How to check an engine's condition

[CAR9]

Hi all,
how one should check the car engine condition whether it is weak or strong, was its sound or acceleraton speed. please guide me.

regards

[MODS]

Title edited and moved to Correct Section

[iceman_kimi]

Good question. I've heard of several ways which include the following:

1: Checking if gray smoke comes out of your car in the morning right after the cold start. If it does than that means the engine is week.

2: While the engine is running open the engine cap (the round one). Invert it and check if its inside is oily. You could also place your hand on the hole left by this cap (if the engine cover is not too hot) and rev the car a bit. If you get oil on your palms that means the engine is weak.

3: Water drops coming out of the silencer also represent a good engine. (I'm not too sure about this one though).

4: Good pick also indicates a strong engine. If your car is tuned and yet if it doesn't accelerate as you press the pedal that means you have a weak engine.

These are some of the techniques I've seen mechanics apply these to check engine condition.

Experts opinion sought thought.

[CAR9]

thank but what about sound of engine this show something ?

[iceman_kimi]

I don't think so. Just that the sound should quickly follow your pedal. Most often, the engine sound changes because of factors other than the engine's condition, so you can't really judge based on this alone.

[CAR9]

what about its silincer its shows something about engine, if it is black than or oily etc

[iceman_kimi]

I'm not too sure about either of these. Black means the silencer hasn't been serviced for quite some while. Oily silencer indicates that oil is being with the exhaust and COULD (possibly, never definitely) show that an engine is weak.

And I just remembered another way of telling if an engine is weak. That is if the engine oil level starts dropping over time. Use the dipstick to check that periodically. A strong engine only darkens the engine oil doesn't decrease it. Actually when an engine is weak, it is said to consume the oil internally, i.e. within the cylinders where combustion is taking place. This happens because rings/ pistons are de-shaped/ damaged in such a way that they can not keep the oil at the bottom from entering the compression/ combustion area above the piston. the Unlike petrol or CNG, oil would produce a smoky combustion and hence a smoky exhaust.

[Naweed]

1. White smoke from exhaust always means oil leakage or engine oiling up.
2. Plugs rust in colour mean a good engine.
3. plugs with oil on them is same as 1 above.
4. there is an engine blow hole on top of tappit cover and joined with air cleaner thru a rubber pipe...if oil deposits found there then it is 1 again
5. water from exhaust means good air fuel mixture and nothing else.
6. black silencer may be due to improper fuel mixture
7. minor engine NOISES indicate increased gaps in piston pins and main bigens.....major noises include broken rings and excessive piston wear but you have to have an ear to identify all of these noises.....
8. And lots more but think this would suffice:-)

[iceman_kimi]

@Naweed
My car has 4, but not 1. Also, the technician suggests that the pipe might be faulty (since i have it fixed with a tie wrap).

[Naweed]

ok, lets see
the oil thru the blow pipe has different amounts depending on condition/fault of engine. i'll try to explain
1. moisture like finr oil film is common in few vehs doesn't mean anything wrong any where.
2. blow in the form of smoke or white smoke with some oil depositen in air cleaner compartment could be due to weak engine(rings or complete) or at times there are stem seals which wear away and require replacement.
3. generally in case of stem seals the engine gives a lot of blow in the morning or whenever started and later it gets reduced.
need to identify you car type and any other symptoms or diagnosis.

[iceman_kimi]

Thanks Naweed. Please check pic #1 in my post at https://www.pakwheels.com/forumreply_az_TopicID!86370~ForumID!10~pw.html. I do have oil deposit in the air filter compartment but while I was waiting for my turn at Enercon, I observed another car (a corolla) have oil deposits in there which were cleaned by the helper at Enercon. I do not have ANY, let alone lot of, gray smoke in the morning and my engine starts on first self, Alhamdulillah, even after staying outside in the parking lot at night(that was just one night, I admit). So, what gives?

