Repairing Auto

Based on statistics, poor vehicle maintenance is one of the leading causes of bad fuel and/or oil consumption. A poorly maintained automobile is inclined to consume up to twice the amount of oil and/or fuel compared to a well-maintained car. This is one of the primary reasons why in my posts I keep on stressing the importance of keeping your auto in tiptop shape at all times.

While we’re all inclined to make excuses as to having little or no time or money to regularly conduct tune-ups and vehicle (exterior, interior and under-the-hood) checks, let me remind you that spending the time and yes, the money, to check on your vehicle once in a while should spare you the costlier expenses of needing to have your auto repaired constantly mainly because you failed to maintain it properly.

I actually had to learn the importance of vehicle maintenance the hard way. My first car exhibited signs of poor fuel consumption which I failed to check on for weeks. I found out later that the main cause was fuel tank leakage, which eventually caused bigger problems, denting my bank account quite well. If I had checked and addressed the problem sooner, then I could have spared myself from the hassle of having to spend a hundred dollars more than I should have. A simple fuel tank replacement should have saved me more gas, which is why I advise you to start checking your auto the moment you notice its gas-guzzling or oil-draining habits.

If your vehicle has been using up more gas or oil than it normally does, it’s time for you to ask yourself the following questions:

When was your last auto tune-up? In my previous posts, I’ve stressed the importance of auto tune-ups to the point of redundancy. But as I said, a tune-up could let you determine auto problems from the onset of its early symptoms, preventing the problem from getting bigger. While it may not solve all your auto problems, it does give you an idea on what you should focus on when it comes to home auto-repairs.

How much load is your vehicle carrying? If you’ve been hauling around extra baggage, even if it’s just around 100 to 200 pounds more than you usually do, then this could be the cause of your auto’s poor fuel economy. Remember, the heavier your auto, the more gas your vehicle consumes. This is the reason why trucks, SUVs, vans and APVs use up more gas compared to compact car models.

When was the last time you had an oil change? If you haven’t changed your car’s oil for a long time, then this could be the root of your auto’s oil and fuel issues.

Are your tires worn? Balding tires, poor wheel alignment and uneven treading forces your auto to use up more gas. Have those wheels realigned or replace your worn tires as soon as possible to fix your fuel woes.

How’s your vehicle’s overall performance? Is your auto hopping more than it cruises? If your answer is yes, then it means your vehicle needs auto maintenance ASAP. Keep your vehicle in prime condition to increase its efficiency.

Last question: do you tend to leave your car idling for long periods of time? Most mechanics would agree that leaving your car idling for even just a minute uses up as much gas as when you start your vehicle. If you’ve been encountering heavier traffic, then your vehicle might be forced to use up more gas.

If you find that the reason behind your poor fuel or oil consumption is a lax in auto maintenance, then your best recourse is to spend your weekend performing a thorough tune-up, inspection, radiator flush (if it’s that time of the year), coolant replacement and oil change.

Should the problem be rooted in misaligned wheels or worn tires then do make an appointment with a nearby garage to have your tires replaced, rotated or realigned.

If none of these remedies work, then you might want to try getting gas from another gas station from another area. If for example, you’ve been filling your tank from a station found in a flood plain, then go to another gas station that isn’t within that location.

Be sure to keep track of your mileage and fill-ups. It’s also possible that your estimated average mileage doesn’t correspond with your trips to the gas station, meaning the root of your problems could simply be imperfect calculations. I highly suggest you keep track of your mileage and gas fill-ups the old-school way: pen and notebook.

And lastly, if the change in your oil and/or fuel consumption is pretty drastic, then you need to check for leaks as soon as you can.

Considering doing your auto’s tune-up yourself? Then you’ll need to have the right tools and materials in hand. The following are some of the basic tools and auto parts you’ll need when tuning your own vehicle:

Spark Plugs: the number of spark plugs you should have in stock depends on the number of engine cylinders you have. Remember, it’s one spark plug per engine cylinder.

A Replacement Air Filter: since you’re going to be checking and possibly even cleaning your air filter, it’s always handy to have a replacement part with you in case your filter is damaged beyond repair.

