by Colette Cooley, Cars for Keeps Office Manager
Lemon or lovely – that is the question when you consider buying a used vehicle. It may look gorgeous on the outside, but the inner workings determine whether or not the car will be a money pit. Here are a few tips on what to look for when test driving that little beauty:
1) Pull out the oil dipstick while the engine is running – be careful not rev the engine! Watch the dipstick's hole as the engine idles; if you hear or see any air, gas or oil escaping the dipstick holder it means the rings are worn. A slight escape of air from the dipstick is the first stage of ring failure which is not a serious problem but will get worse until gas and oil start escaping the dipstick holder. The result is less power and leaking oil in the sump. Look for white emulsification on the dipstick which would indicate a cracked cylinder head, which is a serious problem.
2) Look at the exhaust pipe while the car is running. White smoke from the exhaust indicates there's engine oil remaining on the bore that the rings haven’t scraped off, which means oil could be leaking. Black smoke means the fuel injectors are dirty on a diesel engine.
3) Remove the radiator cap and check for oil. Oil in the water also means a cracked cylinder head.
4) Have a pre-purchase inspection performed! A compression test should also be done for failing rings on any used vehicle. This test requires a trained mechanic because of the equipment used and the test is complicated. The readings must be done ‘dry’ and ‘wet’, and it even depends on if you are above or below sea level.
At Cars For Keeps, we do a bumper to bumper inspection on used vehicles before you buy it, and we have saved a lot of people from buying a ‘money pit’.
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19 comments:
I remember the time that I went to a car dealer in Indianapolis to buy a used car. Before they let me take home the car I have chosen, they let me do a couple of test drives first and double check all the internal part of the car. Good thing that they have suggested it coz I don't have any idea about a cars internal parts!
Inspection of the existing engine is utmost important,because you do not know what condition it is in.necessary to have a good check from the professionals.Good guidance here.
When you're buying a used car, you should double check it to avoid any problems. Following these tips will make it easier for you, if you're buying. If you still can't do it, bring someone who is knowledgeable about these.
Hi,
The above tips about buying a new car are so informative, never confuse to see the gorgeous look on the outside. The exhaust pipe is important when your car is running on the road, watch the dipstick because a slight leakage of it will may create the problem. Thanks a lot.
awesome information. I really enjoyed reading it.
Look for rust perforation on inner wings, the bulkhead and any cross members and chassis members visible under the bonnet. If you see any, reject the car.
“It may look gorgeous on the outside, but the inner workings determine whether or not the car will be a money pit.” You’re right, Colette. That is why the condition of a used car matters a lot. In addition, check also the steering wheel and brakes of the car. The steering wheel should not have any vibration, while the brakes should be able to stop the car in a straight direction.
Leisa Dreps
I also check the vehicle history report before purchasing a used car. It’s one of the most important documents to verify first, as it contains the entire historical account of the car – from the repairs it has had, to the illicit offenses it took, if there’s any.
Good post. I learn something totally new and challenging on blogs I stumble upon on a daily basis. It will always be interesting to read articles from other authors and practice something from their websites...
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Thanks for sharing, there are s many scam artists out there trying to sell their used car, you need to be able to pick up the lemons and the non-lemons!
Auto should be kept up on a now and again present as it needs the express idea and we can't repair alone so for this we needs a proffessional benefits as they are the proffesionals they know superior to anything us what our auto needs so it is more insightful to pick the specialists.
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