At some point in your life, you may face the stressful task of replacing your car's engine. You may find the need to opt for a second-hand engine, whether it's for financial considerations or a question of availability of a suitable engine. Whatever is your reason, the engine you get must be a dependable replacement. Here are a few pointers to consider along the way.
What You Need to Know about Buying a Replacement Engine?
Try to find out as much as you can about your car before you make any phone calls or enquiries about a replacement engine. At the minimum, have the following info within reach:
- The year the car was made
- The vehicle model
- How many cylinders does your engine have?
- Is it diesel or petrol?
- Does the vehicle have standard aspiration, a turbocharger or a supercharger?
Where Do I Start Looking for a Used Car Engine?
#1 Contact Your Mechanic
The ways to find a replacement engine vary. If you're not mechanically inclined, you can have your mechanic find a supplier for you. If they have been in the trade for any length of time, they can locate one for you and confirm all the relevant details to source the correct unit.
Some garages do not mind sourcing the engines, while others will find it then pass on the contact number of the supplier to you so that you can complete the purchase and arrange payment and delivery of the unit.
#2 Refer to the Yellow Pages
Another option is to pick up your local yellow pages and find the pages dedicated to vehicle breaker yards, make some phone calls and hope you stumble upon one that has your particular engine in stock. This is a hit and miss process and, depending on your luck, can work out in your favour.
#3 Look Online
The third option is to use the Internet to locate your replacement engine. Car parts finder websites are particularly helpful. Log on, enter your contact details, enter the details of the engine you are looking for and submit your request.
These websites are usually tied in with loads of suppliers who pay a monthly subscription fee to the site to be able to see your offers.
The advantage to this type of search is that with one entry, you’re contacting a group of companies who will either call or email you with their quotes. This gives you many options in terms of whom you choose and which deal is the best for you.
One word of advice when using a web service to find your engine, do not immediately say yes to the first company that gives you a quote – give the site some time to do its work and wait for as many quotes as you can before deciding.
How to Inspect a Used Car Engine
Once the used car engine is delivered and you've paid for it, bring it to your mechanic right away.
Remember, you have bought a second-hand engine, not a reconditioned one or a new one, so it is reasonable to have an engine delivered that looks less than pristine. Carbon in the exhaust ports is standard as the engine was running in a car before it was removed and sent to you. Also, there may be slight oil leaks or other external wear and tear that would all be considered standard on a second-hand engine.
Used engines are generally purchased at a cheaper cost than a new or recon unit, so expect to do a bit of cleaning up. Externally, how pretty an engine looks has no bearing on how it will perform once installed. Some engines look like they just rolled off the showroom floor, but after installation, a worn part fails, and you're back to square one. On the other hand, engines may look like they’ve been through war but can run for years without a single problem.
Tips to Consider When Buying a Second-hand Car
Many people fantasize about having a new car, yet not everyone can afford it. An alternative is to buy a pre-owned vehicle at a lower price tag. Before you buy a used vehicle, you must examine it thoroughly so that there are no issues with it, as it could either be excellent value for money or a total waste of money.
What should I look out for?
Gas mileage
The first thing to check out is the odometer readout, which will give you an indication of the use of the car, its condition and potential problems that may follow. Look through all the documents cautiously and don’t be frightened to ask questions to ensure that you don’t wind up with a stolen car.
Water leaks
Water leaks can substantially reduce the value of a car you're buying. How do you find out if there's a leak? Simple, look beneath it.
Evidence of previous crashes
If a car has had an accident, it can pose hazards and even fatality. Look for irregular sides on the body of the auto and make sure that the doors suit the cars and truck effectively.
Rust
If a car is rusted, it’s best sent to the wreckers. The seller might try and revamp the rust by repainting it. The car might look beautiful from the outside, but look carefully around tyre arches because this is where rust is most likely to hide. Also, check for rust under the body.