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Rebuilding your engine instead of buying a new car
Your 1990 Ford or Honda or BMW has finally
died or it feels that way from the repair bills. So should you start your new car shopping surfing the Internet or the
good old newspaper?Not so fast, say the Engine Repower Council (ERC) and the Car Care Council (CCC). According to both organizations, it may make more sense to rebuild your vehicle, especially if it's the engine that is giving you (and your bank account) fits.
"When a car or truck suffers major engine damage, often the first reaction of most consumers is to buy a new or used vehicle," says EPC chairman Rick Miller. "In some cases that might make sense, but often it's simply not necessary. And it's a very expensive proposition compared to re-powering your car or truck's worn out engine with a rebuilt/re-manufactured engine."
Besides long-term costs, the article discusses other advantages of rebuilt engines, many of which are at least as good if not better than the original ones due to better components, designs and materials. Rebuilt engines are also more environmentally friendly since they may use recycled parts, materials and have to comply with current pollution standards. Finally, rebuilt engines are usually backed by one-year warranties.
[Source: The Auto Channel]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
linda 2:54PM (5/18/2008)
My husband has completely rebuilt his 1980 450SL Mercedes engine.
It is not starting! It makes a starter motor sound but nothing else. It is getting gas, sometimes oil pressure, and there is spark. It is going on two weeks now. Same sound same systems. What is your opinion?
Linda
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emulous1974 6:43PM (3/27/2006)
Not that I don't think that most consumers, including myself jump the gun on replacing vehicles before their real time is up, but I'm more weary of taking advice from two organizations, which are actually the same organization and that don't state who their funders or founders really are:
"ERC was formed in 1999 by a group of automotive industry leaders in response to the growing concern among professional engine rebuilders that most consumers do not understand the benefits of rebuilt engines. These concerns were supported by a motorist survey showing that nearly 74 percent of consumers were not aware of this alternative."
"The Engine Repower Council is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating consumers about the economic and environmental benefits of rebuilt and remanufactured engines."
Every non-profit has to state who it's leaders and where they get their funding in order to obtain and keep, non-profit status. Those that are on the up and up usually post that information on their websites:
http://www.carcare.org
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emulous1974 6:47PM (3/27/2006)
Never mind, I found them:
Members of the Car Care Council Executive Board are:
Jay Burkhart, vice president, global marketing, Federal-Mogul
Lisa Kranc, senior vice president, marketing, AutoZone
Pam Krebs, director, advertising & sales promotion, Robert Bosch Corp.
Greg Lancour, vice president, special market projects, Genuine Parts Co.
Randall Long, vice president, marketing, CarQuest
Odis Lloyd, director, automotive aftermarket, NASCAR
Jerry McCabe, vice president, marketing, Dana (Cypress)
Dick Morgan, president, Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance
Jeff Stankard, publisher, Babcox Publications
Ted Wise, co-president, O'Reilly Automotive
Norm Young, director, North American sales, Delphi
Decide for yourself if they really don't make a profit on the information they disperse.
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Gardiner Westbound 7:07PM (3/27/2006)
This only works for relatively new, high mileage fleet cars. It makes little economic sense for an average consumer to spend several thousand dollars installing a rebuilt engine in an old car, even if the body is in reasonably good condition. The new engine does nothing to increase the longevity of the other expensive components including the transmission, differential and air conditioning. Finally, it is unlikely an insurance company will hesitate to write the car off for even a relatively minor accident or give anything approaching the true value of the car with the new engine.
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iQuack 7:08PM (3/27/2006)
Unless a car is a lemon or has decidedly high miles on it, the engine should be among the most durable parts of the car.
Seems to me that putting a new or rebuilt engine into an old car might not be so satisfying because:
Transmission, suspension, brakes, electrical system, body hardware, interior materials, etc. will still be old and crappy after a new engine is installed. So, the car is still a mess, but with a rebuilt engine in it. WHOOPIE!
Unless you're trying to restore an antique car, putting money into a clunker is like pounding sand in a rat hole--there's no end to doing it and the repair costs will be prohibitive.
Then there's the issue of safety because newer cars are much more protective than older cars without airbags and other features found on most new cars.
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Mal Fuller 7:31PM (3/27/2006)
"... and have to comply with current pollution standards."
Nonsense, the components of a vehicle's emission control systems are not included with any company's rebuilt or remanufacured engines. Many of these engines have defects costing all involved $$$. This is even true of so-called factory re-maned engines. Only the GM all new "crate" engines are a safe bet. Normally I'm a sharp critic of GM, but they set a high standard for replacement engines.
