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As the cost-of-living crisis is increasing the price of motoring, many drivers are turning to the second-hand market to find their next set of wheels.<\/p>\n
However, a social media mechanic has warned drivers that they could easily fall for common scams that could see them lose thousands.<\/p>\n
Craig, who works for the automotive garage Walsall Wood Tyre & Service advised motorists to always check the oil and coolant on a used car they are interested in buying.<\/p>\n
He explained: \u201cAs with every used vehicle, start with the basics. Check out your levels. Is the coolant level low?<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes it look like it\u2019s been topped up recently? If it has, why has it been topped up recently? Is there the potential it\u2019s got a leak?\u201d<\/p>\n
READ MORE: <\/strong> Viral TikTok method saves thousands on fuel – but it comes with a warning<\/strong><\/p>\n Whilst clear and green coolant may be a sign that the car was recently serviced, a seller could be trying to cover up a potential leak, which could be expensive to repair.<\/p>\n Craig also recommended that drivers should always look for a full-service history for the vehicle, which would detail how it has been cared for, any anything repaired on it.<\/p>\n Without a service history, he warned, the buyer could receive a car with various unexpected issues.<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n In the video, Craig also highlighted the importance of looking at the oil, stating that residue on the cap could be a sign of head gasket failure.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cAnd take a look at the engine oil. How black is it? How dirty is it? Is it a petrol or is it a diesel? If it\u2019s a diesel we\u2019d expect it to be black, but if it\u2019s a petrol we don\u2019t expect it to be.<\/p>\n \u201cAgain, we\u2019re going to take off the oil filler cap and look for emulsification [droplets] under there, we\u2019re going to see if there\u2019s any custardy chemicals starting to build up on the bottom of the cap, suggesting that the oil is getting contaminated.\u201d<\/p>\n Finally, the mechanic also noted that looking at the brake discs on a used car could tell if it was previously owned by a boy racer.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cIn addition to that we\u2019d want to look at tyres and brakes which are quite easy and visual to see through the wheels, and one of the good things to look at with brakes, especially if you\u2019re buying what might have been a boy racer\u2019s car, is the actual colour of the brake discs around the edge.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can see on this one that this is just a standard rusty colour, but what we find on vehicles that are driven more aggressively is that the edges of those discs start to go a red or orange, simply from the heat involved in aggressive braking.\u201d<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/24\/590x\/secondary\/used-cars-4971309.jpg?r=1695319674658\")
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