Comprehensive 410+
AED 399
Full engine, under-hood, and fluids inspection — plus 370+ other points.
Details →Engine Inspection — UAE
Engine Inspection — Where the Long-Term Cost Lives
The engine is the single most expensive component in a used car. A worn engine does not fail catastrophically on a test drive — it fails slowly, over the first year of ownership, through oil consumption, coolant loss, and small leaks that compound. The inspection finds these early.
What the Engine Inspection Covers
The engine check is not a guess based on sound. It combines OBD telemetry, physical inspection, and road-test behaviour into a documented report.
Engine Condition & Sound
Cold start, warm idle quality, audio under load, abnormal noises — knock, tick, squeal, whine.
Engine Mounts & Vibration
Rubber mount condition, excessive vibration at idle or under load, engine position relative to subframe.
Seals & Gaskets
Valve cover gasket, oil pan gasket, front and rear main seals, oil drain plug condition.
Oil & Pressure
Oil level and condition (colour, viscosity, debris), oil pressure at idle and rev, recent top-up signs.
Turbocharger / Supercharger
Shaft play, oil seal integrity, intake condition, boost response on road test, intercooler mounting.
Exhaust Smoke
White (coolant), blue (oil), or black (fuel) smoke at cold start, under load, and on lift-off.
Under the Hood — 17 Additional Points
- Hood shocks/struts, horn, drive belts, battery terminals and cables
- Starter and alternator operation
- Power steering pump condition
- PCV valve, MAF sensor, air intake system, throttle body
- Engine air filter, fuse box condition
- Engine bay cleanliness (oil mist, coolant residue)
Fluids — 11 Checkpoints
Fluid condition is the most reliable indicator of service history honesty. A seller cannot fake fluid age.
- Engine oil level and condition
- Coolant level and condition
- Brake fluid level and condition
- Power steering fluid level and condition
- Transmission fluid level and condition
- Windshield washer fluid
Included In
Frequently Asked
What is checked in an engine inspection?
InspectCar engine inspection covers 12 engine-specific checkpoints plus 17 under-the-hood points and 11 fluids checks. Engine mounts, overall condition and sound, vibration, valve cover gasket, oil drain plug, oil pressure, engine wiring, turbocharger, supercharger, exhaust smoke, and all critical fluids.
Can you detect engine problems without dismantling?
Yes. An experienced inspector combines OBD scanner readings (misfire counts, fuel trim drift, catalyst efficiency), visual inspection (leaks, non-original parts, mount condition), audio cues (knocking, ticking, belt squeal), and road-test behaviour (power delivery, idle quality, start behaviour cold and hot) to identify most engine issues without opening the engine.
What engine issues are most common in UAE conditions?
Coolant degradation from 45°C+ operation leading to head gasket risk, engine oil consumption from thermal stress, AC compressor bearing wear affecting the serpentine belt, and accelerated rubber hose deterioration. All covered by the engine inspection.
Do you compression-test the engine?
Not mechanically — that requires removing spark plugs, which is outside standard inspection scope. However, OBD relative compression data from the engine control unit provides most of the same information, and cylinder-balance tests during idle reveal weak cylinders without dismantling.
Which package includes engine inspection?
The full 12-point engine inspection plus 17 under-hood and 11 fluid points is included in the AED 399 Comprehensive package. The AED 99 package covers engine start behaviour and OBD scan only. The AED 250 package adds body and electrical checks to the OBD scan.
Guides
The Engine Is Worth the Inspection
Comprehensive 410+ inspection includes every engine, under-hood, and fluid checkpoint.
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