Understanding Auto Repair Understanding Auto Repair

If your car is no longer under warranty and suffered a catastrophic engine failure on the highway due to lack of oil or another mechanical issue, then it might make financial sense to keep the car and have its blown motor replaced. When replacing an automotive engine, you have four different options:

1. a used engine
2. a crated engine
3. a rebuilt engine
4. a remanufactured engine

To determine which type of motor is best for you to have installed in your own car, listed below is more information on each option.

1. A Used Engine

The cheapest engine replacement option for your vehicle is a used engine. As their name implies, used engines have been previously run in a vehicle and then pulled out for one reason or another.

For example, cars that are wrecked often have their motors salvaged and sold as used engines with either short or no warranties. Since you likely won't get any history of the car the engine was previously installed in, this option is always a bit of a gamble.

2. A Crated Engine

If you have an older car but want to install a brand new motor in it, then you can opt for a crated engine. Crated motors are extra engines manufactured by carmakers specifically for each car year's make and model. These engines are very expensive and tend to be purchased for high-end vehicles and cars being raced on tracks.

3. A Rebuilt Engine

Most of the engines available today on the secondary auto parts market are classified as rebuilt. When a motor is rebuilt, whatever the problem was that caused it to fail in the first place is fixed.

For example, if a motor's cylinder fails, then it will be repaired. However, while each of the engine's other cylinders and ancillary parts will be looked over and anything obviously damaged will be replaced, the only parts replaced tend to be those that caused the original mechanical failure.

4. A Remanufactured Engine

Lastly, you have the option of buying a remanufactured engine and having it installed in your vehicle. Remanufactured motors are the most expensive option available but they are also generally the best choice.

When an engine is remanufactured, it leaves the shop rebuilt to the exact specifications set by the original manufacturer. For example, a remanufactured Ford Powerstroke 6.0 diesel engine will have the exact same specifications as one rolling off the Ford assembly line today. For this reason, you can expect the remanufactured motor to last just as long as a brand-new one.