A Spark Plug Tool: for easier and safer spark plug removal

Torque Wrench: the torque wrench should come in handy when you’re removing various auto parts under your hood. (spark plug sometimes included)

A Spark Plug Gapping Tool: If you’re planning on replacing any of your spark plugs then you need to find the right amount of space for proper airflow. This is the main purpose of this handy tool.

Fuel Filter: as you can already gather from its name, this handy auto part helps clean your fuel from impurities. It also prevents debris from settling into your gas tank and destroying your engine. This auto part needs to be replaced every few years or every 30,000 to 40,000 miles—all depending on what your owner’s manual specifies.

Clean Cloth or Cloths: there’s no better way to soak up spills than with a nice, clean cloth.

Brush or Brushes: small brushes will help you clean even the most hard-to-reach places between your auto’s numerous components.

PCV Inlet Filter or PCV Filter: this auto part is found in your air cleaner assembly, near your air filter. Replace immensely dirty or clogged filters to improve your engine’s performance.

Masking Tape and Marking Pens: use these tools to label the parts you take out for easier reassembly.

Compressed Air: you can get compressed air from a can or an air compressor.

Other auto parts you may need:

Replacement Distributor Cap: if your distributor cap is damaged or cracked then you need to replace this cap as soon as possible.

Ignition Wires or Cables: exposed to extreme heat, these high-voltage current carriers are usually prone to damage and meltdowns. Replace busted wires ASAP to prevent stray current from destroying the auto parts under your hood.

Distributor Ignition Rotor: in most cases, replacing the distributor also requires you to replace the rotor found with it. If you’re planning on getting a tune-up kit, make sure your kit contains this vital part.

ON AUTO TUNE-UP KITS:

There are some companies out there that offer great tune-up kits. Most kits feature basic replacement parts included in the package. This allows you to save money and lets you purchase only some parts separately. But before purchasing just any tune-up kit, do check different kits and then compare prices and items to find the best deal for you.

FREQUENCY OF AUTO-TUNE-UPS FOR OLDER VEHICLES

If your vehicle was manufactured in 1980 or earlier, you may need to conduct tune-ups more often. You may also have to conduct additional checks depending on the type of parts installed in your vehicle.

WHAT YOU NEED TO CONSIDER BEFORE A DIY AUTO TUNE-UP

Do you have enough time to conduct an auto tune-up yourself? Even the most well-maintained autos require at least an hour of your time for comprehensive checks and cleaning. If your vehicle is in poor condition, then expect it to eat up at least four to five hours of your time. If your vehicle also carries a relatively large engine (if you have a truck, an SUV or a van), then expect to have more parts and spark plugs to check compared to a regular compact car. If you don’t have time for the DIY tune-up, then I highly suggest letting the pros handle this car maintenance tip.

Are you in good health? Auto tune-ups will require a lot of stamina, since you’re basically going to be examining even the smallest parts and probably even lifting heavy loads as you replace auto components. Are you fit enough for this job?

Have you considered having a garage conduct the tune-up for you? Some garages may save you money because of their special deals on tune-ups. Look around your area to find a reputable garage that would tune your auto at a good price. This can be the cost-effective solution you’re looking for. Compute the costs of buying the materials vs. having someone else buy the materials for you. Leaving this job to the pros allows you to save not only time but also money. If, however, there’s much to be done with your vehicle, then expect the prices to be a little steeper than what you initially expected.

Do you have the right information to conduct an auto tune-up? While most owner manuals state exactly what type of air filters, ignition wires and spark plugs you need for auto tune-ups, if you find that your owner’s manual doesn’t contain enough information then you may want to purchase manuals from Hayne’s or Chilton’s or any other manual from your trusted auto parts store for the right assistance.

I advise you to think about these factors first before embarking on a DIY tune-up.

If you play the piano or the guitar, then you’d surely know when something’s gone amiss. A string or a key out of tune can easily be heard and can seriously affect the overall performance of the musician. The same goes for your vehicle. Inside your vehicle (whether we’re talking truck, car, convertible or SUV) is a series of auto parts all designed to work well together in providing you with the best performance your vehicle can offer. When one of these parts malfunction or stop working altogether, you’ll certainly notice it with the decrease in vehicle handling, fuel economy, speed or ride quality of your vehicle. So how do you know that your vehicle is in dire need of a tune-up?

