Deciding on Auto Engine Repair or Replacement

Automotive engine problems cannot be ignored. Don’t just give up on your vehicle, though. Find a reliable mechanic in Tampa and ask for a consultation. A truly professional mechanic will not lead you astray. He should do a thorough auto inspection of all vehicle components, including your car transmission system, and give you a full and honest report on whether you can still profit from auto repair – or truck repair, as the case may be – or if you need replacements for major car parts, even to the extent of engine replacement. To decide between automotive engine repair or replacement, you need to know about the pros and cons of your options.

Would it be more cost effective to repair your engine, to replace it, or to buy a new vehicle altogether? Is your vehicle’s engine still repairable? If you decide to replace it, should you get a new engine, a used engine or a remanufactured engine?

According to our mechanic from Tampa, if the vehicle has already depreciated to the point of having a book value that is less than $2,000.00, or if it is more than ten years old, you should not invest more money in it – whether for engine repair or replacement. That would not raise the vehicle’s resale value commensurate to your expense. It would then make better financial sense to buy a new vehicle instead. Perhaps you can still sell the old vehicle for some petty cash.

On the other hand, engine repair would still be a good investment on a vehicle that is less than ten years old. If the engine is no longer repairable, our mechanic says engine replacement is still more economical than the purchase of a new vehicle.

Engine repair is not also always recommended even if still possible. In some cases, it can turn out to be more expensive. This is so for any engine that has already clocked more than 150,000 miles and is running poorly, burning oil, making strange noises or has locked up.

Replacement engines are either new – called crate engines – or remanufactured engines. Among the advantages are that they usually arrive with a warranty and can be installed immediately whereas repairs can take so long. Some crate engines are almost exact duplicates of original vehicle engines. Others come with various upgrades such as more powerful horsepower or larger displacements. Remanufactured engines are used engines that have been completely rebuilt to attain specifications equivalent to new engines, meeting or even exceeding OEM engine specifications. Remanufactured engines are more ecologically friendly since they recycle engine parts and reduce scrap.

Our mechanic recommends caution in choosing a used engine that has not been remanufactured, especially if it has high mileage or if it comes from a junked vehicle. He says buying a low cost used engine from a salvage yard would only be acceptable if the yard guarantees it and the engine has low mileage of not more than 60,000 miles.

Of course, when you replace your engine with a crate engine, a remanufactured engine or a used engine, you have to make sure that everything is compatible, from the engine management system to sensors and wiring harness. You may need professional help with this because engine designs and calibrations differ from year to year.

The best option, of course, is to avoid engine repair or replacement by keeping your vehicle and its engine in perfect running condition through proper maintenance. Auto oil change, for example, is very important to give your engine longer life. Whenever you need new car parts, make sure to use only brands that have been proven to be of the highest quality.

(ArticlesBase ID #985402)



September 17, 2009
By Business Local Listing
Guy’s Automotive
Contact Name: Guy Skiver
Address: 3049 W.Hillsborough Ave.
Tampa, FL 33614
Phone: 813.353.1537
Fax: 813.353.1568
Email: GUYSAUTOMOTIVE@GMAIL.COM
Website: www.GUYSAUTOMOTIVE.COM