When you’re looking at used cars, there are things you can do to make sure the vehicle you’re buying is in good shape. By taking a few minutes to look under the hood, you can hopefully catch some potential problems and prevent certain maintenance issues down the road.
First, get a bird’s eye view of the engine. If certain parts are cleaner than others, they may have been replaced. If the engine is significantly cleaner or dirtier than the parts around it, the engine may have been replaced. It is common for water pumps and alternators to be replaced at around 80,000 miles or so.
The next thing that you will want to do is look at the oil level. If you’re buying the car from a used car dealership, chances are good that the oil will have already been changed. Still, you wnat to make sure it’s not black, dirty or gritty. You’ll also want to look down the pipe where you add engine oil with a flashlight to see if the inside looks burned.
You’ll also want to look at the hoses and belts on a used car. You want them to be in good condition. They shouldn’t be cracked or show other sines of wear.
The engine coolant should usually be green in color, and it should not be rusty. You’ll check other fluids, too, like the transmission fluid, which should be red in color.