As the owner of a vehicle, it is important to pay special attention to unfamiliar or worrying sounds and to be on the lookout for any signs of possible car trouble or engine failure. If you are driving and hear a strange knocking noise you have not heard before, there could be a serious problem, and you may be next in line to install engine parts..
⚠️ If It's Broken, Don't Fix It - Get Paid Cash for Your Vehicle ⚠️
Do not ignore any possible symptoms of impending damage to your car. Ignoring automotive problems will result in them becoming worse, or you could incur complete engine failure and a fairly large price to install engine parts or the complete engine.
If you are one of the unlucky few that needs to replace their car's damaged engine, or if you are installing an engine on a project vehicle you are building, it will be helpful to know the price to install engine parts. Eliminate the unknown and read this article to explore what you need to be budgeting for to get your car on the road with a new running engine.
Signs of Engine Failure
As the proverb goes, “prevention is better than cure.” If you do not want the impending stress of installing a new engine, then take the necessary precautions to prevent it from failing.
Below are some of the main signs of engine failure:
- Knocking noise: Engine bearings support the movement of the different moving engine parts. Should these bearings seize, then your engine will succumb to major damage. A sign of failing engine bearings is when you can hear a knocking noise coming from underneath the hood. This knocking noise often goes hand in hand with a rise and fall in speed with engine RPMs.
- Increased exhaust fumes: The smoke that comes out of your exhaust pipe is a great tell-tale sign your car can give you when it is in trouble. If you notice more fumes coming out of your exhaust pipe, then get to your nearest service center to inspect the cause. Blue smoke is an indication that oil is burning, white smoke means there is coolant in the combustion chamber, and black smoke indicates that too much fuel is being used.
- Limited performance: If you have noticed your fuel efficiency has dropped or you are struggling to get your car up to speed, then these are issues that need attention before your engine fails.
- Check engine light: The little light that comes up that no one wants to see, yet so many ignore. The name says it all, check your engine. Often, it is something small that is causing the trouble, but it can become a large problem if it is ignored.
- Difficult idle: It is a troubling sign when your car has a difficult time staying on when it is standing still. It could be a sign of fuel delivery problems, but it could also be a more serious problem with the engine.
If you are noticing any of the above signs, get them seen to as soon as possible. Attending to your vehicle's warning signs as soon as they come up could mean the difference between paying for a small, cheap repair or having to install engine parts at a heavy price.
Another way to prevent engine failure is to regularly service and maintain your car. In most cases, a broken oil pump or overheating is the cause behind your engine's internal components' failure. Regular maintenance should be able to pick up these problems before they happen. Below are some of the most common causes of engine problems:
- A broken water pump
- A clogged heater core
- A broken thermostat
- A damaged oil pump
- Low oil levels
- Old engine oil
To Rebuild or Replace an Engine?
It happens; engines do fail. So, what do you do? You may be faced with the choice of installing a new engine or rebuilding the damaged engine. Let's weigh up the options.
Rebuild
Some vehicle owners may choose to rebuild their damaged engine. This process involves:
- Disassembling
- Cleaning
- Inspection of all parts
- Replacing damaged parts with new or refurbished parts.
- Purchasing new gaskets, seals, and lubricants.
When rebuilding your engine, you need to budget for replacing components like the O rings, bearings, gaskets, timing belt or chain, oil pump, lubricants, seals, and valve springs.
If serious damage has occurred, then the price to install engine components may rise as more labor is needed. For instance, your engine block may need to be bored to align the crankshaft main bores. This would also require the cylinders to be bored to fit new pistons. This is labor-intensive work, and the paid hours will increase.
A typical engine rebuild and installation will have you paying between $2,500 and $4,000 in parts and labor costs. It will involve the replacement of bearings and seals, as well as the engine installation.
The benefits of a rebuilt engine include:
- Long-term reliability and often have better warranties.
- Compatible with the existing computer system.
- Stronger performance because of the newly installed engine parts.
Replace
Replacing your engine comes with its own series of questions. One important question is if you are going to replace your engine with a new or used engine?
The price of a new engine installation depends on how old your car is; sometimes, installing a new engine may not be worth the cost. On average, installing a new 4-cylinder engine will carry a price tag of between $4,000 and $5,000. If you are replacing a V6 or V8 engine, then you can expect to pay more.
If that is out of budget for what you can realistically afford, then there is the option of installing a used engine, especially one with lower mileage. A used engine is considerably cheaper than a newer one, and, on average, you can get a used engine for between $400 – $700.
The benefits of a used engine include:
- Costs are lower than purchasing and installing a new engine.
- More reliable when purchased from a reputable dealer.
- With fewer older engines discarded, a used engine is environmentally beneficial.
When considering replacing your engine, there are several important factors to consider:
- Decide if you need a new long or short block or an entirely new engine.
- The type and make of your engine and if it is readily available. This could potentially determine if you will find a new engine or need to look for a used one.
- The age of your engine; a newer engine will be more expensive to purchase and a used one harder to come by.
- Where you will have it replaced.
In summary, you could potentially incur the below costs for replacement and installation of an engine:
- Short block engine replacement: $1,550 – $2,500
- Long block engine replacement: $600 to $1,000
- Diesel engine replacement: $5,500 – $11,000
- Used engine replacement: $950
- New engine replacement at a dealership: $7,500
- New engine replacement at a repair shop: $3,000 to $4,000
Price to Install Engine Components
Whether you decide to repair and rebuild your damaged engine or to replace it with a new or used engine, it still needs to be installed correctly. After incurring the costs of parts and fluids, you need to consider the labor behind the installation process.
For a typical engine, a garage could quote for 10 to 12 hours of labor. On a simple engine installation, you may be quoted for 8 hours of labor; however, you may be looking at 15 hours for a larger engine.
You can determine the labor costs by multiplying the number of labor hours by the rate at which the mechanic charges per hour. Some car shops will charge an average rate of $90 an hour, while others charge as much as $150 per hour. Using the average between those rates, the labor on a typical engine installation could be anywhere from $1,100 to $1,800.
Replace or Rebuild an Engine or Buy a New Car?
It is a disheartening moment when a mechanic informs you that your engine is damaged and needs to be replaced. The price tag behind it all is one of the most concerning factors; engines do not carry a small price tag behind them. Your decision may ultimately come down to weighing up the costs of replacing or rebuilding your engine or junking your car and buying a new one.
Replacing your engine with a used engine with low mileage is generally the most cost-efficient option. However, suppose you are driving a large vehicle like a Jeep Grand Cherokee with a 6.2L V8 engine. In that case, the cost to replace the engine may exceed your budget, and you may need to explore the options of purchasing another cheaper car instead.
If you have decided to let go of your car because it is no longer operable without a functional engine and it is too expensive to repair, then sell it to Cash Cars Buyer. They will still make an offer on your car, even if it is faulty.
Contact Cash Cars Buyer with your make and model, mileage, and year and then sit back as you wait for their offer on your vehicle.