The following are some easy-to-spot symptoms of an auto that desperately needs a tune-up:

*note: Though a tune-up may not be able to solve bigger auto problems, it helps you determine the cause of your vehicle’s poor performance or malfunctions.

BAD FUEL ECONOMY: With the prices of fuel on the rise, you definitely don’t need the hassle of constantly having to refill your tank because your ride’s wasting too much gas. If you notice a decline on your vehicle’s fuel efficiency, then your auto needs a tune-up ASAP.

EXHAUST PROBLEMS: When checking your auto’s exhaust emissions, is it appearing denser or does it smell more pungent? Is your car releasing large clouds of white, bluish or dark smoke?

ENGINE PINGING, ROUGH-RUNNING and KNOCKING: Do you hear knocking and pinging on your exhaust or under your hood each time you drive? Is your engine running rougher these days? (A rough-running engine presents itself best when your vehicle is idling).

FEEDBACK and PROBLEMS with AUTO-STARTS: Is your vehicle these days more prone to stalling? Do you experience difficulties each time you start your ride? Notice a feedback even when your auto’s engine is turned off?

If you answered yes to any of the questions listed above, or if you are experiencing problems with your vehicle’s fuel efficiency, then you need to conduct an auto tune-up as soon as you can.

Why your Auto Tune-Up acts as a Preventive Measure and a Band-Aid Solution:

The symptoms you just read in the previous paragraphs indicate auto troubles. Now, while a tune-up may be able to eliminate some of the above-mentioned issues, if the problems too big for the tune-up then it may require you to actually repair or replace some of the major auto units installed in your vehicle.

In a way, a tune-up acts as a band-aid for your vehicle’s issues. It’s basically your least expensive and least-invasive defense against the symptoms listed above. If you notice small problems in your auto, then you’d probably resort to small “cures” and preventive acts before actually going for a major auto system overhaul. If any of the symptoms listed above doesn’t go away after the tune-up, then it’s time to consult the professionals.

These days, it’s very tempting to just forgo tune-ups altogether. Tune-ups require you to invest your hard-earned pay on certain tools like replacement air filters, and with all the bills you have to pay the tune-up can seem like a waste of money and time. But let me remind you that a tune-up can ultimately save you a lot more money than you’ll have to spend in the long run by acting as a preventive measure against further auto woes.

For example, in case of an engine breakdown, wouldn’t you prefer to just replace a busted spark plug than to replace your engine altogether? While repairing your engine can easily cost thousands of dollars, replacing will cost you a lot more. A replacement spark plug on the other hand, should cost you less than $20. If you choose to have a professional replace your spark plug for you then your expenses shouldn’t skyrocket to over $500. If you follow the logic of this example, then therein lies the practicality of regular tune-ups.

The auto tune-up is one of the most popularly known vehicle maintenance tricks out there. As you can already surmise from its name, the tune-up involves tweaking your car a little bit and replacing old filters and small parts to help keep your vehicle running at its best. But what exactly is an auto tune-up?

The Tune-Up:

Based on experience, I’ve found that going to different garages and talking to various mechanics can give you different answers to the question: “what is an auto tune-up”. But though definitions of the term “tune-up” may differ depending on the auto mechanic, most of its basic processes and standard operations remain the same. The following are some of the standard operations performed in a tune-up:

• Checking and if needed, replacing spark plugs, fuel filters, air filters and the PCV filter
• Checking the work condition f the ignition and replacing damaged parts (once again, if needed)
• Inspecting the wires running between your vehicle’s distributor cap and cylinders for damage and doing necessary repairs or replacing
• And cleaning the distributor cap and replacing it if it’s damaged or cracked

The tune-up could also mean checking all the different components located under your vehicle’s hood. The extent of your inspection or checks would depend on how extensive you want your tune-up to be.

Why Should You Get a Tune Up?

The primary reason behind the tune-up is to make sure your vehicle is still in tiptop shape. Regular tune-ups should also help prevent complete engine breakdown, since you’ll be repairing and replacing damaged auto parts before they can cause more harm to your engine’s system and your vehicle’s overall performance.

