The German Car Blog

2 Subtle Signs of Engine Problems Every Car Owner Should Watch Out For

23 September 2019 by Yvonne Carter

The engine is the most important part of your car because it produces the power needed to keep you moving on the road. The power that your engine generates is called horsepower. The higher the horsepower of an engine, the greater the amount of power it puts out. 

While car engines are generally reliable, they're not invincible. At some point, they may develop problems due to one reason or another. When this happens, ask a qualified mechanic to check your engine and resolve any issue that may be damaging the engine or hurting its performance.

As a car owner, you should be able to tell when you're experiencing engine problems. While some signs of engine trouble, such as engine noises, misfiring, overheating and hard-starting are always obvious, others can easily go unnoticed. This can make it difficult for you to discover that you are facing engine problems. 

Here are some not-so-obvious signs of engine problems that you shouldn't ignore:

Increased Fuel Consumption

Is your car using more fuel than usual? Do you need to make more frequent trips to the fuel station?

There are two main reasons behind your vehicle's increased appetite for fuel. First, you could be overworking your engine. Cars usually start to consume more fuel when they are overloaded or moving on under-inflated tyres, which leads to increased vehicle drag. Second, the engine itself or one of its components could be clogged or faulty, causing the engine to lose its normal efficiency when burning fuel. 

If you've been visiting the fuel station more often than usual, get your engine checked immediately.

Excessive Engine Oil Consumption

Is your engine still relatively new? Does your car use a lot of oil? While it is perfectly normal for older engines to require increased amounts of oil to stay properly lubricated, newer engines require the least amount of oil to run at their peak.

If your engine is still relatively new and it uses a lot of oil, it is possible that some engine components, such as seals, gaskets and piston rings, are overly worn and need to be replaced. It is also likely that there is high oil pressure. An incorrect setting on the vehicle's computer can cause the oil to flow through the engine in excessive amounts, leading to engine problems.

As you can see, engine problems can sometimes be difficult to discover. This is why you should always seek out an experienced mechanic that offers auto mechanical repairs whenever you notice or suspect that something is wrong with your car.

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