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There are several Kia vehicles with maintenance intensive engines, specifically the Kia Rio and the Kia Optima. These vehicles require timing belt and water pump changes three to four times as often as a similar Toyota, Nissan, Honda, GM, or Ford engine does. Since Kia engines are interference engines, a bad water pump (one that locks up) will strip the teeth off of the timing belt (since the timing belt drives the water pump). And whether the timing belt on an interference engine breaks or has its teeth stripped, the consumer is left with a crashed valve train, and thus a bad engine. Every day, dozens of people call me with a simple question. They want to know if it makes sense to replace the engine in their Kia vehicle. Further, they want to know if their best option is a used engine or a remanufactured engine. This article is being written to help you understand what your options are if your Kia engine fails so that you can make an informed decision that will be good for you and your family in the long run. First of all, let me say that every vehicle with a failed engine isn’t a good candidate for having another engine installed into it. There are other systems your Kia that are critical to its safety and functionality besides the engine. The main systems that I look at when determining if vehicles are worthy of used engines or remanufactured engines are 1) the transmission 2) the brake system 3) the suspension (mainly the shocks/struts) and 4) the overall body shape of the vehicle. If you’re not sure of the overall shape of these systems, then talk with a qualified mechanic. They won’t be able to tell you anything about your transmission if your engine is bad (you should know this from driving) but they will be able to advise you on your brakes, suspension, and body. The rest of this article assumes the above systems are good. If these other systems are NOT in good shape, then used engines and remanufactured engines don’t represent a good option for you. Do not pass go, do not pay your mechanic $200. If you establish that the above systems are good, your next step is deciding between a used engine and a remanufactured engine. Very few companies remanufacture Kia engines. Kia itself does not have long blocks for most of their vehicles, but rather sells heads or a short block. This means that if if you choose to go with a remanufactured engine, you will have to piece it together from separate parts, increasing your labor costs. This is the main reason that I personally recommend used engines in Kias over remanufactured engines. If you decide to go with a used engine, make sure that you replace your timing belt and water pump before you install the engine. This will save you significant labor charges. Use aftermarket parts that are of higher quality than Kia produced parts, but always replace your timing belt and water pump prior to 40,000 miles. It is imperative that you get a CARFAX when you purchase a used Kia engine, so that you make sure the mileage represented by a supplier is accurate. A CARFAX will show how many miles were on the vehicle the engine is coming from when it was involved in a wreck. Make no bones about it, every day in the US many companies lie on mileage to increase their profit. The sad thing about it is that they hurt people. Don’t put a high mileage Kia engine in because you’re lied to. Low mileage Kia used engines can make great replacement engines if you find true low mileage units. Verify the condition of your vehicle, run the numbers, and work with a quality mechanic. You’ll come out on top, and your vehicle will gain years of life. About Us:- There are several ways to pickle used engines, the most common being to pull the spark plugs and put a moisture displacing lubricant inside of it, turn the engine, and then put the spark plugs back in.
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