Buying a used engine instead of a new one could save you a ton of money. So if your car needs an engine replacement, the used engine option is worth considering. But you probably already knew that. The big question is, "Are used engines reliable?” To which our answer is, "It depends."
In this post, I'll cover a few benefits of buying a second-hand engine and how to make a guided purchase decision so that the used engine you buy doesn't leave you in a worse-off place than the one you’re replacing.
Is It Worth Buying a Used Engine?
Besides the money-saving benefit of buying a used engine, we’re often unaware of its other advantages. Here are two other reasons why choosing the second-hand option could be a good idea.
1. Recycling used car parts supports the environment
Instead of discarding well-functioning engines, we should be considering using them for as long as we can. When you buy a functioning used engine, you’re helping ensure that this engine isn’t discarded and added to the waste stream for no good reason.
Also, by purchasing a used engine, you help reduce the amount of energy used to produce new engines, which means less amount of greenhouse emissions released to the environment.
2. Used engines are the practical option for used cars
Car engines are designed to last through the lifetime of the car they’re attached to. However, there are instances when a car’s life is terminated earlier, leaving a healthy engine wasted. On the other hand, there are rare situations when a car’s engine gives up midlife. In this case, buying a new engine for a middle-aged vehicle may not be the brightest idea.
This is where a used car engine becomes the best option for you. That said, buying used engines is still a risky business since it's hard to determine the reliability of a second-hand engine. If you don't know what to look for, that is. So, if your car engine needs to be replaced and you’re considering buying a used one, then you should read our guide on how to buy a used engine.
How Does a Second Hand Engine Affect the Value of a Car?
The engine is one of the most important factors that determine a car’s valuation price. So it's likely that careful buyers would be hesitant or, at least, have questions about why your car needed an engine replacement. Consequently, there's a chance that a car's retained value could significantly decrease if it has a second-hand engine. However, this doesn’t have to be the case.
The source of hesitation is fear that the car may not be in good running condition. Plus, concerns that you could be attempting to hide the car’s history and sell them a dud. Therefore, the key to maximising your car’s resale value is to address these concerns effectively.
What matters most to a buyer isn’t so much whether the engine is new or used but that it’s in good working condition. After all, the buyer understands that he’s buying a used car. And such a car isn’t expected to have a brand new engine.
In a private sale, you should strive to establish that your car is in proper working condition by encouraging the potential buyer to do a test drive. It would help if you also encouraged them to bring in a mechanic to inspect the vehicle. What this does is create a positive perception of the car’s condition.
Keep in mind that the reason you had to replace your car also has a major impact on the car’s valuation. If you replaced your engine because you were involved in an accident, chances are high that the structural integrity of the car’s front end would have been compromised. Consequently, your resale value will be lower than if you replaced the engine because of normal wear and tear.
Ultimately, a car's condition is a subjective measure of value. Therefore, to get the maximum price on your car sale, you should do all you can to increase the perceived value of your car.
A Final Note
Used engines are cheap. While they may cost less than brand new engines, they certainly don't cost chicken change either. So how do you ensure that your desire to save doesn't turn around and cause you to throw money down the drain? The answer is simple: If you’re buying a used car engine, make sure you buy a good one.
If you need a reliable seller to buy your used engine from, you can search on CarPartAU’s marketplace or fill this form to send a request to the hundreds of sellers of used and new spare parts on our platform. With CarPartAU, sourcing your replacement parts is as easy as pie.
By Damilare Olasinde