Even with regular engine maintenance, your car will still need an engine overhaul to keep everything functioning properly. Here’s how to know when you need an overhaul, using a GM diagnostic tool…
Before you decide to do an engine overhaul, it’s absolutely important to make sure that your car is ready for it. This is because overhauling an engine is an expensive and time consuming process. There are a number of vital signs that will help you to know when your car’s engine is failing. Once you notice those signs, you should take your car to an experienced mechanic or to the manufacturer. Timing is everything when it comes to overhauling; once you are sure the engine is ready to be overhauled, you should organize for alternative means of transportation or do the overhaul when you have a lot of spare time in your hands and don’t need to use the car. Depending on what you diagnose as the problem with your car, the engine could be overhauled in a variety of ways. For instance, in-chassis overhaul does not require the whole engine to be removed from the car, but only that the defective part be pulled and replaced. Other parts could also be replaced, such as valves, crankshaft bearing, gaskets and piston rings, during an in-chassis overhaul.
That said, one of the main problems that could lead to an overhaul is engine knocking. The first tell-tale sign that your engine is knocking is if it emits a ‘knocking’ sound when you are driving. Knocking means that the engine is about to fail and thus needs careful attention. Be careful not to mistake other sounds to mean that the engine is knocking. After you notice any sounds, your decision to overhaul should be backed with more precise methods of diagnosing. Using a diagnostic tool like the GM diagnostic tool will help you to pinpoint more accurately what’s wrong with your car. If it’s a minor problem or general wear and tear of most parts, an in-chassis overhaul will suffice. If it’s a bigger problem, the whole engine might have to be removed from its chassis.
Another common sign is excessive production of smoke from the exhaust pipe. If your car produces large amounts of blue-colored smoke, this could indicate that it’s burning oil. Dark smoke in large quantities is also a bad sign. Yet another sign is when your car is burning through oil replacements too fast. If all of a sudden you find that your car needs more oil replacements than it did in the past, this shows that the engine has a problem. The same applies to fuel; your car will consume more fuel if the engine is not emitting enough power to keep it running. Additionally, if your car misfires, it means the car needs overhauling as it’s going through compression loss. When next replacing oil or coolant, check for sludge as this is a sure sign that your car’s engine is not running well. An overhaul is something that all cars have to go through sooner or later, but you can prolong your overhaul by using a BMW diagnostic tool to constantly check your car for problems.