Learning About Car Engine Replacements
Your car goes on the fritz, meaning it isn’t running now. You take it to your trusted mechanic and after a couple of days, they recommend a car engine replacement. Wow! That sounds expensive and intensive, and it is, so you need to ask your mechanic questions before agreeing to this type of service. Starting with, “What are the benefits of replacing a car engine?”
Benefits of Car Engine Replacement
There are several benefits to going with a car engine replacement when your car’s engine is gone, especially if the current car is paid off! But sometimes, it can be a choice you have to make: Go with a car engine replacement or buy a new car.
And while neither of these options is cheap, let’s take a look at the benefits of going with a car engine replacement:
- Car Payment
If your car is paid for, a car engine replacement will keep you from having to budget car payments, again. You may have to make payments on the engine replacement, but they won’t be close to what new car payments are, and you’ll pay it off sooner.
- Auto Insurance Premiums
When you’re making payments on a car, the insurance premiums are higher than for a paid-in-full car. With a car engine replacement, full coverage isn’t required, so your insurance premiums aren’t affected.
- Warranty
Yes, you’ll have a full warranty with a new car, but you’ll also have a warranty with a car engine replacement too. It may not be from front to rear and everything in between, including the drivetrain, but most car engine replacements come with a warranty of 3 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.
- Less Time, Less Waste
For a mechanic, installing a car engine replacement can usually be completed in under a week, if parts are readily available. From the environmental perspective, there is less energy used to install a car engine replacement than re-building the existing engine.
So, You May Be Asking, “What Should I Consider Before Replacing My Car Engine?”
Your financial standing is the first consideration. You may have to borrow the money for a car engine replacement, but can you afford a full car payment for the next 4 to 6 years? On top of having a new car payment, you can expect your auto insurance to increase too.
However, the engine isn’t the only part of a car you need to be concerned about. If you have an older car, there are the transmission and other components to be concerned with too. If you have a car over 10 years old, your mechanic is the best person to advise if car engine replacement is the best scenario.
What Is the Average Cost to Replace a Car Engine?
There are several factors that will determine the cost of a car engine replacement. In addition to the make, model, and year of the car, there is the size and type of engine to be replaced. Engines come in various sizes, 4-cylinder, 6-cylinder, and V-8 are the most common types of engine.
Every make, model, and year can take any of these engines, and even some other less common engines. You can be sure though, a car engine replacement could cost upward of $1,000 or more, depending on your mechanic’s rates and if they can reuse any of the parts from the current engine. Those parts that could be reused would be the belt, starter, radiator, fan, etc.
What Are Some Common Signs That a Car Engine Needs to Be Replaced?
Here are eight indications that your car engine is on its way to needing a car engine replacement:
Check Engine Light Illuminated
When this light illuminates, it tells you something is wrong with the engine. Your mechanic will run a code check and can determine the exact problem and from there, they can advise you if repairs are possible or recommend a car engine replacement.
Power Loss
Gas-powered cars have an internal combustion engine with a 4-stroke combustion cycle that converts the gasoline into power the engine needs for the car to move. If your car has a loss of power, this usually indicates you’re out of gas or there is an interruption in the 4-stroke combustion process.
Gas Mileage Decreases
There can be a number of things that cost the gas mileage to decrease, but if you’re having to fill the tank up every day, it is likely something is wrong with the internal compression stroke. You can add a fuel cleaner that will help it, but if it doesn’t, your mechanic can run a diagnostic test that will help determine the problem.
Noises and Sounds
Car engines should not be backfiring, hissing, knocking, popping, or sputtering. When you start hearing odd noises and sounds, take your car to a mechanic and have them run diagnostic testing. They will be able to advise if repairs are possible or if you need a car engine replacement.
Other indications that it is time for a car engine replacement include the engine constantly stalling, odd smells coming from under the hood, or when you kill the engine, it keeps running. Even a rough-running engine could indicate the engine is done, but your mechanic can advise this once they have inspected the car engine and run diagnostics.
In Closing: Is Car Engine Replacement Worthwhile?
The information we have shared here proves that it is a personal decision based on what your mechanic advises you. Your mechanic should do a full inspection of the engine and run diagnostics, then take all that information acquired and advise you if a car engine replacement is the best choice for you.
American Engine Installations offers professional car engine replacement in Marietta and Atlanta, GA. Contact us at (404) 920-4252 to learn more.