Are Used Cars With Replaced Engines Worth Buying?

Before buying a used car to use for your daily commute or taking the kids to school, it's smart to order a vehicle history report to check on the past of any car you're considering. If you find out that a perfect looking SUV or sedan is on its second engine already, don't rush to make a purchase. Do a little more investigation and answer these questions about the engine replacement before assuming you've found a good deal.

When Was the Replacement?

There's a big difference between a car that needs an engine replacement at 20,000 or 200,000 miles. While you might assume that there's something seriously wrong with the car with less mileage, it's likely that there was a manufacturing fault in the engine since it failed so early. If you purchase a car that had its engine replaced purely due to being worn out from driving hundreds of thousands of miles, it's likely that most of the car's parts need replacement. Unless the older car has had a full renovation of all the major parts that fail with age, stick with vehicles that received an engine replacement relatively early in life.

Why Did the Original Engine Fail?

An engine that is replaced strictly for performance reasons is no cause for concern, but an engine replacement after a serious accident or similar disaster is a major warning sign. Malfunctioning engines put a lot of extra wear and tear on the transmission and other major systems of the car. If the car was driven for thousands of miles as the engine slowly sputtered to its permanent death, there's likely a lot of other damage to the car you'll need to repair fairly soon after becoming the next owner. Can't find any information on when or why the engine was replaced? Pass on that particular vehicle and look for a car with fewer mysteries surrounding its condition.

Who Performed the Replacement?

Finally, don't forget to request information on who handled the engine replacement work. If the engine was completely replaced with a new model, find out what company manufactured it. Researching the reputation of the engine manufacturer will give you a good idea of whether the car is worth your money or not. Rebuilding the original engine with new seals and other components is far more common. Unless you can verify that the engine was rebuilt and reinstalled by a mechanic's shop that holds certifications for these processes, skip the car since you can't be sure how long the engine will last. Contact a business, such as Hubbell Motors used cars for more information.