Engine Repairs

Reignite the Fire: A Guide to Vehicle Engines

Without an engine, your vehicle isn’t going anywhere. Taking good care of your engine can help keep your vehicle running for a good, long time. Read on to learn about how your engine works, and the types of engine repairs and maintenance you'll need to keep it running.

How Your Engine Works

The modern combustion engine works in four steps, known as strokes:

1. The piston moves down and a valve opens to allow in gasoline and air. This is called the intake stroke.
2. The piston moves back up, pressurizing the gas and air to make it easier to ignite. This is the compression stroke.
3. The spark plug fires, igniting the gasoline and air mixture and causing them to explode. This combustion stroke propels the piston back down, turning the crankshaft and powering your vehicle.
4. The piston moving back down allows the exhaust valve to open, releasing the fumes from the gas and air combustion into your exhaust system to be expelled — the exhaust stroke. The cycle begins again with the next piston.
   

Proper Maintenance

Maintaining the parts of your engine is an important part of keeping it running as long and as efficiently as possible. The mechanics at Optimize Garage can help you figure out how often your vehicle needs to be maintained for peak efficiency.

Fluids

Engines require a variety of fluids to run smoothly. In addition to gasoline, your engine needs oil to allow the pistons to slide up and down their cylinders without too much friction. Without engine oil, the pistons will get stuck and the engine can't turn.

Your transmission oil also needs to be changed periodically, though not as frequently as the engine oil. This enables your vehicle to change gears. 

Belts

Belts also don’t need to be changed very often, but they’re a critical component, so it’s important to have them inspected periodically. Your timing belt and serpentine belt keep your engine moving and in sync. If one breaks or slips off, your engine won’t start at all.

Optimize Garagecan inspect your belts for damage or wear to help you avoid a sudden breakdown due to a slipped or broken belt.

Filters

Your engine has two very important filters, an air filter and an oil filter. The oil filter cleans particles of dust or debris from your engine oil to keep it smooth. If too much debris gets in your oil, it could increase the friction on your pistons, robbing your gas efficiency or even damaging the pistons or cylinders.

The air filter is part of your cooling system. Engines get very hot, which can cause them to break down faster. Most cooling systems use a combination of coolant and air to combat that. The air filter sifts particles out of the air blowing over your engine to keep debris from getting caught in it and gumming things up.

Spark Plugs

Though they’re small, your spark plugs are one of the most important parts of the combustion process. They create the spark that ignites the fuel and keeps the engine moving. If a spark plug is not operating correctly, it can cause your engine to misfire or use up too much fuel.

When Do You Need Repair

There are a few key signs your engine is actually damaged and needs repair. At Optimize Garage, we can help you figure out exactly what needs to be fixed.

Check Engine Light

The most obvious sign your engine needs repair is your check engine light. Although this doesn’t always mean a major repair, you should always get your engine checked right away to avoid further damage or future breakdowns.

Exhaust

If your exhaust is leaking, making loud noises, or you can smell it in the cabin, it’s time for a check-up. Any of these could mean your exhaust or muffler is damaged or detached. Damage could range from a small hole or busted seal to a total disconnect.

Noises

If your engine is making knocking, squeaking, or grinding noises, it’s a sign something isn’t working quite right, especially if they’re accompanied by shaking or unusual vibration. Such sounds might indicate a misfire, bad joints, low fluids, or a belt that’s slipped or about to snap. Even if it doesn’t seem like a big deal, you should get those sounds checked out.

Leaking

Any time you’re leaking fluids from your vehicle, you need to get it checked out. Whether it’s gasoline, oil, or condensation, it may be indicative of a bigger problem. If nothing else, you’ll have to refill those fluids much sooner, costing you more money over time.

Stalling

If your engine is stalling or won’t start at all, it’s obviously time to see the mechanics at Optimize Garage. We'll run a diagnostic to figure out exactly what's wrong and how to fix it.

Let Optimize Garage Help With Your Engine Repair and Maintenance

Optimize Garage has been providing quality engine maintenance since 1986. Our expert mechanics will help you get back on the road, whether you need a basic oil change or a major fix. Stop by our convenient Oakdale, MN location, or give us a call at 123.456.7890 to schedule an appointment.