Do I Need My Car’s Engine Replaced?

You’ve had your car for years. At this point, it’s like a member of the family. So many memories—ski vacations to the Rocky Mountains, long and boring commutes to work, and everything in between.

Recently though, it hasn’t been acting the same. The car loses power while driving, or constantly overheats, or starts smoking for no apparent reason. Finally, you take your dear friend to the shop, and your worst fears are confirmed: the engine is going bad.

You now have two options: buy a new car or drop the money to rescue your old pal from the brink of oblivion. The cost to replace the engine will likely be the deciding factor, so let’s check out some common signs of major engine failure, and assess whether or not it’s worth it to spend your hard-earned cash, or throw in the towel.

Let's discuss some of the signs your engine needs to be replaced. 

What Do We Mean When We Say “Engine Replacement?”

There’s a big difference between replacing an engine component and replacing the entire engine.

Sometimes, you may be able to get away with just replacing a specific part of the engine, like the cooling system, a cracked exhaust manifold, or any number of other crucial components. This can be a good way to save money—the cost of repairing a head gasket is far less than a full-on replacement. However, certain parts simply cannot be replaced or repaired, and require a total engine replacement.

Unless you have fairly extensive mechanical experience, it’s not likely you’ll be able to tell exactly what’s gone wrong by yourself. Internal combustion engines are complex, so rather than try to explain all the things that can potentially go wrong (which would take all day) we’ll go over some common signs and symptoms of partial or total engine failure.

Potential Signs of Major Engine Trouble

If you experience any of the below symptoms from your car, you should visit a nearby service center ASAP.

Punk’d Performance

This one’s pretty self-explanatory—if you notice your car behaving unlike itself, it’s likely that a key engine component is either on its way out or has failed outright.

“Performance issues while driving” is a very broad term. It can mean a lot of things, including stalling at red lights, uneven acceleration, or trouble getting up to speed. Sometimes, these performance issues creep up very incrementally, and therefore they may go unnoticed by inattentive drivers.

There are plenty of potential causes, ranging from minor to major. Clogged air and fuel filters, damaged spark plugs, plugged exhaust, messed-up fuel pump, compression issues, and more could be the culprit, and this is why staying up-to-date on vehicle maintenance is imperative. Filters and spark plugs should be changed at regular intervals, and multi-point diagnostics and tune-ups should be performed semi-regularly as well, especially in older vehicles. Failing to catch these problems early enough will eventually damage other areas of the motor.

Many of these issues can cause reduced gas mileage. In today’s age of electric sensors and real-time diagnostics, poor gas mileage can be easily spotted. If you have an older car, it might be a bit less noticeable, especially if you don’t drive much. If you suspect your car’s fuel economy is suffering, take your car to a service specialist and ask about other possible engine misfire symptoms.

Of course, complete loss of engine power is the ultimate example of poor performance. If a car randomly loses power while accelerating, don’t fret just yet. This too can be caused by something as simple as a gummed-up fuel line, so you may not have to worry about full motor replacement cost even if you experience a total loss of power while driving.

Too Hot to Handle

Your car’s combustion engine basically works by igniting fuel to create a series of tiny explosions, and using the energy from these explosions to propel the car forward. At any given time, the engine creates thousands of explosions per minute. As you can probably imagine, this process generates a lot of heat. If the excess heat isn’t properly dealt with, the car will overheat.

Overheating issues are often caused by a faulty component in the cooling system, which consists of a water pump, radiator, expansion tank, and coolant fluid (antifreeze). If you’re wondering, “Why is my car overheating?” it could be as simple as a worn-out pump, or a coolant leak. The good news is, usually, these problems are relatively easy to diagnose and inexpensive to fix.

Improper engine oil can also cause overheating. If the oil level is low, or the oil is excessively dirty, it won’t properly lubricate the pistons moving in the cylinders. Miniature explosions aren’t the only thing that creates heat in the engine—friction does too. Not following your manufacturer’s recommended oil change schedule is one of the main reasons a car overheats, especially older models.

