What Is a Mechanic’s Stethoscope?

A mechanic's stethoscope isvery much like a doctor's stethoscope. Instead of being used to examine apatient's internal noises or breathing, a mechanic's stethoscope is used tolisten to and track noises found within an engine. Typically made out ofchrome-plated steel, with PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, hoses and rubber earpieces, it can come in handy for both the professional mechanic as well as thetinkering hobbyist.

Being able to hear engine partsin need of adjustment or replacement, such as grinding ball bearings or aknocking lifter, can help a mechanic isolate problems and repair a vehicle muchmore efficiently. The interior noises of a motor can be quite difficult to hearusing just the human ear alone. The mechanic's stethoscope has sensitive earpieces that pick up the slightest valve vibration.

Mechanic's stethoscopes can aidin inspecting various car parts, including the transmission, transfer case,valve train, rear axle, and the engine itself. Evenproblems within the dashboard may be located through utilizing this tool. Worngears or a water pump failure that may otherwise be challenging to identify canoften be located quickly using a stethoscope, making troubleshooting a machinea much easier task.

Tracking down hard-to-findleaks is another function of the mechanic's stethoscope. The tool can actuallyhelp a mechanic hear a leak without seeing it, such as in the case of a damaged head gasket. By following the sound ofsteam, gas, water flow, or oil, problems can be easily isolated, allowing themechanic to make a timely diagnosis and commence repairs. In this light, themechanic's stethoscope also proves useful in checking the vacuum and pressureflow of a vehicle — as well as synchronizing multiple carburetors for optimalpower and function.