What to look for when buying a used engine?

How to check the technical condition of the engine before buying

We can buy a used engine from a car scrapyard, as well as from car shops that sell used car engines. 

Well, if it is possible to check the performance of the engine on the spot. By making sure that this unit is working before buying it and installing it in a car, we can save not only a lot of nerves, but also the costs associated with disassembling and assembling the drive unit. 

However, often the engines for sale are already out of the car, and so we have no way of checking if they are running - but if there is, let's make sure the engine is cold, i.e. didn't start. warm up before starting. 

It is also worth checking the compression in the cylinders of this unit. We then make sure that the device is sealed and maintains the operating parameters specified by the manufacturer. 

What if we can't test the engine on site?

However, if we do not have the opportunity to check these parameters and we buy the motor itself online, let's take care to obtain the so-called certificate for the drive unit. launch guarantee. Be sure to read its terms and conditions carefully. The Start Guarantee can protect us in the event that the purchased engine turns out to be defective. 

The appearance of the engine is also important. Blocks with visible cracks, abrasions or other damage should be automatically rejected by us. 

Similarly, if there are signs of rust on the engine, they may indicate that the engine has not been stored in optimal conditions. 

However, buying used auto parts has its benefits. You can read more about them, for example, on the website humanmag.pl.

Are you sure it will fit?

If the engine we want to buy looks promising and we're ready to buy it, we need to make sure it fits our car exactly. 

When searching for a used engine, we must use the part code and not just its power and generic name (eg TDI, HDI, etc.). It happens that the unit of the same name in two different models differs, for example, in mountings or accessories. 

By replacing the engine with the same one that is already in our car, we are unlikely to encounter unpleasant surprises when replacing it.

What to remember about SWAP?

The situation is different with the so-called SWAP, when we decide to replace the engine with a more powerful one, both available in this car model and from a completely different manufacturer. 

With such an exchange, everything becomes much more difficult for us. 

First of all, we need to make sure that the engine we want to install in our car will simply fit in it. 

If we choose an engine from this model, the chance is quite high, but if we choose a unit from another manufacturer or a completely different model, we must make sure that the drive will fit under the hood of our car. . Let's also be prepared for the fact that we will most likely have to make some changes to the engine mounts in order to securely mount it in the engine bay.