So Fix it

A timing chain, or belt, is an integral part of an automobiles engine that controls the opening and closing of the valves in the engine. If the chain breaks, serious damage to the engine could result. Proper maintenance is important to prevent this from happening.

Tension

A timing chain can break with either too much or not enough tension. If the chain does not have enough tension, it can develop slack. This can result in the chain "slapping," leading to premature fatigue. A chain with too much tension can also fail, as it is placed under excessive stress. Tension increases friction and heat in the chain, which can result in failure.

Engine Seizure

Engine seizure can be caused by an engine overheating or running out of oil, causing pistons to seize inside the cylinders. If an engine seizes while running at high speeds, the sudden stop can cause a timing chain to break.

Age

The age and number of miles driven on a timing chain are major contributors to failure. The more miles you have on your vehicle, the higher the odds your timing chain will fail, as the chain will become weak and break. Most car manufacturers suggest you have the chain replaced every 60,000 miles.

Low oil pressure can be extremely damaging to an engine. It is also a good prognosticator of a more serious problem. This is something that you do not want to allow to continue because it will cause severe damage to your engine or even destroy it. Being able to diagnose these issues is a skill that the average car owner can acquire.

Oil Viscosity

Using an oil with a viscosity that is too heavy will cause the pressure to run low. One way to fix this is to try a thinner oil. Make sure to read the owners manual and change the oil to a viscosity that is appropriate for your area and climate.

Clogged Oil Filter

Check the oil filter to make sure that it is not clogged with debris. Sometimes a large clump or grit will build up and cause the filter to clog. An oil change can fix the problem.

Oil Pump is Failing

Failure of the oil pump is another issue. If the oil pump is beginning to go out it will cause the oil pressure to drop. These need to be professionally checked.

Bad Oil Gauge

Failure of the oil gauge is also a possibility. Before taking the oil pan off or getting a major repair you should have the cars oil pressure checked by a local auto store. They will do this for free, and this will back up the result you are getting from your oil pressure gauge. A professional needs to repair this issue.

Faulty Gaskets

Examine the gaskets around the engine head and around the oil pan underneath the car. The best way to do this is to wipe the edges clean with a cloth and then drive or run the car for a few minutes. Make sure that you do get the oil warmed up, since this will allow it to leak and show you where the issue is. If you see large amounts of oil leaking, this can force the engine oil pressure to drop.

The Combustion Engine

A natural byproduct of a combustion engine is water. It is expelled with the exhaust gases. Fuel is mixed with air and then forced into the cylinders. Once the mix is inside the cylinder, a small explosion occurs before the exhaust camshaft opens and the exhaust is released into the manifold. Because of the intense heat of the combustion engine, the water is vaporized.

The Catalytic Converter

All vehicles since 1980 have catalytic converters. The catalysts convert the unspent fuel into spent fuel before being expelled past the component downstream. Older converters were called two-way converters because they turned carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons into water vapor. Not only is water vapor present in the exhaust system coming directly from the engine, but the converter also produces more by chemically altering the hydrocarbons. Nowadays, vehicles employ a three-way catalyst which also reduces harmful nitrogen oxides.

Preventative Maintenance

Depending on your geographical region and driving habits, its not unlikely for the exhaust system to rust and corrode from the inside out. If you live in a place that has severe winter weather and uses sand and salt on the winter roadways, your exhaust may deteriorate on the outside as well as the inside.

Short commutes are a major cause of internal water corrosion of the exhaust system. The water vapors do not have the chance to expel from the system and turn back into water once the vehicle is shut off. When there is no back pressure forcing the water vapors out of the system, the vapors coat the interior of the exhaust components and then form puddles on the bottom. Many mufflers employ a manufactured seep hole in order to allow the water to drain from the muffler. But the pipes and converter do not drain.

If you take short trips, try to run your vehicle for at least 15 minutes to allow the water vapors to purge from the exhaust system.

Car owners in regions with severe weather should wash the undercarriage of their vehicles once a week during these seasons to clean off the sand and salt. Even stainless steel exhaust systems will be compromised in these areas, although they will last significantly longer than aluminized steel systems.