7 Warning Signs for Buying Used Cars

6. Oil in the coolant, coolant in the oil.

You should check all of the fluids in a used car to ensure it has been maintained correctly. The transmission fluid should be red and not greyish, the brake fluid should be within the specified levels, etc. Pay especially close attention to the coolant and oil. Cars with blown gaskets or cracked cylinder heads will often have coolant in the oil, turning it a frothy, white color or oil in the coolant, introducing dark swirls in the coolant overflow reservoir. Also take note if the oil looks dark since that can also indicate the engine has not been serviced properly.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7