User Rating: / 0
PoorBest 

The engine is the heart of your car, pumping air and fuel through its system.  Its basic purpose is to convert air and fuel into rotary motion to turn the wheels of the car.  If the air and fuel is blocked and can’t be converted into motion, an engine repair will be necessary.  It’s wise to have your vehicle inspected with an engine service by a trained auto mechanic on a regular basis to prevent a major engine rebuild down the road.

3 components of an engine commonly prone to failure, resulting in an engine rebuild:

• Valve train: The valve train consists of valves, rocker arms, pushrods, lifters, and camshaft. Its job is to let air and fuel in and out of the engine at the proper time. The timing is controlled by the camshaft, which is synchronized to the crankshaft by a chain or belt.

What wears out? If your car smokes grayish/white smoke only when you start it up, it may have leaking valve seals. When they wear out or crack, oil can seep into the combustion chamber and collect there until you start your car.

• Pistons:  Most motors have 4, 6, or 8 pistons which move up and down in the cylinders. The pistons have rings that keep the oil free of fuel and air and keep it from entering the combustion chamber.

What wears out? The rings wear out, allowing fuel and air to enter the oil and dilute it. This reduces its ability to lubricate your engine, resulting in premature wear.  Worn out rings also allows oil from the crankcase to enter the combustion chambers, where it burns, indicated by a grayish/white smoke coming from the tailpipe.

• Crankshaft: The crankshaft is connected to the pistons by a connecting rod. As the piston moves up and down in the cylinder, it rotates the crankshaft and converts the straight line motion into rotary motion.  The crankshaft rides on bearings, which support the crankshaft and rods, which connects the pistons to the crankshaft.

What wears out? These bearings eventually wear down, and you may start hearing a loud knocking noise.  This problem may lead to a costly engine repair, having to remove the crankshaft and either machining the surface where the bearings ride, or replacing the entire crankshaft.

Need quality engine service?  We will be glad to help you, whether it’s for a minor engine repair, or a complete engine rebuild.  Contact our ASE Certified Technicians today by calling (763) 389-3811, or go on-line at http://www.rumriverauto.com/ for more information.  Since 1997, our auto repair shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN, and in the surrounding areas of Milaca and Zimmerman, MN.