When your vehicle starts to act up and is no longer reliable, it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly where the issue is coming from. Knowing the signs of an engine going bad will help your mechanic know where to look under the hood to get the problem resolved quickly and with the minimum amount of inconvenience.

The engine of your vehicle is a complicated system and therefore requires regular engine service to keep it running at optimum power.

Here are 8 Warning Signs of an Engine Going Bad:

1. Check Engine Light Illuminates! This light generally illuminates when detecting engine problems. It is wise to ask your mechanic to run a car diagnostic test to “read the code” that is being read by the sensor, indicating potential car trouble.

2. Loss of Power! Gas-powered vehicles are designed with an internal combustion engine that use a four-stroke combustion cycle to convert gasoline into the power needed to make your vehicle move. The four strokes are the intake stroke, compression stroke, combustion stroke and exhaust stroke. The loss of power you are experiencing could be stemming from an interruption in any one of these four strokes in the combustion process.

3. Decrease in Gas Mileage! If you notice that you are not going as far on a tank of gas, it could be an indication that there is an issue in the compression stroke of your engine. A fuel cleaner or having a fuel system service may resolve the issue. As noted above, an engine diagnostic test might help your mechanic find the problem and then correct the issue.

4. Annoying Noises! Knocking, backfiring, hissing, spitting and popping are noises that can occur when there is an abnormality in the combustion flow. If you hear strange noises from the engine, schedule an engine service as soon as possible!

5. Engine Stalling! In a manual transmission, when the clutch pedal and gas pedal are not engaged at the right speed, your car will stop and require a restart--a frustrating and embarrassing event--especially in traffic. Automatic transmissions don’t stall as often, but when they do, it serves as an indicator that something is wrong with an engine component. It is usually due to the intake stroke not receiving the right spark or air/fuel mixture. If your transmission is stalling (either manual or automatic) have it seen by a professional as soon as possible.

6. Odd Odors! When the exhaust stroke of your internal combustion engine is starting to fail, it could give off a noxious odor from the exhaust. This odor is a tip-off that your vehicle needs attention from a professional.

7. Engine Continues to Run after Ignition is Turned Off! This is most common with high-performance vehicles and usually happens when the octane in the gas is incorrect. Other culprits could be a failing solenoid or an over-active carburetor.

8. Rough Running Engine! If your engine is running or idling rough the fix might be as simple as a tune-up. The most common cause of a rough running engine is clogs in the system or old spark plugs. Other issues could be an incorrect octane in the gasoline or a low battery.



When your vehicle starts to act up and is no longer reliable, it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly where the issue is coming from. Knowing the signs of an engine going bad will help your mechanic know where to look under the hood to get the problem resolved quickly and with the minimum amount of inconvenience.

The engine of your vehicle is a complicated system and therefore requires regular engine service to keep it running at optimum power.

Here are 8 Warning Signs of an Engine Going Bad:

1. Check Engine Light Illuminates! This light generally illuminates when detecting engine problems. It is wise to ask your mechanic to run a car diagnostic test to “read the code” that is being read by the sensor, indicating potential car trouble.

2. Loss of Power! Gas-powered vehicles are designed with an internal combustion engine that use a four-stroke combustion cycle to convert gasoline into the power needed to make your vehicle move. The four strokes are the intake stroke, compression stroke, combustion stroke and exhaust stroke. The loss of power you are experiencing could be stemming from an interruption in any one of these four strokes in the combustion process.

3. Decrease in Gas Mileage! If you notice that you are not going as far on a tank of gas, it could be an indication that there is an issue in the compression stroke of your engine. A fuel cleaner or having a fuel system service may resolve the issue. As noted above, an engine diagnostic test might help your mechanic find the problem and then correct the issue.

4. Annoying Noises! Knocking, backfiring, hissing, spitting and popping are noises that can occur when there is an abnormality in the combustion flow. If you hear strange noises from the engine, schedule an engine service as soon as possible!

5. Engine Stalling! In a manual transmission, when the clutch pedal and gas pedal are not engaged at the right speed, your car will stop and require a restart--a frustrating and embarrassing event--especially in traffic. Automatic transmissions don’t stall as often, but when they do, it serves as an indicator that something is wrong with an engine component. It is usually due to the intake stroke not receiving the right spark or air/fuel mixture. If your transmission is stalling (either manual or automatic) have it seen by a professional as soon as possible.

6. Odd Odors! When the exhaust stroke of your internal combustion engine is starting to fail, it could give off a noxious odor from the exhaust. This odor is a tip-off that your vehicle needs attention from a professional.

7. Engine Continues to Run after Ignition is Turned Off! This is most common with high-performance vehicles and usually happens when the octane in the gas is incorrect. Other culprits could be a failing solenoid or an over-active carburetor.

8. Rough Running Engine! If your engine is running or idling rough the fix might be as simple as a tune-up. The most common cause of a rough running engine is clogs in the system or old spark plugs. Other issues could be an incorrect octane in the gasoline or a low battery.

Need to know more about the signs of engine damage? You can contact us to learn more about engine service or you can visit our website