Contract engine: what is it and how to choose it

The engine is the "heart" of the car, expensive and complex. A faulty motor is an inevitable waste of time and money. But repairing the existing power unit is not the only way out of the situation. “Contract engine: what kind of animal is this?” - a favorite question of many motorists. The time has come to answer it as fully as possible.

Content

• 1 What is a contract car engine
  • 1.1 Where do they come from
  • 1.2 What is better contract engine or overhaul
  • 1.3 Advantages and disadvantages
• 2 How to choose a contract engine
  • 2.1 What to look for so as not to get stuck
  • 2.2 What documents should be
• 3 How to register with the traffic police

What is a contract car engine

Contract ICE - a power unit of a gasoline or diesel type, which was previously used abroad and then delivered to the territory of the Russian Federation in compliance with customs legislation. Simply put, this is a foreign motor that was brought to Russia. Feature - most of these motors were already in use. It is called contract due to the fact that the buyer purchased the unit at an auction (won the contract).

Where do they come from

Places of purchase - car dismantling companies of the following countries:

• USA.
• Western Europe.
• South Korea.
• Japan.

Motors are supplied from countries with global automotive brands. It is possible to order from other countries, but preference is given to pioneers in the automotive industry. In economically developed regions, the average lifespan of a car is about 5 years. At the end of the term of use, a new vehicle is purchased, and the old one is scrapped. But many details remain working, including the power unit. It can serve a new owner for more than one thousand kilometers.

Many sellers offer a small guarantee for a foreign unit of about 14 days

What is better contract engine or overhaul

A similar "Hamlet" question arises before the car owner, whose power unit is already living its last days. To determine which is better - "capital" or replacement - you need to consider the nuances of each option.

Consider the subtleties of overhaul. Pros:

• Work with the "native" motor. No surprises.
• No need to match the engine with the control unit or gearbox.
• Room availability. There is no need to agree on a replacement.
• Deep overhaul changes the inside, but the shell remains the same.

Overhaul of an internal combustion engine is an expensive procedure

Disadvantages:

• The temptation to save on consumables.
• Risk of incorrect assembly.
• Break-in after repair.

The key nuance is the colossal cost. According to statistics, the "capital" is 20-30% more expensive than a used engine. High-quality overhaul at a price can be several times higher than a simple replacement. To save money, overhaul is not the most reasonable way out.

Advantages and disadvantages

With a custom engine, everything looks easier. The idea of ​​replacement arises after careful calculations, when it turns out that the best solution would be to purchase a different motor.

Advantages:

• Reliability. The power unit was already in operation, and on foreign roads.
• Quality. Original elements of units, branded cylinders - all components from foreign manufacturers.
• Potential. The development of resources, according to motorists, does not exceed 30%. If desired, the engine can be overclocked robustly.
• Relative cheapness. Compared to overhaul.

Not without nuances:

• Doubtful story. The "biography" of the motor may turn out to be much longer than that stated by the seller;
• The need for registration. The traffic police does not sleep.

However, the disadvantages are not so terrible. What does it mean to buy a foreign unit from the point of view of a domestic car owner? This means getting foreign quality and reliability. The temptation is great. What's more, it's completely justified. The minimum that a foreign motor can offer is to serve the owner for tens, and maybe hundreds of thousands of kilometers. The main thing is to learn how to make the right choice.

How to choose a contract engine

For many motorists, a contract engine is a “pig in a poke”. It's time to dispel this myth.

Two options are available:

1. Far East.
2. West.

Which region to choose depends on preferences. Residents of the central regions of Russia, as a rule, buy motors from the West. In this case, there is a risk of getting a power unit with a dubious past. However, seasoned motorists know the peculiarities of custom engines from Japan and South Korea: most of the units are removed from whole cars. No accidents and other illegal incidents, just vehicles are scrapped. Asian tradition.

However, there are guidelines that will be helpful in every case.

Selection rules:

1. We carefully study the characteristics of the engine. Every moment is important: year of manufacture, mileage, completeness and other parameters.
2. Let's get acquainted with the price. Compare it with the cost of other engines.
3. We study documents.

What to look for so as not to get stuck

The first criterion is informative. Engine information must be open and complete. Large importers do not disdain to shoot videos on the operation of the units, where the instrument panel, mileage and gas flow are visible. In addition to information about the motor, there must be data about the supplier.