While most drivers are predisposed to getting tune-ups only when necessary, i.e. when the vehicle is going to be checked by a state safety program or emissions program, it’s more advisable to conduct regular tune-ups every year. Besides, it takes more than a tune-up to cure massive auto problems that have been gradually worsening in your vehicle in the past few months.

When Should You Get a Tune Up?

Use your owner’s manual as your guide to finding out exactly how often you need to tune your auto. Most manuals indicate timeframes using mileage or months. Some vehicles require tune-ups every 40,000 miles, while others require it every 60,000 miles. There are also a number of auto manufacturers who recommend tune-up schedules based on where you drive (in the crowded city streets or through long and traffic-less freeways), the amount of heavy traffic you have to sit through and how you drive (in short, if you’re a start-and-stop kind of driver). Confirm with your owner’s manual before conducting a tune-up.

If, however, you’ve been noticing some defects or a deterioration in your vehicle’s performance, then it doesn’t hurt to conduct a tune-up as soon as possible. If you encounter auto problems that you can’t fix yourself, then take your vehicle to a professional mechanic to have it repaired.

Note: There are some auto warranties that actually require you to perform a tune-up as often as is stated by the owner’s manual. Failure to do so will mean a violation of the warranty’s rules which could mean the invalidation of your entire auto warranty.

Can You Tune Your Car Yourself?

Yes, you can. As long as you now how to conduct the checks and how to replace various auto components correctly then this shouldn’t be a problem for you.

That being said, do conduct your tune-ups as often as you need to. Don’t wait for those small and seemingly insignificant auto problems to turn into gargantuan vehicle issues that could potentially drain your bank account.

The Importance of your Vehicle’s Heating and Cooling System

Beyond the comforts offered by being able to control the temperature inside your vehicle, your auto’s heating and cooling systems are necessary in preventing your ride from breaking down due to incredibly high operating temperatures.

Checking your auto’s cooling and heating systems is particularly crucial in the weeks preceding the subfreezing winter season and the sweltering heat of summer. But it’s more advisable that you check these systems every time you conduct a routine car check-up or you engage in basic vehicle maintenance.

Every time you drive, your radiator uses up coolant and water mixture to help lower the temperatures in your vehicle’s engine system. The longer and the faster you drive, the bigger the stress on your engine, allowing temperatures to skyrocket to incredible heights leading to the increase of the likelihood of overheating. Because of the coolant’s crucial role in maintaining your engine’s efficiency, you need to keep your ride equipped with the right coolant mixture (pretty much the same way you’d pick out the right type of gas for your car).

Coolant, like all the other fluids used by your vehicle, has a tendency to break down over time. This is why you need to replace your coolant mixture once in a while. When the coolant breaks down, more stress is placed on your radiator and your engine begins to run hotter than normal. Gunk and mineral deposits also build up under your vehicle’s hood, effectively reducing your vehicle’s overall performance. Prolonged use of bad coolant can also result to radiator damage, requiring you to replace your radiator sooner than you actually have to.

How Often Do You Need to Flush Out Your Cooling System?

The frequency required by your vehicle may depend on the type of auto you own and the weather conditions. If you live in an area that has moderate climates, then you can flush out your vehicle’s cooling system once a year. If, however, you live in an area known for its harsh winters and/or sizzling summers, then you may need to change your coolant mixture twice a year—at the start of summer and at the start of winter. Browse through your owner’s manual for more information on this matter.

The following are some steps on how you can flush out your vehicle’s cooling system.

Materials:

• a large container (or several large containers)
• radiator cleaning fluid or coolant cleaning system
• fresh coolant

Step 1: Wait until you have a cool engine. If you’ve been driving, then it’s always best (not to mention safer) to wait for your engine to cool down before you start working under your vehicle’s hood.

Step 2: Prop up your hood. Again, for this step, make sure that you’ve turned off your vehicle’s engine. It’s pretty much the same way you’d want to turn off your computer, or any other electrical gadget for that matter, before you start tinkering with its components.

