I finally had to choose between a full engine rebuild or a used motor swap on a 2012 Ford Focus

Honestly, the customer's car had a cracked block and I gave them two quotes, one for $3,200 to rebuild and one for $2,400 for a used motor with a 90-day warranty. They went with the used swap to save cash. It took me and my apprentice a full day to get it in and running, but the used motor had a bad oil pump we didn't catch. Had to pull it again a week later. Has anyone else had a used motor gamble backfire like that, and how do you vet them better?

2 comments

2 Comments

white.grant20d ago

That 90-day warranty sounds like a pretty solid safety net to me.

wesley7820d ago

Man, that's the classic used motor gamble right there. You save the customer a few hundred bucks up front and then eat a whole extra job for free. I swear half the used motors out there are just time bombs waiting for a new sucker to install them. Last time I got burned, it was a "low mileage" Honda engine with a spun bearing they'd hidden with thick oil. Now I try to at least pull the valve cover and pan if the seller lets me, but even that's no guarantee.