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bruce 7:34PM (3/27/2006)
The engine is just one of numerous major and minor components that fail. Even with a brand new or rebuilt engine your 15 y/o car is still going to be sitting broken down on the highway if you have a transmission or brake power steering or cooling or other failure. It's one of those things where you have to feel lucky or never drive far from home to feel comfortable doing.
Another big reason NOT to do this is safety. A new or newer car replacing your old one will on average have many more safety features and crash better than your old clunker.
The savings are pretty slim (vs simply buying a decent used vehicle to replace your dinosaur) when you factor in all things, I think I'd rather concentrate on other areas in the budget to save that kind of money.
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Artie43 8:01PM (3/27/2006)
I bought a rebuilt transmission from Ford for my 95 Windstar. It cost $1600 and lasted 50K. The original lasted 150K, so I would probably not buy a rebuilt one again.
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Dana 9:04PM (3/27/2006)
emulous1974, great info.
It would be nice if the autobloggers did some simple research like this before posting.
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Brian 9:49PM (3/27/2006)
While it should be considered who the Engine Repower Council is run by I don't think it's quiet the same as say... oil companys putting out info on global warming. Their website clearly states it was formed by a "group of automotive industry leaders".
As long as they are only encouraging consumers to consider and look into repower I think it is a perfectly valid organization.
As far as repowering a car goes sometimes it is worth doing and sometimes not. Most cars today are esentially built to be disposable. As some have already pointed out by the time the engine is worn out everything else is wearing out as well. If the engine on your Hyundai kicks the bucket at 180,000 miles it is highly unlikely it would be worth it to put in a rebuilt engine. If you can find a cheap used engine and put it in yourself it may be worthwhile.
A rebuilt engine may still be worth it on a "disposable" car that loses its engine at a low mileage because of something like a broken timing belt, oil loss, etc. Automobile owners simply need to check around and do the math to find out if it is worth the money.
That said engine replacement will still be mostly worthwhile for antique/classic vehicles, expensive luxury and sports cars, commercial vehicles, trucks and generally vehicles with a high purchase price to begin with.
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Richard Warren 10:55PM (3/27/2006)
Well boys,
You're right and your wrong. Lets say yo have a car, drive 30,000 a year, 5 years later it needs a new engine and hell, let's even throw in a transmission.
5 years, lots of miles, but the body is still good, interior still good, so you put 3,000 in an engine, 2,000 in a transmission that comes to 5,000, now add up your payments on a depreciating piece of shiny new equipment. 450 a month payments (maybe) and a loss of at least 30% of it's value. A repaired car will not cost you 450 to 600 per month either, like a new one will. It also will not be upside down in payments or a lease like the one you just traded in for. Hmmmm
The trick is getting mechanical repairs done properly, so that they last, not a 1/3 or 1/2 the original mileage but close to the same.
Ever sit down, figure out how much that shiny new car REALLY costs?
And a 5 or 6 year old car these days is still safe and most will still be looking good too.
We're too eager for the new and it's too easy to just go out and buy another one.
Now I love cars as much as or more than the next guy, but have to tell you, the answer is not always "just go get a new one"
The other thing is this guys, REAL MEN rebuild their own toys, not have a repair garage do it. I've rebuilt engines from a Honda 600 to a Mercedes and Porsche and by being your own tech you can save thousands over the years. You can rebuild an engine for a 1/3 or less of the price if you can do it yourself.
And auto trans overhauls aren't too bad either.
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Jim 12:08AM (3/28/2006)
The 70's and the initial gas crunch, detuning; not a good decade for keeping an automobile. 1974 164E Volvo - $6300 after trade in of $100. 425,000 miles later, still have the old firewagon. Haven't bought a new car since - couple used boys, no new ones. Painted the firewagon myself about 17 years ago before Dupont took the isocyanates out of Imron paint; just now could use another - but I'll not be doing it. Have rebuilt the engine, myself, twice, and have 37,000 on the current edition.
Now, not many people, outside of dedicated wrench turners, and even some of them, would not want to do what it takes to keep ANYTHING 32 years - much less have it remain safe on the road! As someone noted, it requires quite a bit more than some simple engine/drive train replacement exercise. I watched, the other day, as a late model car burned to the ground in a parking lot - fire started in the engine compartment, probably caused from a leaky rubber fuel hose or injector (poorly maintained)? Like my wife, all these folk wanted the thing to do was crank each time they got in it with as little attention (gas and sometimes oil) paid to it as possible by them! Reminds me, need to round up a bucket seat frame, one of mine has broken.
