How Not To Ruin A Car Engine

By: Kerry Prater

Break Studios Contributing Writer

If you want to find out how not to ruin a car engine, you have come to the right place. The following list should keep you from making the most common car engine blunders.

  1. Do not rely on the oil light to let you know when to add oil. The red oil light coming on means, “Stop the car now or you will need a tow truck.” Check the oil once a week.
  2. If you enjoy splashing around in the mud, you have to clean off the radiator. If you leave mud on the radiator, the radiator cannot cool the engine adequately, which will result in overheating, which in turn can result in cracking the engine block.
  3. If the overheating light comes on, turn the car off and wait for it to cool off before restarting. If you try to drive to your destination before turning off the engine, you risk blowing your motor and ruining your car.
  4. When the overheating light comes on and you pull over, do not try to pour cold water over the engine to help it cool off faster. This will result in a cracked engine block. Allow the motor to cool off gradually.
  5. Do not let your irresponsible teenage son borrow your car. This could result in broken motor mounts when dips in the road are taken at a high rate of speed. Make your son buy his own car; he will value it more if he has to pay for it himself and is less likely to ruin the car engine.

Do not take your car to the dealership unless it is under warranty. Most of the time, if you require repair work to be done, you can find an honest mechanic to make the repairs at a fraction of the cost that the dealership will charge. Hopefully these tips can help show you how not to ruin a car engine.

Posted on: Apr. 27, 2010