Engine trouble is the kind of fault nobody wants, partly because it's so hard to judge from the driver's seat how serious it is. NRH Autoworks carries out engine repairs at our garage on Windsor Road in Bray, for drivers from Maidenhead, Windsor and the villages around them, on most makes and models.
Start by telling us what the engine is doing. Enter your registration on the enquiry form, describe the noise, smoke, warning light or loss of power, and mention any recent work. We'll get back to you by phone or email to talk it through and arrange an inspection.
What we can help with
- Head gasket testing and replacement
- Timing belt (cambelt) and timing chain replacement
- Valve, camshaft and hydraulic lifter repairs
- Turbocharger faults and replacement
- Engine rebuilds and replacement engines
- Investigation of overheating, smoke and oil loss
Signs of an engine problem
- White smoke from the exhaust that doesn't clear once the engine is warm
- A creamy, mayonnaise-like sludge under the oil filler cap
- Coolant level dropping with no visible leak
- The temperature gauge climbing towards the red
- Rattling from the engine for a few seconds on a cold start
- A whistle or siren noise and a loss of power under acceleration
- Blue smoke, or the engine using more oil than it used to
Head gasket failure
The head gasket seals the joint between the cylinder head and the engine block, keeping combustion pressure, oil and coolant apart. When it fails they start to mix. Typical signs are white exhaust smoke, unexplained coolant loss, overheating, and a pale sludge like mayonnaise under the oil cap, although on a car used for short trips that sludge can simply be condensation. We pressure test the cooling system and check for combustion gases in the coolant before condemning a gasket.
Replacing a blown gasket means removing the cylinder head, and the head has to be checked for flatness while it's off, because overheating can warp it. To be plain about it: we don't skim cylinder heads ourselves. If a head needs machining, that is specialist machine-shop work which we don't carry out in-house. We'll tell you what we've found and advise on the options before anything further is done.
Timing belts and timing chains
The timing belt (most people call it the cambelt) keeps the valves and pistons moving in step. It has a replacement interval set by the manufacturer in both miles and years, and it gives little warning before it fails. On many engines a snapped belt lets the pistons hit the valves, turning a routine job into a major repair. We replace the tensioners and idlers with the belt, and the water pump too where the belt drives it.
Timing chains are meant to last far longer, but they do stretch, and their guides and tensioners wear. The usual clue is a rattle for a few seconds on a cold start, sometimes followed by an engine management light. A stretched chain is replaced together with its guides and tensioner. If you don't know whether your engine has a belt or a chain, your registration lets us check.
Valves, camshafts and turbochargers
At the top of the engine, bent valves are usually the result of a timing belt or chain failure. Worn camshafts and noisy hydraulic lifters tend to show up as a persistent ticking, and hardened valve stem seals let oil into the cylinders, giving a puff of blue smoke on start-up. These repairs involve opening up the top of the engine, so we confirm the cause carefully first.
Turbochargers rarely fail by themselves. A turbo spins at enormous speed on a thin film of oil, and a blocked or restricted oil feed pipe will destroy a new one as quickly as it did the old one. So when we deal with a failed turbo we look for the cause (oil supply, a sticking wastegate or actuator, a split intercooler or boost hose) and put that right at the same time.
Engine rebuilds and replacement engines
When an engine has suffered serious internal damage (after a timing failure, severe overheating or running without oil, say), the choice is generally between rebuilding it and fitting a replacement engine. Which makes sense depends on the extent of the damage, the availability of parts and suitable replacement units, and the value and condition of the rest of the car. We'll inspect it, explain what we've found and set out the realistic options, including when we think the repair isn't worth doing.
Engine Repairs: common questions
How do I know if my head gasket has gone?
The common signs are overheating, coolant disappearing with no visible leak, white smoke from the exhaust and a mayonnaise-like sludge under the oil cap. None of them is conclusive alone, and several have more innocent explanations. We test the cooling system for pressure loss and combustion gases to confirm it before recommending the repair.
When should my timing belt be changed?
The manufacturer sets an interval in miles and in years, whichever comes first, and it varies a great deal between engines, so check your handbook or service record. If you've bought a car with no proof the belt has been done, it's sensible to assume it hasn't. Send us your registration and we'll advise.
Do you skim cylinder heads?
No. Skimming is machine-shop work and we don't carry it out in-house. When we remove a cylinder head we check it for flatness, and if it needs machining we'll explain that and advise on the options for getting it done before the engine goes back together, so you know where you stand.
Why did my replacement turbo fail again?
Almost always because whatever killed the first one was never fixed. Oil starvation from a blocked feed pipe, contaminated oil or a breather problem will wreck a new turbocharger quickly. That's why we investigate the cause of the failure, and deal with the oil feed, before fitting a replacement unit.
Is it worth repairing the engine, or should I replace the car?
It depends on the fault, the cost of putting it right and what the car is worth to you. We'd rather give you an honest picture than talk you into a large repair. Once we've inspected the engine we'll explain what's involved, and you can weigh that against the condition of the rest of the vehicle.