A LOT OF THINGS TO LOOK FOR.—There are a lot of things to look for when inspecting a secondhand car with the idea of buying it, but even for those who lack a mechanical knowledge there are a few checks that can be made. Here a prospective buyer looks along the roof line to check for twisting. If the line is not true, the whole chassis may be twisted. You can also check for the following faults. Heavy blue smoke from the exhaust may indicate worn rings or pistons. Excessive smoke from the oil-filler tube after the breather cap has been removed may indicate over-consumption of oil. If the engine is hard to start when warm, look for low compression, which indicates ring wear. An engine that runs rough when idling could be a sign of valve wear. The customer, may suspect a worn clutch if the transmission slides or pauses through a gear. When the car is put on a lift and oil is seen going down the brake drum, that usually signifies a leaking wheel brake cylinder. Oil coming from the front of the car, all the way to the rear axle, indicates a transmission leak or a leak in the rear main bearing seal. The car’s appearance inside and out is also an important indicator of how it was treated by its former owner. Odd tyres or recapped tyres are a sign of high mileage. Uneven and repainted surfaces on the body may betray a collision. A search for signs such as these is imperative if the prospective buyer is to separate the good used car from the bad, but there is no better check than to take the car to a qualified mechanic for his opinion.

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32018, 19 June 1969, Page 9

A LOT OF THINGS TO LOOK FOR.—There are a lot of things to look for when inspecting a secondhand car with the idea of buying it, but even for those who lack a mechanical knowledge there are a few checks that can be made. Here a prospective buyer looks along the roof line to check for twisting. If the line is not true, the whole chassis may be twisted. You can also check for the following faults. Heavy blue smoke from the exhaust may indicate worn rings or pistons. Excessive smoke from the oil-filler tube after the breather cap has been removed may indicate over-consumption of oil. If the engine is hard to start when warm, look for low compression, which indicates ring wear. An engine that runs rough when idling could be a sign of valve wear. The customer, may suspect a worn clutch if the transmission slides or pauses through a gear. When the car is put on a lift and oil is seen going down the brake drum, that usually signifies a leaking wheel brake cylinder. Oil coming from the front of the car, all the way to the rear axle, indicates a transmission leak or a leak in the rear main bearing seal. The car’s appearance inside and out is also an important indicator of how it was treated by its former owner. Odd tyres or recapped tyres are a sign of high mileage. Uneven and repainted surfaces on the body may betray a collision. A search for signs such as these is imperative if the prospective buyer is to separate the good used car from the bad, but there is no better check than to take the car to a qualified mechanic for his opinion.