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Engine Repair
Trusted Auto Repair Shop in Largo, FL
Engine Repair The average of cars on the road today is 12.5 years. As a result the cars we own today are racking up hundreds of thousands of miles. With that kind of mileage, parts are sure to wear out. Parts like the timing belt or timing chain.Loss of power
Your vehicle's engine performance can be affected by a number of factors including lack of gasoline, a dirty air filter, or bad spark plugs to name a few. This can cause your car to jerk or hesitate, making it difficult to climb hills and push to its fullest speed performance potential.
Changing your air filter and replacing old spark plugs to add a little more kick to your engine. Spark plugs help ignite the explosive mixture needed to fuel your car's engine. As they burn out your engine's loses power.
Drop in Gas Mileage
A drop in gas mileage is equivalent to flushing money down the drain. To keep the moving parts of your engine lubricated, change your oil as recommended to optimize your vehicle's mileage. Waiting too long for an oil change allows your engine to build up with harmful sludge that can damage its components and affect your engine's performance.
The worst time to have poor engine performance is during the winter season when it takes longer for your engine to reach the temperature required for your fuel to be efficient. Leaving your car idle during the cold seasons to warm-up will force your car to burn more fuel.
Prepare for the winter season with Hoover Auto Repair Inc. We'll inspect your tires, brakes, battery, and top off your fluid for unexpected cold weather conditions.
Engine Knocking
Carbon deposits in your engine can also weigh down your vehicle's performance. These deposits are often the cause of that pesky knocking or pinging noise you hear. The fuel you put into your vehicle is required to have a certain level of carbon cleaning detergent to stop deposits from forming, but sometimes that's not enough. This becomes a problem because it reduces the amount of space you have in your gas cylinder, which increases compression causing your car to knock.
If this is a problem you cannot solve on your own, bring your car to Hoover Auto Repair Inc.
Engine Stalling
Your vehicle's engine performance can be affected by a number of factors including lack of gasoline, a dirty air filter, or bad spark plugs to name a few. This can cause your car to jerk or hesitate, making it difficult to climb hills and push to its fullest speed performance potential.
Exhaust Odor
If your car emits an unusual odor while you're idling, then it could be your serpentine belt has burned out or rusted. To add more life to your engine and its cooling system, get your oil changed regularly to prevent your belt from getting loose or snapping causing your car to overheat. A broken belt can prevent your air alternator and power steering from working effectively, bringing your engine to a complete stop. Check your serpentine belt for cracks and debris regularly, and change your belt as recommended by your car's manufacturer.
Timing Belt
We all know that a timing belt in a car engine needs to be replaced at recommended service intervals (usually 65,000- 80,000 miles), but what about the timing chain? What is the difference between a timing belt and a chain?
The difference is that a timing belt is a toothed belt made of high-quality rubber; it runs outside of the engine, covered by a protective cove, while a timing chain is made of metal, and looks like an over-sized bike chain. A timing chain runs inside the engine, as it needs to be lubricated by the engine oil.
A timing belt typically needs to be replaced between 40,000 and 100,000 miles depending on the vehicle. The cost to replace a timing chain ranges from just a couple hundred bucks on up to about $1,500. Exotic and European cars such as the Audi A4 can cost several thousand to replace.
While a timing belt can break, timing chains don't often break. However they do stretch and that can really affect a mechanic's ability to time the engine properly. In some vehicles and heavy duty trucks, the timing chain doesn't need to be replaced unless there is a problem with it.
What can cause a timing chain to wear out prematurely?
The timing chain problems are not uncommon, especially in high-mileage vehicles. A timing chain is lubricated by the engine oil. Lack of oil changes, low oil level or poor oil quality can cause the timing chain to wear faster. A timing chain is kept under proper tension by a chain tensioner which either works on by a spring-loaded mechanism or it works based on oil pressure. Chain guides and silencers are used to keep the timing chain from vibrating. All these components wear too.
How do you know if the timing chain is worn?
The biggest tip off to your timing chain troubles are if you notice that your engine feels sluggish, low on power or has troubles firing even though the starter turns the motor over. A worn timing chain stretches which retards the ignition and valve timing, however it is hard to set the timing because it is erratic. The crank and cam shaft kind of bounce around since the tension shifts under load.. A worn timing chain, guides or chain tensioner can also cause variety of noises originating from the timing chain cover area of the engine. The timing chain noises can range from rattling to whirring, whining or buzzing. If the timing chain is worn, usually it's replaced as a kit with a new tensioner, guides, and other parts of the chain drive mechanism. Many autos have two or even three chains in their motors and often your auto repair shop may recommend replacing all the chains at once.
To prevent future timing chain problems you should have the engine oil changed at recommended intervals. Using premium quality engine oils and oil filters will also help. Keeping the proper oil level will ensure that the timing chain is always lubricated. In a well-maintained engine a timing chain can last up to 300,000 miles and even longer.
To get your timing chain replaced by trustworthy mechanic in Largo, FL. Hoover Auto Repair Inc.!
