Check the oil. If it looks like chocolate milk or a milky latte, water has mixed with the lubricant. This causes catastrophic friction damage.
Check where the car lived. If it’s from a coastal region recently hit by a hurricane, be ten times more skeptical. what to look for when buying a flooded car
Inspect the transmission and brake fluids. Any cloudiness suggests seal failure and water intrusion. 📄 The Paper Trail Check the oil
Water in the mechanical systems is often a death sentence for the engine and transmission. Check where the car lived
Ensure every single warning light (ABS, Airbag, Check Engine) illuminates when you turn the key and disappears once the engine starts.
Close all windows and doors for five minutes. If it smells like heavy perfume or cleaning chemicals, the seller is masking mold. If it smells musty, the battle is already lost.
Open the engine’s air intake. If the paper filter is stained, wavy, or contains dried mud, the engine likely "gulped" water while running.