Engine Repair in Orem, UT, Found and Fixed Right

What are the warning signs of engine trouble?

Your engine usually warns you before it fails. The sooner you act, the cheaper the fix. Watch for:

• The temp gauge climbs, or steam comes from under the hood
• Oil spots under the car, or a burning oil smell
• White smoke from the tailpipe, or coolant that keeps going down
• The engine shakes, stumbles, or feels weak
• Ticking, knocking, rattling, or squealing noises
• A check engine light, solid or flashing
• Milky oil on the dipstick or under the oil cap

Auto Engine Repair

Auto engine repair covers everything from a leaking gasket to a blown head gasket. Here are the jobs we see most.

Overheating is one of the most common. A bad thermostat, water pump, radiator, fan, or a coolant leak can all cause it. Stop driving if the gauge hits the red. An engine that runs too hot can warp the head and blow the head gasket.

A blown head gasket lets coolant and oil mix, or lets coolant burn in the engine. Signs are white smoke, milky oil, lost coolant, and overheating. Caught early, it can often be fixed without a full rebuild.

Oil leaks usually come from valve cover gaskets, the oil pan, or seals like the rear main seal. A small leak can turn into low oil, and low oil can ruin an engine. Oil dripping on a hot exhaust can also start a fire.

Misfires make the engine shake or run rough. Common causes are worn spark plugs, bad coils, clogged injectors, or a vacuum leak. A flashing check engine light means a bad misfire. Slow down and get it checked, because it can overheat the catalytic converter.

Strange noises tell us a lot. A tick can be low oil or a valve problem. A deep knock can mean a worn bearing. A squeal is often a belt. We listen, test, and tell you what it means.

Timing belts and timing chains

The timing belt or chain keeps the top and bottom of the engine in step. If a belt snaps, many engines stop and the valves can hit the pistons. We do timing belt replacement on schedule, with the water pump and tensioner. Timing chains last longer, but they can stretch and rattle on cold starts. We can check and replace those too, and the water pump and idlers are usually part of the job.

Engine Diagnostics

Good engine diagnostics save you money. A code from a scan tool tells us where to look, not what part to buy. So we test. The tests we run most are a boost and vacuum leak test, often with smoke, a compression test, and a leak-down test. We road test with live data, and for some problems we run the car on our dyno. That lets us load the engine safely and watch and listen to it at full speed.

Then we call you with what we found, what it needs, and what it costs. If your light is on, see our check engine light diagnostics page for more on what the light means. A diagnostic is $175 and usually takes about an hour.

Engine repair or engine rebuild?

Most engine problems can be fixed with a repair. A leak, a bad sensor, a misfire, or a head gasket caught early usually means a repair, not a new engine.

When the inside is worn out, a repair may not last. Signs are a deep knock, low compression on several cylinders, or heavy oil burning. Then an engine rebuild may be the better value. We test first and give you both options, side by side, so you can decide.

Canyon grades, heat, and 91 octane: engines in Orem

Engines work hard here. Climbing Provo Canyon and American Fork Canyon, and long grades on I-15, heat up the cooling system. Hot summers push it further. Cold winter mornings are hard on oil and seals, and road salt eats at lines and hoses under the car.

At about 4,700 feet, engines also get less air, and most Utah stations top out at 91 octane. An engine that needs premium can knock on low octane gas. Utah County also requires emissions testing on most vehicles, and a check engine light can fail the test.

We see a lot of Subarus, and older ones are known for head gasket leaks.

We test before we replace parts

We test before we replace parts, so you pay for the fix, not guesses. You get a written quote first, and no work starts until you say yes. We also rebuild and tune engines, with our own AWD Dynojet on site, so we've seen how engines work inside and out. Our work is covered by our warranty.