Hot Cars To Check In Reno
The once-over that I gave the vehicle seemed quite thorough at the time, but in retrospect it was actually pretty feeble. I thoroughly looked at the outside of the car for any issues. I looked around the interior of the vehicle, and quickly looked under the hood at a bunch of parts that I didn’t understand. Then I drove the vehicle down the road for 10 minutes before signing a few documents and handing over the asking price.
When Things Went Horribly Wrong
It didn’t take long for me to realize why that vehicle was listed at such a good price. I left their house and proceeded on my 20 mile trip home. About 10 miles into the trip I realized the car needed gas so I stopped at the next gas station I came across. While filling up my new car I realized that there was a clear liquid leaking from underneath the vehicle. I was a little concerned, but from what little experience I had I pushed it out of my mind and assumed that that was normal.
I got into the car and over the next couple miles the engine temperatures began to climb dramatically. They got so hot that the vehicle would just shut off randomly, and I would have to jump out and push it to the side of the road. This occurred 3 times before I actually made it home.
The Things I Should Have Looked for
The sad thing about this story is that there were plenty of signs available to me, if I only knew what to look for. While examining a used vehicle you should always lift up the oil cap. When you pull the oil cap you should look at the underside of the cap for any white foam, and try and see if there is any down in the oil reservoir.
It’s also important to take a close look at the engine coolant. If the coolant is a dingy brown color there is a good chance that the head gasket is shot. This is because the coolant mixes in with the oil and you end up with a mixed solution in the engine, and in your coolant reservoir.
Always make sure to pull out the oil dipstick when looking over a car as well. By doing this you can make sure that the oil has been changed recently, and more importantly you can look for any creamy residue on the stick that would point to coolant being mixed in with the oil.
The last check that you can do is the one that I would have noticed on my ride home if I knew anything about head gasket problems. Simply start up your vehicle and let it run for 10 or 20 minutes. Pay close attention to the temperature gauge during this time. If it starts to rise toward the top of the gauge your head gasket is most likely shot and you will have to get it replaced.
The Problems a Blown Head Gasket can Cause
While a head gasket is expensive to replace, fixing this issue is nothing compared to fixing all the damage it will cause if left alone over an extended period. There are a number of components in your vehicle that will be strained due to this issue. The most expensive issue that it can cause is cracked cylinders in your engine or other major engine failures. However, that is not the only thing you have to worry about. Your expansion tank could also explode from the mixture of water and oil. You could even lose some of your radiator hoses to this issue if it is left unchecked.
If you are looking at a used car for the first time and you notice any of these issues find yourself a different car. Repairing this issue will cost well over a thousand dollars in most cases because of all the labor that has to occur to change out the relatively affordable head gasket.