Step 3: Find your radiator pressure cap and release it. Do exercise a lot of caution when doing this. If your car has been running for a bit before you prop up your hood, even if your engine is already cool, there’s a chance that pressure build-up has occurred under your radiator pressure cap. When you release the cap hastily, the cap and the radiator content might just fly off. Avoid this scenario by being extra-careful.

Step 4: Look for the valve or petcock that will let you drain your radiator. If you’re unfamiliar with this auto part, then I highly suggest consulting your owner’s manual or any other supplementing manual as reference.

Step 5: Take your empty container and put it directly under the petcock or the valve. The empty container(s) will catch the draining fluid that will come out of your radiator.

Step 6: Release the petcock or the valve. Coolant should drain completely into your container. Let the coolant drain completely.

Step 7: After emptying your radiator, close your petcock or valve and remove the container.

Step 8: Fill up your radiator with water. Take note: not water-coolant mixture, just plain water. Don’t replace your radiator cap just yet.

Step 9: Start your engine. Let your engine idle for a bit as you add your coolant cleanser or radiator cleaning fluid into your radiator. Depending on the instructions or the time specified by the manufacturer of your cleanser, you may need to let your vehicle idle for around 20 or even 30 minutes.

Step 10: Turn off your engine. Let your engine sit until it cools down completely.

Step 11: Drain the fluid from your previous container and position it under the radiator.

Step 12: Reopen your petcock or valve (usually found at the base of the radiator) and let the mixture drain.

Step 13: After draining completely, close your petcock or radiator valve.

Step 14: Remove the filled container and drain it once more. (You’ll be using your container again)

Step 15: Fill your radiator with water. Although this is the second time you’re doing this, it’s important that you keep on repeating this process to clean your radiator from gunk and mineral deposits completely.

Step 16: Start your engine once more but this time, let it idle for just around five minutes.

Step 17: Turn off your engine and once again, using your container, drain the water from your radiator. Remember to close your petcock or valve completely after draining your radiator.

Step 18: Bring out your coolant or antifreeze bottle and follow the instructions specified in your owner’s manual. Most vehicles require a 50-50 mix of coolant and water. If, however, your owner’s manual states otherwise, then follow its instructions to a tee.

Step 19: Replace your radiator cap.

If you’ve followed all the 19 steps listed in this post, then congratulations! You have just successfully flushed out your cooling system.

Let me start this post by saying that this practice is not recommended.

While it’s normal for most drivers to “step on the gas” or depress the accelerator a bit when starting their vehicles, it’s not normal to do this repeatedly or to hold the accelerator down completely. We often depress the gas pedal to send some fuel into the system. But if you do this repeatedly or for long periods of time, then too much fuel enters your engine system (more than what is needed and definitely a lot more than what’s recommended), resulting in you accidentally flooding your engine—although to be more precise, it’s actually your carburetor that gets flooded. When this happens, you’ve got a bit of a problem.

The best solution to this problem is to give your vehicle a little time. Prop up your hood and wait for a few minutes before you attempt to start your car again. This time, be mindful of how much fuel you’re sending to your engine system. In short, don’t depress the pedal too much or too often.

If this doesn’t work, then you may need to actually open your vehicle’s carburetor and you will need to use some WD-40 or ether-based spray to dry up the excess fuel before you can start your vehicle again. WD-40 and ether sprays are highly flammable, so use them with caution. And please don’t leave your vehicle running and don’t smoke while you use these flammable products. If while doing this you find out that your carburetor is no longer in good working condition, then do replace your carburetor with a high quality replacement part.

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Exhaust problems are some of the most common auto problems experienced by drivers around the world. You may, at one point, have noticed that your vehicle is emitting too much smoke or that your auto has been releasing puffs of white or very dark emissions. You’re not quite sure if the type of smoke or the amount of smoke being released by your vehicle is still within boundaries of what could be considered “normal” for your vehicle. You’re asking yourself: “Is it normal? Is it bad? Should I take my vehicle to a mechanic?” Before you start panicking or dismissing your vehicle’s exhaust emissions as something trivial, read some of this pointers and clarifications first.

