Rebuilt Engines or Reconditioned Engines
When you are shopping for a used car, there is a better than average chance that you are going to run across a vehicle or two that have rebuilt or reconditioned engines. While that may seem like a red flag to some buyers, you can in fact get a great car that comes with a rebuilt engine. That said, there are some things to consider before you take that sort of leap, as not all engines are the same. One engine that has been rebuilt may be great, while another may just not be up to par. There are some things you need to be aware of before you make the purchase or consider buying a rebuilt engine for your own car.
The first thing that you need to find out is where the engine was rebuilt, and the reason why it had to be done in the first place. The common misconception is that rebuilt engines are all old units that have been put through their paces over hundreds of thousands of miles. The fact of the matter is that engines can fail for a variety of different reasons, with some doing so very early in their expected lifespan. It may even be possible to get a rebuilt engine that is still covered by the original warranty, which would be a very wise purchase. This is the case with some Subaru engines.
An engine that has been rebuilt by a professional mechanic is more than likely to be a much better option than one that has been put together by an enthusiast. It is for this reason that you should have a mechanic come along to do a pre-inspection of the rebuilt engine before you make a final decision. An engine that my look good to you could actually have a couple of little small issues that could make it a real problem once you start regularly using it. A professional will spot those little issues and bring them to your attention.
People looking at buying a rebuilt engine often get caught up in how old the engine is, which isn’t really that much of a factor. When an engine has to be rebuilt with less than 120,000 miles on it, it’s usually all down to high oil consumption. When an engine has been properly rebuilt, the new rings added to the engine should take care of that oil consumption issue. Again, it all comes down to finding out who built the engine, and the reason why it had to be done.
If you are in the market for a rebuilt engine to put into your own car before selling, you can have peace of mind when you purchase from Gearbox Engine. All of their reconditioned units will pass a pre-inspection at selling time, because they have been rebuilt to exacting standards. The bottom line here is that a rebuilt engine should not be a reason not to purchase a vehicle, just as long as you do your due diligence before you buy.