Inspecting a Classic Car: Checking Under the Hood
Posted by Steve White on Oct 05, 2009
It is easy to see how well a classic car is maintained when you open up the hood. If you see a very dirty engine, oil leaks, or corrosion on battery terminals, or you smell burnt oil, it means that the car is poorly maintained. However, a clean and shiny engine does not mean that the car is well-maintained either, because most owners or dealers will give the engine a good scrub before they show their cars to buyers.
One way to find out for sure if a classic car is serviced regularly is to check the engine oil. When you open the oil cap, look for black deposits in the cap and around the oil filler neck. Such deposits are indication that the engine oil was not changed regularly. Use the engine oil dipstick to check the oil level and the condition of the oil. If the oil on the dipstick is very dirty, it means that the car is consuming excessive oil or the owner has not changed the oil for a very long time.
Other than the engine oil, you should also check the levels of all the other fluids. Then, inspect the belts, hoses, and wiring to see if they are in a good condition. Make sure that the water pump and fuel pump are not leaking, and check the fuel filter too. Record all the observations you make while you are inspecting the classic car under the hood.
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