Mechanical Issues
This is overlooked so often it’s just silly. Especially on modern vehicles, the tendency seems to be to go after the electronics as the cause of a performance problem. Under all those electronics is an internal combustion engine of the same type we’ve been making since the 1930s. Check for a mechanical issue first thing if you don’t have any codes stored. An engine needs to breathe. It also needs to get rid of its waste. Suck, squeeze, bang, blow: These are the steps in the combustion process. A breakdown with any link in that chain, and you get a performance problem. Listed below are a few ways to check the mechanical integrity of your engine. Don’t forget about these if your vehicle has a performance problem.
Video Title: Mechanical Issues – Solving Automotive Performance Issues – EricTheCarGuy Video Description: In this Article, Mechanical Issues, we look at how Mechanical Issues can impact Engine Performance. Thumbnail: http://www.ericthecarguy.com/images/faq_buttons/Large_FAQ_Images/Performance-and-Driveability-icon-1200.jpg
3 thoughts on “Mechanical Issues”
Caden Mitchell
October 15, 2025 at 9:44 pm
I have a 1995 GMC K1500 Z71 with a 5.7L 350.
Its sitting at 102k miles and I have recently encountered that the truck sort of jolts and shakes now while idling and while accelerating at lower a rpm. Ive already done a compression test and all cylinders were normal, cylinder 2 had high compression which I went ahead and cleaned out the carbon and change the valve seals. (This did not help). Next thing I will be doing is the Intake manifold gasket as it is leaking from the rear. I am also starting to leak oil out of my exhaust manifold bolt on cylinder 2. Is there anything I should be checking for or do after I change my intake manifold gasket?
EricTheCarGuy 1
October 17, 2025 at 8:38 am
A vacuum leak could cause that, but you might check just to make sure with a little carburetor cleaner on the suspected vacuum leak. If there is a leak, the idle should raise. it doesn’t sound like your compression test went as well as you describe. the numbers should be within 20% of each other. If they are not, then further investigation is required. Always pursue a mechanical problem with the engine if you have a performance issue. No amount of sensor replacement will solve a worn out or broken engine. More info here.
https://www.ericthecarguy.com/solving-automotive-performance-issues/
Good hunting
Yuri Mandybur
June 8, 2021 at 7:24 pm
have a 2010 acura mdx put a oem timming belt kit on year ago the belt snapped have o commpression on number 6 cyclinder going to take off heads have them fixed at a machine shop before the problem the car burned a quart on oil every month should i take the pistions out and replaced the rings was going to do what dealer does buy replacing pistons but the cost is very high i am a mechanic just dont want to waist time and money if i replace the rings what should i clean the pistons up with so i do not damage them thanks