For lots of drivers, the end of their engine would be the end of their car. But if you’ve got the requisite tools, skill and knowledge that enables you to replace it, there’s no reason why you should necessarily consign the vehicle to the scrapheap. Plenty of amateur and professional mechanics can find all sorts of viable salvage cars to strip down for parts in our online car auctions, which makes them a potentially great place to find a vehicle with a replacement engine you can use.
Using a replacement engine, as opposed to sourcing a brand new one, can bring its own set of advantages too. If they’ve been carefully looked after, second-hand engines can often be just as reliable as new models, and they provide an eco-friendly option too; by using a second-hand engine, you can help prevent perfectly usable material from potentially ending up in landfill, as well as saving all the energy and raw materials that it would take to build a new one.
So, if you’re about ready to start your search, here are some handy tips it’s worth bearing in mind!
Always take care to match the engine to your vehicle
It sounds like an obvious point to mention, but it’s still worth saying – sometimes the obvious mistakes are the most expensive ones! Before you make the final decision to purchase any engine, it’s a good idea to cast your eye over the VIN (vehicle identification number) on your car one final time, as well as the engine code and the production date.
That way, you can be sure that the engine will be a match for the car, and you can avoid any costly (and let’s be honest, pretty embarrassing) slip-ups.
If you can, choose the low-mileage option
This one doesn’t take a whole lot of specialist industry knowledge to work out. While it’s not uncommon for certain high-mileage engines to perform surprisingly well regardless, if you’ve got the choice it’s always best to go for the one with the lowest mileage. These will typically have the least wear and tear, and therefore the greatest chance of matching the natural remaining lifespan of the car.
An extended warranty can provide extra peace of mind
To be honest, this is just a general good rule of thumb when you’re buying any kind of car part second-hand. An extended warranty can give you valuable extra peace of mind, especially if the options you’re faced with tend to have a higher mileage than you’d have ideally preferred. That way, if you buy a replacement second-hand engine that chugs to a stop within a few months, you’re covered.
The history of the car always matters
Another general good-practice idea whenever you’re buying any kind of second-hand car part, especially something as pivotal and relatively expensive as an engine. In addition to the issue of mileage, the manner in which the original car was driven can also make all the difference to the condition of its engine.
Crucially, if it’s been driven carefully and sensibly throughout its lifetime, that’s probably going to mean it ends up being in a much better state than it would have been if the car had been consistently driven intensively, or for long distances, or even outright aggressively.
As ever with these sorts of decisions, ultimately the most important thing is to listen to your gut. If something about the engine you’re considering ever gives you a vaguely bad feeling, make sure you give yourself all the time you need to follow up on any doubts – and if you can’t resolve them properly, there’s no shame in walking away. Better that than taking a risk on something as pivotal as a car engine!
If you’ve already got all the specifications to hand though, and you know exactly what you’re looking for, that’s where we can help here at RAW2K. You’ll find a whole host of viable salvage cars amongst our online car auctions, encompassing models from some of the biggest brands too – including Ford, Mercedes, and Vauxhall (just to name a few!). Our online car auctions are refreshed on a daily and weekly basis, so there are always new deals to be found. Why not take a look around, and see what bargains you can find?