Bottom line reads, keep up with the nitnoids, if you don't replace the old clunker, or, as someone pointed out, replacing the engine/tranny will just be pounding sand down that bottomless hole!
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Glenn Laycock 12:19AM (3/28/2006)
Here is the main problem. New car warranties are like house insurance to most people on a budget. The rich can pay the chunks of expense if something happens to the house. In the case of a car, most people (who do not have huge savings, or money set aside for large repairs) will end up putting the repairs on high interest credit cards, and will take a long time to pay it back -- and during that time they will be biting their nails everytime the car has a squeak or groan. If a transmission goes, how far behind could a differential or headgasket, or bearings, etc be? It is endless unless you have really set money aside.
At the end of the day, used etc MIGHT end up being cheaper if things go your way; but most people negate any benefit because they simply not rich enough to -- basically self insure themselves against costly repairs.
Rich people can buy used, poor people need those darn warranties and steady payments to make their budgets work.
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JIm 12:39AM (3/28/2006)
#10. White Trash Hooker. I have a question for you....If you live in your car, can to get a home improvement loan for a new set of tires? And since you are a hooker, is the cost considered a business expense and therefore deductable?
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randy surratt 12:50AM (3/28/2006)
after you have paid off your car you can drop your insurance down to state limits that alone will pay for a rebuilt motor and trans any day plus some auto parts stores offer 3 year on their motors and trans,i know ,i have been working on cars for almost 30 years
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WolfgangNC 1:10AM (3/28/2006)
Only objection to putting in a new drivetrain is if the platform is worn out (rusted chassi, suspention that is unsafe, etc); but with that said.
Putting in a new drivetrain is a great way to keep cost per mile down to almost nothing. $2k-5k seems like alot but over the course of an engine life this is pennies on the mile.
I have both new cars and old cars and considering that your insurance is more on the new car and car payments and usually the old car has cheaper replacement parts, it is nice to save money with the older car.
Only bit of advice, replace the drivetrain, not just the engine; but if you only replace the tranny or just the engine, you will be replacing the other very soon after.
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Ken 2:06AM (3/28/2006)
There is one benefit...
Put a used engine in a car that blew its, and then sell it - put that money into a new car for yourself :-)
There are a lot of shoppers who would see a new engine as a GOOD thing, and thats good for YOU!
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Bob 9:38AM (3/28/2006)
Clearly the person who calls themselves "White Trash Hooker" has a problem with people who actually work for a living or save money by doing work on their own cars. While I do less than I used to, I enjoy replacing my brakes for les than $50, when everyone else pays someone hundreds to do it. Joke is on you: "White Trash Hooker".
Whoever this person is, who clearly is incapable of doing anything with his/her hands, is a useless snob.
To the point of the article... I would bet most people could have a professional replace an engine and a transmission for the finance costs of a new car. But it seems true that an engine is the last thing to fail on cars today.
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apollo322 10:27AM (3/28/2006)
"Here is the main problem. New car warranties are like house insurance to most people on a budget. The rich can pay the chunks of expense if something happens to the house. In the case of a car, most people (who do not have huge savings, or money set aside for large repairs) will end up putting the repairs on high interest credit cards, and will take a long time to pay it back -- and during that time they will be biting their nails everytime the car has a squeak or groan. If a transmission goes, how far behind could a differential or headgasket, or bearings, etc be? It is endless unless you have really set money aside.
Sadly you are right, the people who could benefit most from this usually cannot because of poor savings. Nonetheless, the only way out of that endless credit trap is employing strategies like this. Since the vast majority of people only look at warrantied cars, the values you can get in the used out of warranty market are astonishing. Buy a great classic ( old mercedes, bmw, etc) and save the 5 k to put an engine in when it needs it and you'll save 5 grand a year in payments. I wish more people tried to do this.
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Weez 1:29AM (3/29/2006)
I have a 1992 Honda Prelude S (base model for that year). The engine let go at 193k miles a year ago. I got a JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) used replacement engine and transmission put in with a 1yr/12k mile warranty. A year later and it's still running strong. The old engine was a 2.2L SOHC 4cyl rated at 135HP. The new one is a 2.2L DOHC rated at 160HP. It's better than the day I bought it.
I know there's alot of people who just have to have that "new car smell" every few years but my Lude is my baby and run it til it just can't run anymore.
If you see a car as an investment, do the smarter thing and buy one that's 2 years old. Let the other fools take the depreciation hit.
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