What is an Engine Cradle?
Engine cradles provide structural support for crucial engine parts. Keeping them in order can be vital to the health of a car.
Written by Alex Reale
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
There comes a time in every car owner’s life when she’ll see the dreaded check engine light turn on. The light is usually for standard issues, like needing an
oil change
, but from time to time something a little more complex is afoot with a part of the car
. Jerry
, the car ownership super app
, looks at what an engine cradle is, and how to keep an eye on its well-being.Which engine cradle?
First, let’s clarify exactly what we’re talking about, as “engine cradle” can refer to a couple different things.
A rolling engine stand, a dolly on which engines are mounted and moved around, can sometimes be called an engine cradle. It’s a logical name: the engines do in fact look like they’re being cradled by these wheeled metal frames.
But the engine cradles we’re talking about today are calling from inside the car. Like their external partners, they too hold up the engine, but do so for the purpose of making sure all the internal mechanisms of the car run smoothly as it chugs along.
Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds
No spam · No long forms · No fees
What is it?
An engine cradle is a frame for an engine-shaped portrait. (Fittingly, sometimes engine cradles are referred to as subframes.) They often look like trapezoidal tic-tac-toe boards, with extended arms and a big middle space.
When an engine cradle is assembled in a car, its wide center space hosts the meat of the car’s engine—the powertrain system, suspension, and axle, says
Cost Hack
. The arms are bolted to the vehicle, and the engine cradle will then keep vital systems locked in and (hopefully) imperturbable.Subframes are usually in cars with unibody construction, says
Car Parts
, as opposed to body-on-frame. What they call a “mini frame” is separate from the frame of the car itself, which is already busy structuring the entire body of the vehicle. Two frames, one car.MORE:
What is a Rotary Engine?
Keeping an engine cradle shipshape
Engine cradles, like all other victims of the check engine light, may eventually experience wear and tear, but they’re built to last, says Cost Hack. One of the biggest concerns a driver should have about their engine cradle is bending or breaking it as a result of a collision. So if you’re already taking precautions to avoid getting in an accident, you’re an excellent caretaker of your engine cradle.
Additionally, sometimes engine cradles will rust as a result of exposure to salt, which is often used as a safety measure in icy conditions. Rust is notoriously villainous for any car part, and engine cradles are no exception.
To avoid this costly repair or replacement, make sure that regular maintenance is part of your engine routine, and wash away any residual salt from your car’s undercarriage after a winter drive, notes Cost Hack. Happy engine cradle, happy engine.
Saving money on car insurance
Repairing an expensive engine cradle and looking for ways to save money elsewhere? Take a second look at your car insurance. The
Jerry
app is a good place to start. A licensed broker, Jerry does all the hard work of finding cheap quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies and buying new car insurance. Jerry will even help you cancel your old policy.And to ensure you always have the lowest rate, Jerry will send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price. This level of service is why Jerry earned a 4.6/5 rating on the App Store and made it the top insurance app in the country.
Are you overpaying for car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.
4.7You might also be interested
