If you think that your car’s engine replacement is so smooth and polite, you should credit it to motor mounts. A small part in the car that saves you from noise and uncontrolled jerks.
What Are Motor Mounts?
Motor mounts are metal brackets, one end of which is attached to the engine and the other to the car’s engine bay. It is basically the area where the engine is placed. The motor mounts contain a liquid or vacuum which serves as shock absorbents. It is responsible for holding the engine in the car. The engine continuously oscillates due to the vibratory and rotatory parts, so the motor mount withholds it from shaking and reduces the vibratory feeling in the car as well. The mounts are usually rubber coated to avoid direct metal to metal contact.
Motor Mount and the Engine’s Performance:
While accelerating the car, the engine produces torque to move forward. Torque is the force that is responsible to rotate an object around an axis. This torque is restrained due to the motor mount, therefore some of the torque goes wasted. But if this wasted torque would have moved down (in the absence of motor mount) to the wheels, it would have increased the car power. The motor mount does not directly impact the engine performance but has the responsibility of damping the vibrations of the engine and damping the vibrations entering the motor that come from outside.
Types of Motors and Their Functionality:
Hydro Mounts:
These are conventional mounts used. These include a liquid which is shock absorbents. These fluids absorb as much shock as they can. They however are very effective but they are not durable. They usually do not last long, there is a chance of fluid leakage as well. It means that as long as there is fluid you will drive smooth and the moment it is emptied you will experience bumpy rides. The fact is that the Engine mount replacement is very expensive as well.
Electric Mounts:
Electric mounts, also known as active mounts are recent mounts that car companies have started using instead of hydro mounts. It uses a vacuum controlled by the car computer to resist the vibrations and absorb the shocks. These are the most efficient and most durable mounts but, of course, very expensive to replace as well.
When to Replace Engine Mounts?
The engine mounts get damaged because of wear and tear. In such cases, they need to be engine replaced with a new one (which is very expensive). The basic symptoms that indicate the motor mounts have worn out are:
1-Bumpy Rides:
Of course, when the bump resistance stops working, you will experience a bumpy ride all day long.
2-Noises:
A vibratory ride means it will lead the car to make irritating and banging sounds.
3- Movement in The Engine Bay:
The engine will move around in the engine bay because the restraining force is unyielding. This will create noise as well, especially when accelerating.
