Four Forms Of Threats To Engine Motor Mounts

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Engine mounts absorb road vibrations, so they don't affect the engine and absorb engine vibrations, so they don't affect the driver. Driving a car with damaged mounts is uncomfortable and can also damage the engine. Here are some of the things that can damage engine mounts, and the signs of damage to look out for:

Aggressive Driving

Aggressive driving puts your engine under stress, which affects the mounts too. Examples of aggressive driving include racing, fast acceleration, and constant change of gears, and driving fast over rough grounds. Each time the engine runs, the torque (rotational forces in the engine) causes the engine to move slightly (it is these movements that the mounts are supposed to isolate), which stress the mounts. The stress on the engine is higher if you are driving aggressively than if you are driving normally or gently.

Natural Rubber Deterioration

Engine mounts are made of rubber, which is a polymer. A polymer is a substance consisting of a large number of molecular units bonded together. The chains of molecules may weaken or disintegrate when exposed to ultraviolet rays, temperature fluctuations, and ozone, among other issues.

When it comes to engine motor mounts, temperature fluctuation is the major factor to worry about. Each time you drive the car, the engine temperature rises and affects the motor mounts. The temperature falls when you stop or turn off the engine. There isn't much you can do to prevent this type of motor mount deterioration.

Collision Damage

Just like other parts of the car, the engine mounts can also suffer damage during a collision. Any force that tries to throw the engine out of its position damages the mounts because it forces the engine's weight on the mounts. A serious collision can even cause the engine to detach from the motor mounts. Even if the mounts don't break instantaneously, the collision weakens and sets them up for early failure.

Car Modifications

Lastly, you can also damage your engine's motor mounts if you have modified it to increase its performance. This is especially likely if the modification is a DIY project or not performed by a professional mechanic. In such a case, you may increase the engine's power without considering the increased stress to the mounts. This accelerates the mount's damage since they weren't meant for that powerful engine.

You should suspect damaged engine motor mounts if:

  • You start noticing vibrations from the engine area of the car. The vibrations increase with the load of the engine; for example, they increase when driving uphill or fast.
  • You start hearing clunking or bumping sounds from the engine; these are the sounds of the engine actually moving around.
  • Leakage from the mounts; this is only the case for fluid-filled engine mounts (some are not fluid-filled).

Get your motor mounts replaced if you notice any of the above symptoms and your mechanic confirms the damage. The replacement will cost you a few hundred dollars, but it will prevent further damage of the engine. For more information, visit sites like http://petesservice.com/.

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26 May 2016

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