As was mentioned in the previous post, it’s normal for small amounts of exhaust emissions to exit your vehicle at any given time. Large clouds of smoke may even be normal if you’ve just started your vehicle during a particularly cold morning. The clouds of smoke may be attributed to condensation. If, however, your vehicle is releasing excessive smoke, or if the smoke is grayish, black or white in color, then this indicates part malfunction.

On Excessive Smoke:

Excessive smoke from your vehicle indicates that your auto is using up too much engine oil or fuel. This type of failure can range from poor fuel economy to a plugged catalytic converter. It can even be caused by a previous engine overheating incident.

If you notice that your vehicle has been using too much oil and you see that your auto’s oil level is unnaturally low between oil changes then it only means that your engine has been burning up too much oil too soon.

This problem could indicate that our engine is having mechanical problems. To be sure, do check your vehicle’s compression to find out if any of your engine parts are in need of replacing or repair.

If your engine is in good working condition, then it’s possible that the problem could be with your auto’s PCV system. Check your PCV system to find out if it’s in good working condition. If it’s malfunctioning then you may need to have a change of PCV valves.

Otherwise, check your vehicle’s engine valve seals. Look for signs of wear or damage. Replace your damaged valve seals if necessary. If the problem is not with your valve seals, then look at your engine piston rings for signs of damage. Repair or replace if needed.

On White Exhaust Smoke:

If you notice that your vehicle has white smoke coming out of its tailpipe, then this could be caused by water or coolant being released by your auto. There’s a possibility that the white smoke is coming from a puddle that has made its way into your exhaust pipe. If you’ve been driving through wet road conditions, then splashes made on the road can bring water into your exhaust pipe. Check your coolant levels periodically to determine if this is the root of your problem.

It’s normal for white smoke to be released by your auto after you start your car first thing in the morning. But if the white smoke continues, then you have an internal coolant leak. Coolant leakage could be caused by a blown head gasket. Check this auto part to find out if it needs to be repaired or replaced.

If your engine has recently overheated, then it’s possible that your vehicle’s head gasket has shrunk, letting coolant escape and enter into your combustion chamber. To get rid of the excess coolant, run your engine for about thirty minutes. This ought to warm up your vehicle’s exhaust. If the white smoke persists, then you may have more engine problems. If you’ve replaced your blown head gasket already and the smoke continues, then it’s possible that your vehicle needs to have a block sealer installed into the cooling system to prevent further coolant leakage.

On Bluish Smoke:

If your vehicle has been releasing blue smoke, then the problem could lie with having engine oil enter into your vehicle’s cylinder area. When this happens, the oil joins your vehicle’s fuel and air mixture and is burned along with it. In the same way that white smoke results from having oil enter into the cylinder, this incident could also lead to having blue smoke exit your tailpipe.

This problem could be a result of a malfunction from any of the following engine parts: your engine’s seals, O-rings and gaskets. Check if any of these parts are damaged. If one or more than one of these parts are damaged then replace them immediately. If there’s too much oil leakage inside your engine, then this could destroy a spark plug, causing your engine or engine cylinder to misfire.

On Gray Smoke:

If you see gray smoke coming out of your exhaust immediately after starting your vehicle, then this could be caused by worn engine valves or piston rings. Check these vehicle parts as soon as possible to find out which parts need repair or replacing.

On Black Smoke:

Black smoke from your vehicle’s exhaust may indicate further fuel problems. If you notice that your engine is not running as well as it used to, or if you experience consistent engine/engine cylinder misfiring then you could have either a leaking fuel injector, a dirty air filter or your carburetor choke might be stuck. Repair or replace these indicated vehicle parts as soon as you can.

If, however, the aforementioned auto parts are in great working order, then black smoke could indicate an ignition problem. Check your rotor and distributor cap. Your ignition module may also be in poor working condition.

While today’s engines are more efficient and at times less gas-guzzling compared to their predecessors, some engine problems continue to plague various vehicle owners. One of the most common engine problems encountered by drivers is a misfiring engine. There are times when it’s not the total engine or the complete number of engine cylinders that misfires, sometimes it’s just a single engine cylinder that constantly misfires every time the vehicle is used. And that’s just the tip of an iceberg.