[Naweed]

ok...went thru your other topic as well.....your car has some blow at least.....stilll i would suggest
1. clean the oil stained area and observe after how much mileage it comes to this shape.
2. get a compression. don't remember the exact values but i think above 10 is ok
3.plugs condition also tell a lot.
4. check oil level...no change till 2000km is perfect....use oil other than shell....caltex, zic are the best in the same price range
5. BTW the wire wraped in the picture shown gives excitation current to cng kit but it should be wrapped around HT lead coming from coil and going to your ditributor.
6. ENERCON shops mostly don't give the bet results...my advise ask a couple of taxi drivers about the best cng mechanic and even the cng station.

[Naweed]

since you are from pindi i can give you tips on a few good cng mechanics....

1. most famous is "Langra(crooked) Pathan" on murree road just after the over head railway bridge there is a left turn linking murree road to gawal mundi...the first shops are generally denters and alignments...its the last shop in this complex....ask anyone there

2. in commercial market there is a large round about find a cinema there and keeping cinema to your left you'll see a cng station about 100 yards straight ahead

3. there is a shan cng expert of automatic cars...never been to him nor know the exact location

4. kandan cng on 6th road also used to be famous a while back

[lodhi12]

I would just like to add that:
1. When u get the compression, the values should be equal for all 4 cylinders (or 3)...
2. The 2 best values should be taken as baseline
3. Loss of compression on any 1 Cylinder doesnt mean anything. Usually occurs in CNG cars. Just give the combustion chamber some oil to drink. It will be fine.

[Panther]

@ Naweed

I feel like getting some help from your experience. I have a Japanese Alto 660cc automatic primarily for local use by my family. It has done 47000 kms (bought at 36000kms). I have noticed that there is no reduction in engine oil when used locally or when driven on motorway at around 80-90kmph. However if driven constantly for over 90-95km/h the engine oil slightly reduces.
What do u think might be the probable cause: weak engine or a small engine being pushed too much?

[FC]

water drop cmng out frm the silencer is the bst way to chck the engine. aur silincer mein hath dal kar dekhna kay oil lag raha hai ya nahein agr oil lag raha hai to means engine weak hai

[displacement_on_demand]

@iceman_kimi

2: While the engine is running open the engine cap (the round one). Invert it and check if its inside is oily. You could also place your hand on the hole left by this cap (if the engine cover is not too hot) and rev the car a bit. If you get oil on your palms that means the engine is weak.

that's a very very dumb way of checking an engine.

3: Water drops coming out of the silencer also represent a good engine. (I'm not too sure about this one though).

NO. Water drops from exhause does NOT mean anything. Its only condensation. Does not mean engine is good or bad.

A strong engine only darkens the engine oil doesn't decrease it.

Says who? Even brand new engines burn oil as they get Hot. Small engines burn less. 6 or 8 cylinder burn more and more.

i.e. within the cylinders where combustion is taking place. This happens because rings/ pistons are de-shaped/ damaged in such a way that they can not keep the oil at the bottom from entering the compression/ combustion area above the piston.

if that's true.. wouldn't you see smoke comming out of the engine?

@Naveed

major noises include broken rings and excessive piston wear but you have to have an ear to identify all of these noises.....

I am sure if you have a engine with broken rings... you can hear LOUD noises from far away....

and if the rings were actually broken... engine wouldn't run good for a very long time.

1. get a compression. don't remember the exact values but i think above 10 is ok

It's actually between 90-120 PSI

@lodhi12

Loss of compression on any 1 Cylinder doesnt mean anything. Usually occurs in CNG cars. Just give the combustion chamber some oil to drink. It will be fine.

It doesn't ? Why not.. would you like to explain?

[portage1]

same way you check the girl, look look look look and look....

[Naweed]

@replacement-on-demand
1. check this for engine compression. the guages in pakistan are in bars....as far as i have seen
http://toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=63948

1. rings breakage cannot be defined as a standard. but wouldn't the sounds be different if only one chipped to more than half got damaged

2. HAVE A HEART.....just try help those in need instead of pointing out faults of those who are trying their best

3. I never claimed to be an expert

@panther
seems like nothing wrong....just use different oil next time like caltex or zic but NOT SYNTHETIC

[crazy_rider]

@panther
nothing wrong with ur car it happens to every car on mototrway even 0meter car burn some lil amount of oil on motorway