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Knock knock. Who's there? When you hear severe knocking sounds (as opposed to just pinging), brace yourself. Chances could be that you might next be hearing two of the saddest words in a motorist's vocabulary: change engine. You're in luck if your car is still covered by warranty or the manufacturer will assume the engine replacement cost. Otherwise, you'd have to go looking for used engines by yourself. You can achieve considerable savings and still get very good performance from rebuilt or re manufactured units, or even just plain low-mileage used engines from a reputable dealer. A change engine scenario doesn't have to mean bad hair day, though. There is a huge pile of good used engines out there. It just takes some effort and common sense to find one. If you are like most drivers who never had to bother with replacing an engine, you may have some apprehensions or even feel intimidated about going through this with your mechanic. Here are some pointers to guide you in looking for used engines: 1. Figure out the likely cost. There are three major expense areas involved: A. The cost of the engine itself B. Parts and miscellaneous (lubricants, seals, cleaning fluids, etc) C. Labor Remanufactured or rebuilt engines are great if you can find them from a reliable company. It's like getting a practically new one. Reputation is the key. Talk only to highly recommended shops who have a BBB certification. If you opt for plain used engines, choose those from a dealer that can back it up with a CARFAX vehicle history certificate to verify the mileage. Try to look for used engines that have lower mileage than this one that you are junking. 2. Check out the warranty outlook. You don't want to go through multiple used engines because the first one turned out to be a rotten papaya. Your shop or supplier should offer at least one-year unlimited miles warranty on their used engines, as well as optional labor warranties with your purchase. 3. Find a good, trustworthy mechanic. If you don't already have one, this is hardly an easy process, but the best bet is to go with a guy who is highly recommended by someone you also trust. Talk to your friendly neighborhood parts store or dealer. Don't evaluate just one candidate. Check out several, and don't hurry. This is a case where haste can really make waste. Narrow them down to a shortlist and refine your choices to pick your winner. If you get yourself hooked up to the right mechanic, you stand to save hundreds of precious dollars. 4. Avoid an individual seller, unless you can make an informed determination about the history and state of the engine you are buying. 5. Choose between remanufactured or rebuilt. Remanufactured means the engine has been remade to meet original specifications or had parts replaced by original components. Rebuilt engines, on the other hand, are often handled with the fix-only-what's-broke principle and, so, may come with slightly less predictable life. That's why remanufactured engines are offered with stronger warranty than rebuilt ones. 6. If you have the chance, pick an engine taken out from a wreck rather than due to mechanical reasons. Good used engines would still be running if not for the wreck, so you can reasonably expect plenty of life from it. To reiterate, good used engines are proven. About Us:- Because manufacturers typically make new engines that give their owners 200,000 miles or more, assuming proper maintenance has been faithfully followed, finding low-mileage used engines is not such a difficult proposition these days.
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