At that point, it’s probably worth walking away from the deal, as it’s hard to know what other damage the problem has caused. If you see white, or light brown sludge with the consistency of mayonnaise, you’re probably looking at the result of a blown head gasket. This can cause a variety of problems from a smoky exhaust, loss of power or a rough sounding engine through to total engine failure, so it’s important to check.Ĭheck the engine is cool and remove the oil cap from the top of the engine. Either way, it’s worth getting it seen by an expert so you know the exact problem, and what it’ll cost to fix.Ī blown head gasket is one which has begun to leak. Or you can walk away and seek out another car. You can ask for money off the price in order to get it fixed yourself, or you can insist the seller fixes it as part of the deal. If you see any of this leaking, you have a few options. Gearbox fluid is quite thick, while power steering fluid is thinner. Coolant (also known as antifreeze) is usually green, pink or yellow while gearbox and power steering fluid is reddish brown. Oil leaks are usually brown or, if the engine oil is old, black, but there are other fluids that are prone to seeping out. Open the bonnet and check all around the engine for other leaks. The sludge under the engine is caused by road dirt sticking to the oily underside of the engine. If there’s oil on the tarmac under the car, or lots of sludge under the car it has, or has had, an oil leak. When you view a used car, check underneath for signs of an oil leak. There are many different fluids that run in, around and under the engine, and a well-maintained car shouldn’t spring a leak. One of the easiest things to spot are leaks. The engine is the heart of the car, and while they put up with a huge amount of wear and tear, the number of components inside and the tight tolerances they operate under means maintenance is essential. Read on for our used car buying checklist. Buying from a dealer gives you certain legal rights, and the car must be fit for the purpose it’s intended for. While the seller doesn’t have to volunteer much information, it’s down to you to ask the right questions. If you’re buying privately, you’ll be responsible for spotting all of these potential problems. You can use the problem to your advantage by haggling money off the car, or insist that the seller fixes it before the sale. Only some of the points below are show-stoppers for your purchase. V5c, service history and MoT (although this is now available online). Don’t hold back here, drive it until you have checked everything you want to. Check the boot, dash (for mileage and warning lights) and electronics thoroughly. Tread depth, rubber condition and makes of each tyre. Check the outside and underneath – a torch is useful for the latter. Feel and listen to the smoothness of the gear change, and test the clutch biting point. Check for leaks, oil level, head gasket condition and exhaust smoke. You’ll find more detail on each of the key areas below, but here’s our used car checklist at a glance… The used car buying tips set out in our guide below will help to guarantee that unmissable used car deal is a genuine bargain. Once your head is in the right place for used car shopping, it’s time to get down to the nitty gritty. How can we say that? Because we’ve been there and also, with more than 8 million used cars sold every year in the UK, the odds are stacked in the buyer’s favour. Unless you’re in the market for a super rare classic or exclusive hypercar, there will be another set of wheels as good, if not better, just round the corner. Nonetheless, combining our used car checklist with a bit of common sense and diligence means you can buy with confidence.īefore we get into the specifics, the two main rules to keep in mind when buying a used car are: buy with your head and not with your heart, and secondly, if you aren’t convinced about anything, be prepared to walk away. Naturally, there are still risks, and that applies whether you are buying from an independent trader or dealership, privately or from an approved main dealer. Improved reliability, better manufacturing practises and, of course, huge improvements in records for insurance write-offs, outstanding finance and MoT history mean you can get a good idea of a used car’s past more easily than ever before. The checklist of things you ought to be aware of when buying a used car is not quite the terror inducing catalogue it once was in days gone by.
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