How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Car Engine? - House Digest

According to Family Handyman, there are three main components that will affect the cost of your engine replacement.

The size and complexity of the engine

It goes without saying that the price of purchasing a new engine goes hand in glove with its capabilities. A regular new four-cylinder engine costs approximately $4,000 and as the capacity increases so does the price, a V8 engine goes for $7,000. It is worth mentioning that the bigger the engine capacity the more complex the systems are. So whenever you are thinking about replacing a car engine, you should know that the total cost of replacement is largely affected by the model and performance of that specific vehicle.

The nature of the engine replacement

When your engine is fried, there are essentially three options for you to choose from: a new engine, a used engine, or a rebuilt engine. As discussed earlier, the cost of getting a new engine is determined by the size and complexity of the engine. When it comes to a used engine, the major factors for its cost are the mileage, age of the vehicle it was salvaged from, and the freight charges to your location. One disadvantage that comes with a used engine are the risks. In the event that the engine fails to run after replacement, you will likely need to pay the mechanic for his labor, regardless.

If buying a new engine is too expensive for you and you also don't want to deal with the risks that are involved with salvage engines, your next best option is the rebuilt engine. A rebuilt engine is one that has been disassembled and all its faulty parts replaced, refinished, or repaired. While a rebuilt engine might not be as ideal as a new engine, the rebuilding process extends the engine's life span.

The shop rate

Depending on where you choose to do your replacement and the nature of the task, the average time taken to replace the engine can vary, but usually takes between 10 and 12 hours. However, experienced mechanics tend to work faster and charge more for the same task. Again with the average cost of labor falling between $90 to $150 an hour, the overall labor cost for the entire engine replacement will be about $1,080 and $1,800.