if i were to buy a used car?

Question

why do people say make sure the engine is clean? what does having a clean engine tell the potential buyer about the car? how does a car engine become clean and not dirty?

Answer 1

When selling a car, one cleans it up to
improve it's appearance and help the
sale. If your savvy, this includes the
engine.
The thing is that, on a clean engine it
is easier to spot fluid seepage which
indicates trouble to come. If the engine
is dirty, it MIGHT mean that the owner
wants to conceal something. it might not.
If you're considering a used car, and it looks
good to you, spend $100 and have your
mechanic inspect it. It can save you a
bundle down the road.

Answer 2

Pretty simple. A clean engine implies the owner cares enough to take good care of the car. A clean engine does a couple things. It runs cooler and you can see if there are any leaks easier than if it were dirty. To clean a car engine, go to a parts store and purchase an can or two (if the engine is really dirty) of engine cleaner. Take the car to a do it yourself car wash, follow the directions on the product and you will have a clean engine.

Answer 3

The best way to tell if an engine has been maintained well is to open the engine oill filler cap and inspect it for build up or deposits. This will generally indicate whether or not the oil was changed regularly, and/or if the engine oil has heated up beyond normal conditions. It tells a lot about how the car was driven. It is only important if you want to make a good investment, or buy a piece of junk that may give you headaches down the road (literally).

Answer 4

a dirty engine can tell the potential buyer that the car was taken care of or not. A dirty engine will tell the buyer that the car was neglected....

Answer 5

I advise my customers to take a vehicle they are interested in buying to an independant service shop before purchasing. Things like suspension, brakes,steering body condition and a good service record mean a lot more. A clean engine does not mean it is a good vehicle. I see problems created in electronics by people washing their engines with high pressure washer equipment. Just use a mild soap and a garden hose if you feel the need to wash an engine off.

Answer 6

Why would you want to buy a used car with a clean engine The only used cars with clean engines are ones where the seller just had it steam cleaned. So why would they have it steam cleaned? What are they hiding? That bad valve cover gasket? The leaking power steering pump?

Answer 7

All above are true for private sellers. However, most car dealers (even small ones) have there cars detailed, including engine, before they put them up for sale. So not necessarily a good indicator at a dealer.