Is it worth replacing the engine in an older ute, 4WD or van?
How do you decide if a new engine is worth it?
Put four numbers side by side:
Swipe across the table to see all columns.
| Line | Your number |
|---|---|
| A. Fitted engine cost (engine, labour, fluids, parts, freight or tow) | $ |
| B. Other repairs the vehicle needs in the next year or two | $ |
| C. What the vehicle would be worth once fixed | $ |
| D. What a comparable replacement vehicle would cost you, ready to drive | $ |
If A plus B is well below D, and the vehicle is one you would otherwise keep, a new engine usually makes sense. If A plus B is close to D, or more than C by a long way, think harder.
Ask us for A. Your mechanic can help with B. Online listings and a valuation give you C and D.
Why do owners of older utes and 4WDs often replace the engine?
Because the vehicle can be worth more to them than its market price. A LandCruiser that is set up for touring, a work ute with a tray, canopy and racks, or a van fitted out for a trade carries money in its accessories and set-up. Replacing it with a similar vehicle means paying for all of that again, plus the unknowns of someone else's vehicle.
That's the buyer we talk to most: someone who has heard from their mechanic that the engine is gone and is shopping it around.
What makes replacing the engine a poor deal?
- Rust or chassis damage. A new engine in a rusted-out body is good money after bad.
- Gearbox, clutch or diff on the way out. Add them to line B.
- A cause of failure that can't be fixed cheaply. If the engine died from overheating, the radiator, hoses and water pump need sorting too.
- Very low vehicle value. If a sound replacement costs about the same as the job, you may be better off moving on.
What does a typical fitted job include?
For our workshop jobs: removing and refitting the engine, moving your original outside parts across, and the fluids and filters.
Our engines are listed from $4,150 to $8,950.
Should you rebuild your own engine instead?
Sometimes. If the engine is serviceable, a rebuild of your own engine is a real option and we quote it as a fixed price after a teardown. If it is not serviceable, a new engine is usually the way to go. Our guide to new, reconditioned or used engines compares them.
Ask us for a fitted price
Send your vehicle details through the enquiry form, say whether you need it fitted, and we give you line A in writing. Or call 02 9737 0105.
