suitable. The presence of a black coating on it should lead to the appropriate conclusions. This means that oil enters the combustion chambers and the caps have failed. You can check the caps by the color of the smoke from the exhaust manifold. To do this, you need to start and warm up the car. If the smoke comes out black, then, accordingly, it is time for the caps to retire.

4. Exhaust gases. With a cold start of the engine, it is possible to diagnose the integrity of the gasket. To do this, put your hand under the exhaust pipe for a few seconds, then sniff your palm. If it smells of antifreeze, then this indicates that antifreeze is already getting into the combustion chamber, which means that the gasket is no longer in combat condition, as before.

If smoke from the exhaust pipe is saturated white color, this indicates that coolant enters the combustion chambers. This is also not very good. The fact that the piston system is faulty is indicated by bluish smoke. A "healthy" engine will produce clear smoke or a light gray color. Any other colors of the rainbow will only indicate serious problems with the engine, so the decision to buy such a car is up to you.

5. Engine start. This is one of the surest ways to check the health and quality of the engine. The motor should start within a couple of seconds. At the same time, its launch should not be accompanied by extraneous noise, and even more so - mechanical sound.

6. Warming up the engine. Another sign of an engine malfunction may be the fact that it does not warm up to the optimum temperature for driving. This in itself is not good, but to understand whether the cause of the problem in the engine, you need to look at the coolant level. If it falls and air bubbles form on it, then this indicates a malfunction of the motor - one of the cylinders cracked. Naturally, the engine is faulty, which means driving such a car is putting yourself at risk.

Perhaps these are the main ways to quickly check the engine for malfunctions and problems in its operation. Buying a car with a defective engine is a voluntary decision. For some, this will make it possible to bring down the price of a car, and repair the engine on their own, using the money saved, writes Auto-infosite.