Used Car Buying - Engine Inspection

How to inspect the condition of a used car engine

The inspection of a used car engine begins with first with a visual inspection of the engine, engine compartment and underside of the engine. At this point you have not yet started the engine and it should be cold to the touch. If the engine is hot this means the car was running recently and could potentially be a subtle indication of a problem.





When shopping for a used car our expert mechanic recommends that you want to inspect the engine when it is stone cold as this will give you the best insight to the actual condition of the motor. A warm engine will always start and run easier than a cold engine. This means that a car that is difficult to start or displays symptoms of wear on cold start up may appear to run and start smoothly if the engine has been warmed prior to your arrival to inspect the car.


When visually inspecting the engine you are looking at the general condition as a whole. Specifically you are looking to see any signs that the vehicle has been tampered with or signs that a problem exists.





Proceed to the next page to continue with the tutorial on inspecting used car engines.