What to do with a car that has a blown engine?

Asked by: Dante Cummerata  |  Last update: August 23, 2022
Score: 4.5/5 (13 votes)

While a car with a blown engine might now be worth much to you – or anybody else for that matter – most car dealerships will accept it in a trade. With this, you can trade in your car to help pay for a new one. The car dealership will then take your car and either sell it or use it for pieces.

Is it worth fixing a car with a blown engine?

How Much Is My Car Worth With A Blown Engine? Without a functioning engine, you can expect to get at least $3,000 less for your car as a sales price than you would get for a functioning vehicle. So if your vehicle is worth $10,000 in good condition, you should expect to get something closer to $4,000 to $7,000 for it.

What do you do with a car with a broken engine?

A car with a blown engine isn't worth much to you, but most dealerships will accept it as a trade-in and every junkyard will accept it as junk.

Can I trade in my car if the engine is blown?

Can I Trade In A Car With A Blown Engine? If you have a non-running car, you are probably wondering, “Can you trade in a car with a bad engine?” The simple answer is yes, you can. While a used car dealership will allow you to trade in your broken vehicle, you won't be taking home a large check at all.

Can a blown engine be fixed?

If you do have a blown engine, whether or not it can be fixed depends upon the extensiveness of the damage. If the damage is minimal, and a few parts can be replaced, the problem can be fixed. However, if the damage is great and impossible to repair, you may need a complete engine replacement.

What are your options if you blow your engine?

35 related questions found

How much does it cost to fix a blown motor?

A typical engine rebuild is between $2,500 and $4,000 in parts and labor costs. This type of engine repair might include simply replacing bearings and seals, and obviously taking the engine out and re-installing it.

Will CarMax buy a car with a blown engine?

The short answer to this question is yes, they do. CarMax buys cars in all types of shape. They buy cars with transmission trouble, engine trouble, blown head gaskets, bad clutches and more. CarMax will buy almost any vehicle.

Is it worth putting a new engine in a car?

New engines offer a long-term, reliable solution to your car troubles. On the other hand, used vehicles may come with their own set of engine problems. If your used vehicle replacement encounters engine issues, you could end up paying twice as much in the long run.

Is it cheaper to rebuild or buy a new engine?

Rebuilding to repair is usually cheaper than buying a new engine, too. You may save up to half of the cost of a new engine by rebuilding. However, sometimes rebuilding is not a good option. In cases where rebuilding will cost as much as a new engine, your mechanic should be upfront about those costs.

How much does an engine replacement cost?

New engines start at around $4,000 for a 4-cylinder, around $5,500 for a V6 and $7,000 for a V8. Prices increase from these figures based on complexity of the engine and the brand of car.

What happens when an engine seized up?

What does a seized engine mean? A seized engine means the electronics in your vehicle may still work (i.e. the radio, A/C, etc.) but the engine itself will not turn over. Instead, you may hear a knocking or clunking sound.

How much does an engine rebuild cost?

Cost of Rebuilding or Replacing an Engine

In a very general sense, you can expect the cost of rebuilding your engine to run you anywhere between $2,500 and $4,500 depending on parts as well as labor. If you are capable and handy, rebuilding your own engine will obviously run on the lower side.

How much does an engine for a car cost?

The cost to replace a car engine is between $3,000 and $5,000 for most cars. It sounds like the quote you were given was right on the money, unfortunately. Very complex engines can cost up to $6,000 to replace. However, most four-cylinder vehicles need about $4,000 to complete an engine replacement.

Does replacing an engine reset mileage?

Answer provided by

An engine swap or engine replacement will not reset the odometer as the odometer doesn't just measure the engine but all of the components of the car. In fact, it's illegal to reset the odometer as it would not accurately reflect the age of other parts of the vehicle.

What else should I replace When replacing an engine?

8 Things You Should Know Before Replacing Your Engine
  1. Find and fix the root problem. ...
  2. Inspect your new engine. ...
  3. Replace the timing belt, gaskets, and seals. ...
  4. Don't forget to flush. ...
  5. Replace belts, hoses, clamps spark plugs and thermostat. ...
  6. Be careful not to drop anything inside your new engine. ...
  7. Don't forget the oil change.

How do you get rid of a car that doesn't run?

How to Get Rid of a Car That Doesn't Run
  1. Call a junk removal service.
  2. Recycle your car.
  3. Sell the car for parts.
  4. Sell the car to a dealership.
  5. Sell your car to a scrapyard.
  6. Sell the car independently.
  7. Renovate your car to sell.
  8. Auction off the car.

Will CarMax buy my car even if it doesn't run?

CarMax does take nonrunning cars, even if they do not prioritize nonrunning vehicles. However, it's possible to get a better quote for your vehicle, as well as free towing and title transfer, with a service such as DamagedCars. We can make an offer for your vehicle in 90 seconds.

Will Carvana buy a car that doesn't run?

Does Carvana Buy Wrecked Cars? If your car has been wrecked it's also worth noting that while Carvana does purchase vehicles with salvage or rebuilt titles, the car must be in running order in order to be sold. In fact, a representative from Carvana will test drive your car at the time of purchase.

What causes a blown engine?

Piston problems are one of the most common reasons for a blown engine. In most cases, it isn't the piston itself that has failed but rather, the piston rings that have failed. These metal rings seal the piston against the cylinder wall and keep engine oil in the crankcase, out of the combustion chamber.

How long does it take a mechanic to replace an engine?

The time it takes to pull and replace an engine is 8-15 hours depending on the car's model, age, the skill of the mechanic, and type of engine work (replacement vs. repair). Some cars are notorious for having harder than usual engines to replace or repair. Ask your mechanic for a quote and compare options.

Does insurance cover if your engine blows?

Yes, car insurance covers engine blowing up, but only if it was caused by a covered scenario like an accident or vandalism. For instance, if a crash leads to engine blowing up, the policyholder's collision insurance will cover repairs, but not if the damage was caused by poor maintenance, negligence or wear and tear.

How much is an engine from a junkyard?

How Much does a Junkyard Motor Cost? A junkyard engine costs between $50 and $500 depending on the configuration. A short-block engine (block with heads and accessories removed) usually costs 25% less than a long-block (engine with heads and accessories present). Most people pay about $300 for a used long-block engine.

How many miles will a rebuilt engine last?

A typical warranty on a rebuilt engine is for at least one year or 12,000 miles.

How many times can you rebuild an engine?

Most manufacturers will provide the necessary “meat” in the casting to allow as many as three or four insert replacements. Cylinders can be bored out several times. With each rebore the base of the cylinder is painted to indicate to the mechanic what level of rebore or, the new oversize of the cylinder.