Buying a used car can be a prudent choice in terms of value. While there are many factors to consider while looking at a vehicle, the engine is one of the most important. If the engine stops, the whole car is useless. The engine is the heart of the car. Engines are expensive to repair and a poorly maintained engine spells trouble.

When shopping for used cars , take a good look under the hood. A quick glance is enough to determine if the engine has been maintained. It should not be spotless, a spotless engine in an otherwise worn car means that someone is trying to mask a problem. The engine also should not be extremely dirty and look like no one has ever changed the oil.

Check the oil. If it looks clean (brown) and was recently changed, check it again after the test drive. Did it get black? That can be a sign of expensive trouble in the future. Is there large amounts of motor oil on the sides of the engine. This can tell you if the engine is leaking oil. This is the reason some people power wash the engine-to get rid of this tell-tail sign of trouble.

A visual inspection does not take the place of a mechanical inspection but it can help you rule out obvious problems at the start.