An engine replacement and transmission replacement are two of the most expensive fixes in your entire vehicle. Since these are two crucial components that have to function to keep your car working at a safe and high-performing level, paying for an engine replacement is sometimes a necessary part of the repair process. When asking yourself “how much should it cost in labor to replace an engine,” you will find the answer is typically between $1,200 and $2,000 on the high end!
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Since labor prices at most dealerships and local mechanic shops arnage from around $70 to $100 per hour of work, you will see that engine replacements are easily over $1,000. Engine replacements typically take between 15 and 25 hours of billed time, with simpler engines taking as low as 10 hours, and the more complicated mechanisms taking the full 25 hours.
With this time range, the average time of billed hours for engine labor range between 15 and 20. Keeping this in mind, when asking yourself “how much should it cost in labor to replace an engine,” the final answer is between $1,200 and $2,000.
Let’s see the advantages of replacing an engine versus buying a new car, the pros of purchasing a new or used vehicle, and the total engine replacement cost for most cars on the market today.
Engine Replacement Advantages – The Cost In Labor To Replace An Engine
As a car owner, you need to decide if the engine replacement labor price is worth it when compared to rebuilding the engine or buying a new car. Buying a new vehicle may not be the right choice for you, whether it is due to financial reasons or a lack of choices on the market. You must have options when it comes to purchasing a new car in your area when weighing the labor cost.
Furthermore, we will tell you how much it should cost in labor to replace an engine to give you an idea if you should buy a new vehicle, used car, or rebuild/replace this crucial part.
#1 Less Expensive
When looking at the answer to “how much should it cost in labor to replace an engine,” the total price is less expensive than buying a new vehicle. Although you could spend thousands in the total labor and parts, purchasing a new and shiny vehicle, even if it is slightly used, will be thousands more in the long run.
Even though engine replacement can cost owners around $5,000 on the high end, it could be worth it for a vehicle that is only slightly used and fairly new. You will be hard pressed to find a long-lasting, durable, and high-quality vehicle for less than $5,000 when it comes to reputable cars on the market.
#2 Repairs Are Cheaper Than A New Car
Secondly, even with severe damage like a blown motor mount or failed torque converter, it will cost you between $3,000 and $7,000 to replace this part at a dealership. Taking into account “how much should it cost in labor to replace an engine,” the overall labor costs for these complicated procedures will be over $1,000.
Even with this price range, it will still not cost as much as buying a new car from a dealership. We know that $7,000 sounds like a lot of money to pay out of pocket, but keep in mind that another used car that you buy for less than 7 grand will come with its own set of issues, adding to the argument of whether to replace the engine or buy a new car.
#3 Insurance Price Will Not Increase
Thirdly, insurance and registration fees will add to the costs of purchasing a new car when evaluating “how much should it cost in labor to replace an engine.” Even with thousands of dollars paid to a mechanic or dealership, purchasing additional insurance will cost you more in the long term.
#4 A New Set of Issues in a New Car
Next, you are already having engine concerns and car troubles with the vehicle you own now – so why buy a used car that could give you the same issues? Even when concerned about “how much should it cost in labor to replace an engine,” purchasing a new car can sometimes just prolong issues that you will run into with all cars.
When should I buy a new car instead of an engine replacement? – The Cost In Labor To Replace An Engine
If you are calculating the total of labor costs for an engine replacement and find out the total price will be thousands of dollars, like over $5,000 out of pocket, you may decide that buying a new or used vehicle is the better way to go.
Let’s see the advantages of buying a new car vs. purchasing for an engine replacement. When weighing “how much should it cost in labor to replace an engine,” you may feel like your financial situation can't handle thousands of dollars in solely labor.
#1 Lack of Repair Needs
Firstly, you don’t want to buy a new car only to have the same set of problems in your current vehicle. By buying a new car from a reputable location, whether it be an individual or a licensed dealership, you may find that you are avoiding costly repairs. Along with engine concerns that require expensive parts and timely fixes, the total cost of labor will significantly add to the final price.
#2 Stop Your Worrying!
Next, you could be tired of worrying about your current junk or scrap car. Perhaps it is so damaged and unreliable that you don't enjoy driving it, it doesn’t look good while driving on the road, and you are always worried about whether it will make it from point A to point B. Either way, all of the concerns are not worth it for you to be constantly worrying about. In this case, getting a new car could be the best choice and avoid you having to wonder about “how much should it cost in labor to replace an engine.”
#3 Stay Safe While On The Road
Lastly, you may be concerned about having a safe and reliable vehicle that does not contain any engine concerns. New cars have modern safety equipment, reliability mechanisms, emergency braking, rear cameras, and blind-spot monitoring.
Being confident on the road is key to driving safely and at a high-level. You can avoid having to question “how much should it cost in labor to replace an engine” by simply purchasing a new vehicle that runs smoothly.
Average Engine Replacement Cost – The Cost In Labor To Replace An Engine
Since the labor is not quite as easy as other internal mechanisms to repair on time, drivers can expect the hours of skilled labor to also run at a higher rate than repairing simpler parts. Although every engine is different, most drivers will need the help of a skilled mechanic to take apart – and put back together – their car’s power mechanism. Let’s answer the question of “how much should it cost in labor to replace an engine.”
Engine Rebuild Cost
The average engine rebuild cost will drastically differ depending on what kind of engine you are building, your make and model of car, and your mechanic or dealership location. An older car, like a used Volkswagen, could cost you only between $300 and $400 for the engine rebuild kit. However, a water-cooled four-cylinder engine kit can be rebuilt to the desired specifications for between $400 and $500.
In addition to the cost of the parts for an engine rebuild, you need to ask yourself “how much should it cost in labor to replace an engine.” In this case, the total price is around $1,000 on average.
Engine Replacement Cost – Cost In Labor To Replace An Engine
On average, expect to pay at least $1,000 on the low end, while a high-end garage or dealership will generally cost around $4,000 on average for the replacement cost. New engines will typically run around $4,00 for a 4-cylinder engine, while you can expect to pay closer to $5,500 for a V6 engine and $7,000 for a V8 engine.
Since the engine is such a complicated and complex mechanism, drivers should expect the labor costs to cost at least $1,000 – and that’s on the low end of the price spectrum. When asking yourself “how much should it cost in labor to replace an engine,” you’ll find that a basic garage could charge as little as $50 an hour, while a specialized mechanic or dealership could be triple the price.
The Bottom Line
Drivers typically ask themselves “how much should it cost in labor to replace an engine.” They will often find that the low-end of the price range is around $1,200, while the high-end of an engine replacement cost is around $2,000 for more complicated mechanisms. Owners have to decide if they should rebuild their engine, replace their engine, or purchase a new vehicle to keep their car running for a long period of time at a high-performance level.