Often, overheating by itself isn’t a sign that you’ll need a complete engine replacement. However, if your oil and cooling systems can be ruled out as the culprit, it could mean trouble. If your vehicle experiences constant overheating with no apparent cause, and you don’t get the problem fixed, it could lead to a serious issue like a crack in the engine block. After this damage is done, replacing the engine is your only option. If the car is old enough to have this problem, it’s likely that repairs will cost more than the car is actually worth.

Smmmmokin’!

If you can see visible smoke or mist coming from either end of your car, it’s likely that you’re looking at a service bill. How big that bill is will depend on what type of smoke it is, and where exactly it’s coming from.

Persistent exhaust smoke can mean a few different things, depending on the color of the smoke. If the smoke is white, it usually indicates that your engine is burning coolant, meaning there’s something wrong with the cooling system. If smoke is bluish-gray, it probably means it’s burning oil, and the fix could be as simple as getting an oil change. If the smoke is black, your engine is burning fuel, and this is where you need to start worrying. If you’ve ever been to a bonfire in the Midwest, you probably already know that improperly burning fuel is an explosive hazard, so if you notice your exhaust belching black soot, turn off the car immediately before you risk a completely blown engine.

So, why is your car’s engine smoking from under the hood? Smoke coming directly from the engine compartment can signify a number of things, from completely benign to catastrophic. It could be as simple as a bit of excess oil or transmission fluid that got onto a hot part of the engine, in which case there won’t be a lot of smoke, and it will dissipate quickly. It could also be a faulty cover gasket, which is usually a quick fix if it’s caught quickly enough. Either way, this smoke will likely come with an acrid odor, which is the telltale sign that the car smells like burning oil. Another key hint that it’s just a minor problem is if the car is smoking, but not overheating.

If the smoke is persistent from either end of the vehicle, it’s likely a sign of a deeper problem, which will quickly become a health and environmental hazard. Broken seals and gaskets, if not repaired in a timely manner, will result in a cascading effect that damages other engine components. You should also be wary of shoddy, temporary repairs when buying used cars, as some would-be mechanics opt to use aftermarket sealants to “fix” key components. If these issues aren’t handled professionally, you could be looking at total engine failure. So, if you notice any abnormal smoking—especially accompanied by unpleasant car engine smells—seek out a service center near you.

Knock, Knock, Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door

It generally goes without saying, but we’ll go ahead and say it anyway: your car’s engine should not be making any excessive noise.

Not all noises are equal causes for concern, though. If you hear a squealing or screeching, it’s often the result of a worn-out belt. While faulty belts can turn into big problems if not addressed, they’re also a simple job to replace. Some front-end noises may not even be coming from the engine itself, and may be caused by uneven suspension or bad tire pressure.

Most noises are also situational. For instance, if you only hear a deep groaning noise when you brake, the obvious cause is worn-out pads or rotors. Grinding while shifting likely signals an issue with the clutch. Creaking when turning is likely a CV joint or other suspension part.

The most threatening issues are often persistent when driving or idling. One of the biggest causes for alarm is knocking or pinging, which is generally indicative of fuel injection problems. The causes for this are wide-ranging. It could be as simple as accidentally putting the wrong type of fuel in the gas tank. In higher mileage cars, it’s often something more crucial. This could still be a relatively easy fix, like replacing the spark plugs. If components are neglected over time though, this knocking can manifest itself as a broken piston or rod, which will tear your engine apart from the inside and render it out of commission. This is also sometimes known as engine detonation.

Is It Worth It to Replace a Car’s Engine?

Well, that depends. If your Outback is new enough, it may still be worth dropping a few grand on Subaru engine replacement. It may even still be covered by the warranty, in which case you should absolutely get it fixed, even if you just turn right around and trade it in.

If your engine goes out, you should assess the value of the car itself. Subaru makes a darn fine car—97% are still on the road after 10 years—but if you’re still driving your ’93 Impreza with 350k miles and the motor blows up, it’s probably best to lay your old friend to rest.

Are you in the market for a used Subaru in Lawrence? Give McCarthy a call at (785) 856-7127, and ask about some of the great pre-owned specials we have running.