3 Hidden Clues You'Re Driving A Junker

There are plenty of advantages to using an old beater as a daily driver. In addition to lower purchasing costs, these old cars are usually easier to maintain and cheaper to insure. Even better, you don't need to worry about every little dent and ding when you've already got an impressive collection. Unfortunately, there are also some downsides to owning a car that's old enough to practically drive itself.

Since old cars aren't worth much, it's rarely worthwhile to spend much money repairing them. While some of these issues might be easy to notice, others can be more challenging to spot. Here are three hidden clues that you might be driving a car that's ready for a trip to the junkyard.

1. Severe Oil Loss

Leaks happen. Even relatively new cars can develop leaks as gaskets and hoses wear out, so it's not time to consign your vehicle to the abyss just because it's losing a bit of oil. On the other hand, severe oil loss might be indicate something more problematic is happening. If your car seems to be losing quite a bit of oil regularly, then your first step should be to locate the source of the leak.

But, what if you can't find a leak? If you're losing a lot of oil without any puddles appearing on the ground, there's a good chance it's burning up in your engine. Burning large amounts of oil is usually an indication of severe internal engine damage. In most cases, it's more cost-effective to junk an old car than to go to the expense of rebuilding or replacing the engine.

2. White Exhaust Smoke

You've probably noticed water vapor from your tailpipe on cold, humid, or rainy days, but what if it's there all the time? Heavy white smoke that's present most of the time is bad news for any vehicle. The presence of white smoke usually means that you're burning coolant. Coolant can typically only enter the combustion chamber due to a bad head gasket or a cracked head.

If your vehicle is burning coolant, you're likely facing a four-figure repair bill or even a complete engine rebuild or replacement. For old beaters, it's usually much wiser to say goodbye and hand your keys over to a junk car buyer.

3. Persistent Overheating

Overheating is a car killer. If your vehicle is overheating, it's essential to find the source of the problem and resolve it. In many cases, relatively cheap components, such as your thermostat or water pump, can cause your car to overheat, and replacing them will fix the problem. However, when you can't seem to track down a reason for persistent overheating, it may be time to throw in the towel.

Persistent overheating, just like oil loss and white coolant smoke, can be a sign that you've got an internal engine problem. If your vehicle is old enough, junking it is often a smarter play than wasting money diagnosing and repairing your failing engine.

If you notice any of these persistent problems, now may be the time to talk to a local junk cars for cash service,