If you’ve experienced this problem then it’s highly possible that the misfiring engine or engine cylinder indicates trouble in the type of fuel you use or the entire fuel system. Worn out engine parts, faulty silencers and a damaged air cleaner can also act as culprits behind this auto predicament.

To find out what causes engine cylinders to misfire, you first need a technical manual to determine the right procedures needed in diagnosing this problem. Keep in mind that these procedures will vary depending on the type of engine you’re using. This is because engine parts and equipments also vary based on the type of vehicle you own.

If the problem is fuel contamination, then repair and a complete overhaul may be necessary.

If, however, your cylinder constantly misfires, then the problem could be rooted in the fuel pump cutout mechanism. There are a number of fuel pumps that makes use of this type of mechanism to enable the system to cut off fuel supply on a specific cylinder in order for the compression to be measured efficiently. If a single cylinder is constantly misfiring, then it’s best to check out your engaged cutout mechanism if you have one, and to remove it or disengage it if you’re using it for standard engine operation.

Another possible reason behind a constantly misfiring cylinder is the loss of compression. This problem could be caused by a sticking or leaking cylinder valve, a leaking cylinder head gasket, worn rings, liners or pistons or a cracked cylinder block. If upon diagnosis you find that this is the root of your problem, then make sure you check each of your cylinder to find out their corresponding compression pressures.

Some drivers prefer checking for compression pressures when their engines are left running at slow speed. To do this, you will need a pressure indicator. Note down the cylinder compression pressure and conduct this check on each one of your cylinders.

Consult your owner’s manual or any text that would tell you the specified psi needed by each engine cylinder. The cylinder’s pressure should go no lower than the required psi. If you find that one of your cylinders contains substantially lower pressure than all the other present cylinders, then you have a compression leak, which normally leads to the disassembly of the cylinder, inspection and subsequent repair.

Also check your cylinder head gaskets and valve seats for leakage, your valve stems for sticking and cylinder head or block for damage. If these parts are in great condition, then the problem may lie in the insufficient sealing of your ride’s piston rings. If you need to replace your piston rings then make sure you find high quality replacement parts to prevent further damage on your engine’s cylinders.

The problem with this auto issue is that a misfiring engine cylinder could be caused by a lot of different factors. If you have trouble identifying the root of your problem, then it’s always best to consult with a professional mechanic before you replace any auto parts.

In some of the earlier blog posts, we’ve tackled the dangers of leakage, whether it be oil, gas or coolant mixture. A lot of drivers tend to dismiss the presence of unexplained spots in their usual parking spaces—whether it be in the office parking area or the driveway. While you can attribute the leakage in the parking area to someone else’s vehicle, if you find unexplainable spots in your own garage or driveway where you usually park, then there’s an incredibly high chance that your vehicle has sprung a leak somewhere—and this is something that you should NEVER ignore.

If your vehicle is no longer as new as you’d like it to be, then the chances of having leakage in your vehicle increases significantly. The following are some easy steps on how you can quickly and efficiently check your vehicle for leakage.

Step 1: Find a large piece of cloth or paper to put under the vehicle. Large amounts of newspaper, plain paper, cardboard or a large bath towel will do. Remember, the plainer the paper/cloth and the lighter the color, the better.

Step 2: Spread the paper/cloth evenly under the vehicle. This means cover the entire width of your car, from left to right, front to rear.

Step 3: Start your vehicle.

Step 4: Let the car engine run idle for approximately five minutes, but not any longer than that.

Step 5: Turn off the vehicle.

Step 6: Pull the paper/cloth out of your vehicle. Inspect the paper or large cloth for any signs of spots. A drip here and there may be okay, but if you find several drops or a puddle of fluid in a concentrated area, then you definitely have a nasty leak somewhere.

Step 7: Turn to your owner’s manual or a reference book that has your car’s make and model to find out which part of your car is leaking. After finding out the general location of the leakage, note down your findings and bring your car to a trusted garage mechanic for a full check-up as soon as possible.

You can also use your owner’s manual to find out which of your vehicle parts is in dire need of repair or replacing. If you need to find a replacement fuel tank, be sure to check for the right tank that meets your vehicle’s standards and specifications. You’ll find a number of replacement parts online, but I highly suggest that you choose the brand that meets or exceeds OEM standards.