OIL PRESSURE GAUGES Oil pressure gauges are no longer included among the dashboard instrumentation of modern vehicles. We now have oil pressure warning lights. Oil pressure gauges act as indicators of the engine’s overall well-being and as early warning systems. A zero reading with the engine running above idle indicates that the gauge is faulty,
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET If your engine runs rough or overheats, a leaky intake manifold gasket may be the culprit. Location: The intake manifold is an aluminum or plastic cover attached to the top of the engine by an intake manifold gasket made of plastic and rubber. Purpose: It directs the air-fuel mixture in the engine to
ENGINE OIL Don’t Neglect According to a recent survey of owners of vehicles that range in age from new to 15 years old, nearly four in ten of those polled indicated that they either never checked their engine oil or only have it checked when they take their automobiles in for service. In light of
Engine Mounts What they do: Engine mounts support the engine and transmission. Most are of simple design, with metal attachment plates and large rubber insulator blocks that dampen noise and vibration from being transmitted to the rest of the vehicle. Signs of problems: While engine mounts are seldom checked, thumping or rattling noises coming from
Maintaining Precision – Fuel Injectors Over the past three decades, as fuel injectors moved from the intake manifold to the combustion chamber, they have become more precise in dispensing fuel. To maintain this precision, vehicle owners should be on their guard for signs that their vehicles’ fuel injectors require service or replacement. Signs For
Air Filter Today’s Diesel Engines While today’s diesel engines are as durable as ever, changes in exhaust emissions technology make it especially important to observe air-filter replacement recommendations. In particular, turbo-charged diesel engines use high volumes of air to provide added power and help with emissions control. With this in mind, replacing and servicing the
Worn Piston Rings The Signs When drivers notice excessive oil consumption, white or gray exhaust smoke, poor acceleration, and/or overall loss of power or poor engine performance, they may be seeing signs of worn piston rings. These hoop-shaped pieces of metal fit around the circumference of each piston, providing a seal between the piston and the
A LEAKY MANIFOLD GASKET The exhaust manifold gasket forms a seal where the surfaces of the exhaust manifold and the cylinder head meet. As the metal surfaces on each side of the gasket expand and contract (due to the high temperatures of burned exhaust gases exiting from the engine’s cylinder), the gasket may develop leaks.
PRESERVING HARMONIC BALANCE When mention is made of a “harmonic balancer” some may think it has to do more with the metaphysical properties of healing crystals than a car engine. The fact is, however, that a harmonic balancer is a circular device composed of rubber and metal that is bolted at the front end
Reducing Emissions (EGR) System: Purpose The exhaust-gas-recirculation (EGR) system reduces harmful NOx emissions that contribute to air pollutions by recirculating exhaust gas back through the intake manifold into the engine. There, it acts as a cooling agent to lower combustion temperatures. All this is done with the intention of preventing mono-nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2)