The second point is the appearance. When directly examining the motor, it is recommended to check whether the product has been washed. A clean engine is not always a good sign. There is a possibility that it is leaking, and therefore the seller took care of eliminating the defect in advance. Rust and oxidation are symptoms that can tell a lot about actual mileage and shelf life. Most units are made of aluminum, so traces of oxidation are normal.

Pay attention to the oil filler caps. It doesn't have to be clean! The presence of the film indicates the working condition. However, soot, emulsion or foreign fractions indicate problems.

Such a coating indicates the normal state of the engine.

Next, it is recommended to switch your gaze to the valve, pumps and cylinder head. The presence of regular seals is a good sign, but non-branded sealant says otherwise.

Bolts, clamps must be in good condition. If traces of unscrewing are visible, it means that the engine was disassembled. Pay attention to the collars: ring marks indicate that they were removed. Such moments are best avoided. It is recommended to check the spark plugs. The normal condition is an even soot of black color, no breakdowns.

The state of the turbine is a separate moment. Turbine must be dry. A good sign is the absence of shaft play. Easy to check: move the shaft. If he walks shaking, then the problem may be in the entire engine.

Iridium spark plugs are replaced no earlier than after 100 thousand kilometers, so they can tell a lot about the car's mileage

Don't neglect compression. If you have a compression gauge at hand, then it is easy to check the condition of the element. Finally, it is recommended to check all other components: the operation of the generator, distributor, starter and air conditioning system. It makes sense when buying to take a familiar specialist who understands engines.

The third nuance is the price. Too low cost compared to analogues indicates hidden problems. It is better to focus on the average market indicators.

What documents should be

Last point - documentation:

• Factory number. Must not be cut down or removed.
• Registration certificate.
• Articles of association.
• TIN.
• Documents confirming the right to conduct activities.

In other words, there must be documents that confirm the legality of the seller's work.

It is recommended to check the papers on the engine itself. First of all - the customs declaration (TD) and applications. It is in the declaration that the basic information about the motor is indicated. The traffic police will not require the provision of TD. Its meaning is to make sure that the engine is purchased.

Serial number must be clearly visible

The transaction itself must be formalized by a contract of sale. As a rule, a guarantee receipt is attached to the contract. Many neglect the significance of such formalities. In vain! The contract and the check are not just papers, but evidence that can later be used in court.

The official style and documentary consolidation are the main criteria for the legal reliability of the seller.

Final tips:

1. We pay attention to major suppliers. They sell thousands of power units every year.
2. We need photos and videos.
3. We provide the correct details of your car.
4. Learn about the warranty.
5. Make sure the components are intact.

It is important! The only reliable indicator of the quality of an engine is its actual condition.

Do not neglect the inspection and study of the motor. The seller can sing praises to the product, shout beautiful slogans, but all this is just a wrapper. It is necessary to check the product in practice, so as not to be disappointed later.

After acquiring the desired motor, the last step remains - registration with the state body.

How to register with the traffic police

If the case had been overhauled, then the registration procedure would not have been needed. However, replacement implies a complete change of the power unit to a new one with different characteristics.

Each engine has a VIN code, which consists of 17 characters. The code is unique and necessary to identify a specific model. It is important to note that you should contact the traffic police before starting the replacement. The government agency must approve the procedure and review it for safety and legality.

Step by step instructions for registration:

1. We apply to the territorial traffic police department at the place of residence.
2. We fill out an application for making changes to the car.
3. We are waiting for a replacement.
4. We install a new engine in a specialized center.
5. We receive documents confirming the fact of the work performed.
6. We pass inspection. As a result, we get a diagnostic card.
7. We provide a car and documentation to the traffic police.

Employees of the state body will require the following package of documents:

• PTS.
• Replacement request.
• Contract of sale
• Certificate from a specialized service center.
• Registration certificate.
• Diagnostic card.
• Receipt of payment of state duty. The amount of the contribution is 850 rubles.

After checking the documents, the state body enters the changed data into the TCP and into the Registration Certificate.

Installing a contract engine is a design change and requires registration

A contract engine is an alternative to a major overhaul, with its pluses and minuses. Practice shows that most motorists prefer to replace the motor than to repair, and there are good reasons for this: it is more economical and reliable. It is necessary, however, to re-register with the traffic police. But the desire to purchase a high-quality motor from the giant countries of the automotive industry is too great. Guided by the right advice on choosing, the car owner significantly reduces the risk of getting a "pig in a poke".