So you need to buy an engine for your vehicle after yours has failed, your mechanic has asked you to locate one. Maybe, you should be wondering why he isn’t finding it for you? You don’t take the TV for a repair and the technician asks you to get him a screen from somewhere.

The answer is simple! Buying an engine is an absolute mine field, hence, your mechanic won’t source one for you, he will no doubt have “burnt his fingers before”. If he supplies and fits an engine for you and the unit is faulty, then who will pay for his labour? But if you supply him the engine and it’s faulty, then you will be still required to pay his bill and all you can do is hope that your supplier will reimburse you.

First things first, Reconditioned Engines should never be confused with remanufactured. Remanufactured engines are supplied by only one British manufacturer - Ivor Searle, these engines are the equivalent of new, but obviously priced accordingly.

A reconditioned engine is generally a failed used engine that has been rebuilt. A perusal of the classified adverts for reconditioned engines will clearly demonstrate two things, firstly that all sellers require your failed engine back as an exchange unit, ( your exchange unit should be free of holes or you will pay a surcharge) and secondly, that used engines cost more than reconditioned. I guess you’re wondering about how that can be, and unlike earlier, the answer is not simple.

A reconditioned engine has no legal definition and, unless you have asked for a list of all work that has been carried out on the unit before you purchased it, you have no way of knowing what has actually been done to the unit to give it the name Reconditioned. This is where the advertised reconditioned engines with a list of works carried out fall down. Price the components yourself, use google, you will see the trade price for the parts. What’s promised simply can’t be done for the money.

It’s the oldest form of selling, a case of telling you what you want to hear. I am sure that no decent company would knowingly sell a faulty engine but on the other hand, will they pay your mechanics bill if it is? If the answer is yes, and you have paid by credit card, then proceed as the bottom line is -you have their guarantee in writing and section 20 protection from your credit card company.

I’m not against reconditioned engines but, I prefer to refer to them as an engine that has had a contact part rebuild and replacement of any worn components. An engine that doesn’t have an identifiable failure should never be rebuilt. Obviously, if you don’t know why it went wrong you can never be sure that it’s fixed. Lots of modern engines have fuel systems cast into the heads and obviously, tests cannot be easily run on these. Similarly, oil pressure cannot easily be measured pre build up.

Number one best option if going down the rebuild/ reconditioned route is to rebuild you own unit. Logic tells you if your old engine is required back as part of the deal then it’s going to end up back in someone’s car, so why not yours?

Unfortunately for you, the only true test for the engine will be when its fitted into your car. You need to be clear with your supplier pre purchase, in writing, that if you use their services in either rebuilding your own engine or fitting one of theirs, that if it becomes faulty either at the point of fitting or during its warranty that they will become liable for your mechanics reasonable fitting costs.

Another major point to consider is that an engine is no longer a stand alone part, when it fails, normally other parts will fail with it or even worse have caused the failure. Buying just an engine will not normally resolve all of your problems and what is exactly required to get your car back on the road should be discussed with your mechanic before you purchase anything. Any good supplier will refuse to sell you anything until they have spoken to your garage themselves.

On the other hand, a warranted low mileage used engine with provenance will always trump the reconditioned engine, firstly it arrives complete, secondly it was in its donor vehicle running and checked prior to you purchasing it.

Unfortunately, this analogy isn’t a perfect scenario, it only works in high percentage rates for vehicles less than eight years old and without design faults. As an example it would be pointless to replace a failed Audi 2.0 tdi engine with a used one as the badly designed oil pump that likely caused the failure would still need replacing. Vehicles older than eight year old will be harder to source low mileage used engines for, in cases such as these partially rebuilt used engines are the only cost effective option

Ultimately no two scenarios are the same but as an absolute must when making a large purchase over the phone or internet is PAY BY CREDIT CARD that way your card provider protects you from faulty or fraudulent purchases. Some sellers might refuse card holder not present transactions and in this case ask that they send you a paypal invoice. NEVER EVER DEAL WITH A COMPANY THAT REFUSES CREDIT CARDS