By Rod Sewell.

Think back to the last time that you had your car in the repair shop… How much money did you spend?

What if there was a way to spend less money fixing your car, while still maintaining very best in safety standards?

With rebuilt engines, you can do just that!

What is a rebuilt engine?

It is an engine that has been completely taken apart, cleaned, inspected, and had any necessary repairs made to it.  Once every part of the engine is in tip-top shape, it is all put back together and put back under the hood.

With a rebuilt engine, little parts – like the gaskets, piston rings, and connecting rod bearings – are often replaced, while the bigger parts – like the crankshaft and valves – are updated.  And, a good repair shop will also take a look at your fuel, ignition, and cooling systems while they’re under the hood, just to make sure that everything is running smoothly.

Is a rebuilt engine the same as a used engine?

No!

With a used engine, you get a couple of basic repairs made before the engine is shoved under your hood.  But with a rebuilt engine, every single part of your engine is scoured for even the tiniest of flaws.  Anything that’s even remotely wrong with it is either repaired or replaced.  Rebuilding is a much more involved process, that leaves you with a higher-quality result.

By now, you’re probably thinking, “that sounds awfully time consuming.  Why should I bother with a rebuilt engine?  Wouldn’t it just be easier to get a brand new engine?”

Absolutely not!

There may be a lot of labor involved with them, but, overall, rebuilt engines are much cheaper than brand new engines.  On any given car, a new engine will cost you thousands of dollars.  By opting for a rebuilt engine, you can pay a fraction of that!

Rebuilt engines are the perfect alternative for people who don’t have several thousand dollars to spend on a brand new engine.  Before rebuilt engines came along, if your engine died and you couldn’t afford a new one, you had to get rid of the entire car!  Thanks to rebuilt engines, you can extend the life of your car, so that you don’t have to worry about buying a new one for awhile.  Jump ahead for: Rebuilt Ford engines, rebuilt Chevy engines, rebuilt Toyota engines, rebuilt Mitsubishi engines and rebuilt Jeep engines.

But it’s not just about price.  Rebuilt engines come with several other big advantages:

-          In most cases, rebuilt engines are just as good as the engines that are fresh off the assembly line.  Since they have been looked over with a fine-toothed comb by a certified professional, they are just as safe and reliable as their brand new counterparts.

-          Rebuilt engines can be updated so that they meet the very latest OEM specifications.  In fact, by getting a rebuilt engine, you can wind up with a car that meets stricter safety standards than the day you bought it!

-          Rebuilt engines also come with many of the same functional benefits that new engines do – like a smoother, more efficient ride.  When you rebuild your engine, you can say goodbye to all of those awkward bumps and strange noises!

-          Rebuilt engines also provide much better gas mileage than older engines.  With the cost of gas constantly on the rise, that’s a big benefit!

-          When you get a rebuilt engine, you also get a brand new warranty.  Most good repair shops will give you at least a year’s warranty on a rebuilt engine.  Some places will even give you a 3 or 4 year warranty!

-          Rebuilt engines are also good for the environment.  Instead of sending your engine – or an entire car that won’t run anymore – to a junkyard, a rebuilt engine can use recycled parts.

But you don’t have to wait for your engine to die to have it rebuilt.  In fact, many people rebuild their engines before there’s a major problem, so that they don’t wind up with the expense and inconvenience that a break-down will eventually bring.

So, how much can you expect to pay for a rebuilt engine?

Rebuilt engine prices depend on the make, model, and age of your vehicle.  For some cars, you may get away with spending several hundred dollars.  Others may cost more than that.  Most of the time, you can count on import engines being more expensive to rebuild than domestic engines.

Labor will make up the bulk of your expense.  Labor costs vary from place to place, but generally, you can expect labor to cost you $30-$75 per hour.

If you’re facing large repair bills, and you’re wondering if it would just be cheaper to rebuild the engine, there is a good rule of thumb to follow – once your repair bill hits $700 or $800, it is usually more cost-effective to do an engine rebuild than a bunch of smaller repairs. 

Remember, once you’re engine is rebuilt, it will be as good as new; you won’t have to worry about it for awhile.  Smaller repairs always have a way of popping back up!

For more information, jump ahead to:  Common problems with rebuilt engines, life span of a rebuilt engine, pros and cons, buying tips, rebuilt engine facts and financing a rebuilt engine.