Unless you’re familiar with cars, the term “engine mount” might be a bit foreign to you. This mystery part actually plays a vital role in the performance of your car, so if it starts to malfunction, you’ll notice a number of undesirable symptoms in the way your vehicle handles. By arming yourself with information on the engine mount and signs of issues to look out for, you can protect by yourself and your car from further mishap.
What Is an Engine Mount?
An engine mount is exactly what it sounds like – the part of your car that holds the engine in place. Because your transmission and engine are bolted together, you need mounts to keep them from moving around. Usually, there’s one mount holding the transmission and two or three holding the engine.
To keep things stable, one of the engine mounts goes on the car frame, while the other physically keeps the engine in place so it doesn’t vibrate too much. This helps to reduce the vibrations you feel while driving, making your ride much smoother.
Typically, engine mounts are made of rubber so that they don’t clang against the frame of the car and make distracting sounds. They might also be filled with liquid to help reduce vibrations even more. Some even utilize vacuum-controlled capabilities to automatically dampen vibrations and sound depending on the atmosphere.
What Are the Signs of a Bad Engine Mount?
The great news is that engine mounts don’t require any maintenance on a regular basis. The bad news is that they start to show wear in five to seven years and might have to be replaced. There is no repairing an engine mount – you’ll have to get a new one if it starts wearing down.
The most noticeable symptom of a bad engine mount are noises coming from the engine. These might take the form of clanks, bangs, or other disturbing sounds. They are a result of the engine shifting and hitting against the frame of the car and other parts under the hood.
You might also begin to feel your car vibrating while on the road. A failing engine mount does a poor job of absorbing vibrations, which can then be felt by the driver and other passengers. Finally, you might actually feel the engine moving around while driving the car or see oil leaking from the mount.
Why Replacing Your Engine Mount Is Crucial
If you fail to replace your engine mounts when they are breaking, your entire car might suffer damage. With the heavy engine shifting under the hood, it can knock into other vehicle components. Naturally, this also causes unreasonable wear and tear on the engine and transmission.
The first thing you should do if you notice a potential issue with your engine mount is to schedule an appointment with a mechanic. Here at Honda of Seattle, our maintenance team can easily look under the hood to see what the issue is. If the damage to your engine mount is too extensive, you can even browse our wide selection of new and used vehicles to find one that won’t give you any more trouble.
Signs You Need to Replace Worn Engine Mounts
An engine mount’s primary purpose is to secure an engine into machinery and absorb any shocks and vibrations when the machinery is operating. The anti-vibration properties of engine mounts are essential for preventing damage to the engine and improving operator comfort (where applicable). But what happens when engine mounts need replacing? And, do you know the symptoms of worn engine mounts? We answer both of these questions in this post.