3 Signs Your Engine Mounts Need Immediate Replacement

The role of engine mounts

Engine mounts play an important role inside your car and affect its performance, handling and stability. Their purpose is to secure the engine inside the machinery and absorb the shocks and vibrations that can occur whenever the engine is working and the car is being driven. They’re also vital for preventing any damage that could happen to the engine as a result of those shocks and vibrations, as well as giving you a smoother ride and better handling.

An engine mount should last between 5 and 7 years when properly installed, but you should always get them checked regularly, such as when your car is being serviced, to ensure you get the best driving experience from your car and know when you need to replace a worn-out engine mount.

The importance of replacing worn-out engine mounts promptly

Like all moving parts on machinery, engine mounts begin to wear down eventually, so it’s important that you know the signs of worn-out engine mounts and the negative impact that ignoring the signs could have on your car. Not replacing a damaged part quickly can cause a safety hazard — if the engine mount detaches from the engine, it can even cause other components to break and fly off whilst you’re driving.

What’s more, a worn-out engine mount can affect the overall health and performance of your car, causing other important internal components, such as your fan belt or radiator hose, to become loose or damaged as a result.

So how do you recognise the signs of worn-out engine mounts? These top tips will help you to identify when you need to replace them:

The three key signs of a worn-out engine mount

1. Can you feel increased vibrations?

This is the first thing you’re likely to notice when you have a worn-out engine mount. Because engine mounts are so important in absorbing them, one of the most obvious worn-out engine mount symptoms is an increase in vibrations and shocks whilst you’re driving.

Can you feel more vibrations than usual when you start the car? If so, your engine mount might need replacing, as this is a signal that its anti-vibration properties have started to weaken. It might be at its worst when you turn on and off the ignition — you may experience a lurch at this point, which then turns into a steady vibration when you’re actually driving the car.

2. Can you hear excessive or new noises?

If there is an increase in the vibrations, the engine will automatically make more noise as a result. This is because it’s no longer properly secured. You might hear irregular clunks or bangs, known as impact noises, coming from the engine area as it moves around and makes contact with other components inside the car. The noise is most audible when you’re changing gears on the attached transmission or driving at high speed because the engine is working its hardest at these times.

3. Could there be a misalignment in your engine?

Left too long without replacing, this can be extremely damaging to the engine — this is because the engine no longer has the protection and stability it needs when the car is running. 

Left unattended, you may be left with engine misalignment when the engine mount fails. This can lead to the engine moving around within the engine bay when travelling at high speeds or accelerating quickly, which poses a hazard to both you and other motorists. 

Have you noticed any of these worn-out engine mount symptoms on your car? Car Mods Australia has got you covered!

Browse SuperPro engine mounts on our online store or get in touch with our dedicated team if you need information or assistance in finding the right engine mount replacement for your needs. We ship parts right across the country!