The engine is the "heart" of a car, and its stable operation is of vital importance. Among the numerous components that ensure the smooth operation of the engine, the engine mount, though not very noticeable, plays an indispensable role. As the vehicle's service life increases and the mileage accumulates, the engine mount will inevitably age. Understanding the signs of engine mount aging is of great significance for timely detection and resolution of problems, ensuring the safety and performance of the vehicle.
I. Increased Abnormal Vibration
One of the most obvious signs of engine mount aging is a significant increase in the vehicle's abnormal vibration. Under normal circumstances, the engine mount can effectively buffer the vibrations generated during the engine's operation, keeping the interior of the vehicle relatively stable. However, when the mount ages, the rubber bushings inside it may wear out, crack, or harden. Once the rubber bushings lose their elasticity, they can no longer absorb vibration energy as effectively as before. At this time, the engine's vibrations will be transmitted to the vehicle body more directly, resulting in obvious shaking inside the vehicle. For example, when starting the vehicle, you may feel a strong shaking in the steering wheel, seat, and even the entire vehicle body, and this degree of shaking is much greater than the slight vibration under normal conditions of the vehicle. During driving, especially when idling or driving at low speeds, this abnormal vibration will also persist, seriously affecting the driving and riding comfort.
II. Louder Engine Noise
The aging of the engine mount will also cause significant changes in the engine noise. When the mount ages, the stability of the engine during operation decreases, and it will produce more irregular shaking. This shaking will intensify the collision and friction between the engine and surrounding components, resulting in increased noise. The originally soft and smooth engine operation sound may become noisy and harsh. For instance, when accelerating, you may hear a more obvious "buzzing" or "ticking" sound than before, and these noises seem to come from all corners of the engine compartment. In addition, during the vehicle's driving, especially when passing through bumpy roads, the engine may also emit abnormal knocking sounds. This is caused by the engine mount being unable to effectively fix the engine due to aging, allowing the engine to collide with other components during vibration.
III. Engine Displacement and Abnormal Noises
If the engine mount ages severely, it may lead to engine displacement. Since the mount cannot provide sufficient support, the engine may gradually deviate from its original installation position during operation. This displacement may cause changes in the gaps between the engine and surrounding components, leading to a series of abnormal noises. For example, you may hear a sharp sound similar to metal friction in the engine compartment, or a dull sound caused by components squeezing and colliding with each other. Moreover, as the engine displacement intensifies, it may also affect the normal operation of components such as the transmission system and exhaust pipe, causing problems such as poor power transmission and abnormal exhaust in the vehicle, further affecting the overall performance of the vehicle.
IV. Increased Fuel Consumption
The aging of the engine mount may also have an impact on the vehicle's fuel consumption. When the mount ages, the vibration and displacement of the engine will reduce the engine's operating efficiency. To maintain the normal operation of the vehicle, the engine needs to consume more fuel to overcome the additional resistance caused by the vibration and displacement. According to relevant research, the fuel consumption of a vehicle with severely aged engine mounts may increase by about 5% - 10% compared to a normal vehicle. This means that for the same driving mileage, you need to spend more on fuel. If you find that the vehicle's fuel consumption has increased inexplicably recently, and after excluding common factors such as driving habits and road conditions, you might as well check whether the engine mount is aging.
V. Abnormalities in the Suspension System
The engine mount is closely connected to the vehicle's suspension system. When the engine mount ages, its ability to buffer vibrations decreases, and more vibrations will be transmitted to the suspension system. Continuously bearing the additional vibration impact, components of the suspension system, such as shock absorbers and springs, may wear out more quickly and their performance may decline. You may feel that the vehicle's shock absorption effect becomes worse during driving. When passing over speed bumps or bumpy roads, the vehicle body vibrates more violently, and you may even feel a "hard impact" sensation. In addition, the abnormalities in the suspension system may also affect the vehicle's driving stability. When driving at high speeds or turning, the vehicle is likely to shake and deviate from its course, increasing the risk of driving safety.
These signs of engine mount aging should not be ignored. Once you find that the vehicle shows the above abnormal conditions, you should promptly go to a professional auto repair shop for inspection. If it is determined that the problem is caused by the aging of the engine mount, the mount should be replaced with a new one as soon as possible to restore the stable operation of the engine, ensure the vehicle's performance and safety, and also avoid more serious vehicle failures caused by engine mount problems, saving unnecessary maintenance costs.
