Sunday, January 12, 2014
What Happens If a Motor Mount Is Broken
A motor mount does more than simply hold a motor in place. A motor mount utilizes a rubber bushing to hold a cars engine, which helps to dampen vibration and movement that can cause damage to the engine and surrounding components.
Noise and Vibration
A broken motor mount will cause a significant increase in noise and vibration. As the motor moves within the broken mount, the engine often strikes the mount, creating a loud thump. The normal vibration of the motor that is dampened by the mount will often also be transferred to the entire vehicle, causing a noticeable shake.
Engine Component Damage
As the motor moves, damage may also occur to the flexible hoses and wiring that run to the motor. While these parts are designed for flexibility, the sudden and longer movements of a motor that is not properly secured can pull wires and hoses loose as well as weaken them. A broken motor mount may also cause exhaust leaks.
Motor Mount Damage
When a motor mount is broken, the motor is allowed to move more than intended. This causes additional stress to the other motor mounts, which will quickly wear and may break under the added strain.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
What Happens if the Oil Pan Gasket Goes
An oil pan gasket is a flexible gasket that seals the oil pan to prevent oil from leaking. Oil pan gaskets rarely fail, but damage can occur to the oil pan, which may cause the gasket to leak.
Gasket Failure
When an oil pan gasket fails, oil will begin to leak from the oil pan. Car owners may notice oil spots in places where the car was parked. The most serious problem caused by a leaking oil pan gasket is the loss of oil.
Determining Leak Location
Oil may leak from a number of areas on an automobile. When oil leaks, it will run down the motor and may appear to be leaking from the oil pan. Before replacing the oil pan gasket, car owners should clean the engine and oil pan to determine the actual source of the leak.
Gasket Replacement
Replacing an oil pan gasket is not difficult, but it is messy. The oil should be drained from the car before replacing the gasket, but some oil will still remain in the pan and will drip from the engine. A model-specific repair manual is a useful resource for determining the steps to remove the oil pan.