Engine look normal to you?

[MobilOne]

The engine looks great. What you see is some oxidized oil and also a thin coating of oil over everything. I am a fan of gauges; but not many gauges in cars anymore. Instead of a "symbol" to indicate a problem, there should be a message that says "low oil" or "overheated engine" or something to that effect, and then a followup message to tell what to do.

[RandomFact314]

Originally Posted by MobilOne

The engine looks great. What you see is some oxidized oil and also a thin coating of oil over everything. I am a fan of gauges; but not many gauges in cars anymore. Instead of a "symbol" to indicate a problem, there should be a message that says "low oil" or "overheated engine" or something to that effect, and then a followup message to tell what to do.

Yeah the Scion says to hell with gauges, it has the speedo, tack, and gas guage and thats it.
I remember when I first bought it and being really uncomfortable that there wasn't atleast a temp gauge much less a oil pressure or voltage gauge

[me and my metro]

My mother drove Cadillacs back in the 60s and 70s. I remember one, I think it was the 73, having a light on the dash that said " STOP ENGINE ". It came on for either low oil pressure or overheating. I drove that car a lot, that and my dad's 70 Chrysler wagon. Memories.....

[redpoint5]

Heck, technology is cheap enough nowadays that the car should probably just speak clear instructions to the driver when something is amiss.

Many girls (and guys) think the oil pressure light demands the same level of urgency as a check engine light, meaning they think they can just keep driving and get it checked out after the weekend on Monday.

If the car just said "pull over now and shut the engine off", that would convey proper urgency to the driver.

That technology would add maybe $5 to the price of the car.

[ChillyBear]

Yeah, but they spend the money instead on tpms monitors and stability control and dumb garbage like that. Nanny state

[LittleBlackDuck]

Originally Posted by ChillyBear

Yeah, but they spend the money instead on tpms monitors and stability control and dumb garbage like that. Nanny state

Never seen an overheating engine kill a person, but stability control or flat tyres at highway speed has saved lots of lives. Grow a brain!

This type of comment is why they call the warning lights "idiot lights". Lexus, Volkswagen and lots of other cars have a text display that warns you to stop the engine. That is, unless you drive an ancient car, in which case you should learn what the dash lights mean and look at them...

Simon

[ksa8907]

Originally Posted by LittleBlackDuck

Never seen an overheating engine kill a person, but stability control or flat tyres at highway speed has saved lots of lives. Grow a brain!

This type of comment is why they call the warning lights "idiot lights". Lexus, Volkswagen and lots of other cars have a text display that warns you to stop the engine. That is, unless you drive an ancient car, in which case you should learn what the dash lights mean and look at them...

Simon

Most of those systems help people who don't know how to really drive a car. I occasionally turn off stabilitrak if i know i want to have some fun. The only ones i think are critical are power brakes and abs.

[California98Civic]

It looks alright to me, in my limited experience. When I first removed my cover to adjust the valve lash a couple years ago, I was surprised at the golden brown and the black carbon. I asked around. Most thought it normal.

I would think no caron buildup could mask real damage to the piston rings such that poor compression could present as better than factory! That would be something to patent! No, your compression is really good because the engine is in good shape. Maybe carbon is lifting great compression number up over OEM specs.

Wait and see. Look for oil in coolant, and coolant in oil. Maybe do a cheap and easy block test for hydrocarbons in your coolant.

Enjoy. Your. Ride. ... with that snazzy new valve cover. Did you bake it in the oven?

[LittleBlackDuck]

Originally Posted by ksa8907

Most of those systems help people who don't know how to really drive a car. I occasionally turn off stabilitrak if i know i want to have some fun. The only ones i think are critical are power brakes and abs.

Not so much those that cannot drive, but it aids greatly when conditions are not the best or when inattention intervenes (can happen to all of us!)

Simin

[RandomFact314]

Originally Posted by California98Civic

It looks alright to me, in my limited experience. When I first removed my cover to adjust the valve lash a couple years ago, I was surprised at the golden brown and the black carbon. I asked around. Most thought it normal.

I would think no caron buildup could mask real damage to the piston rings such that poor compression could present as better than factory! That would be something to patent! No, your compression is really good because the engine is in good shape. Maybe carbon is lifting great compression number up over OEM specs.

Wait and see. Look for oil in coolant, and coolant in oil. Maybe do a cheap and easy block test for hydrocarbons in your coolant.

Enjoy. Your. Ride. ... with that snazzy new valve cover. Did you bake it in the oven?

Na, I never put it in the oven. I just let it dry a few hours and stuck it on the car. I wasn't too worried about the paint getting messed up because I will just re-paint it something different when it does because I find that kind of junk fun.

On a side not for all of you who looked at the engine I just found this picture of my 1997 honda accord that at the time had about 20,000 LESS miles on it, check out the difference:



I still dont know if I'm "happy" with the way the xA one looks but compared to the Accord I had it defiantly makes me smile a little