So I posted earlier about our car problems and it turns out that the lower engine is failing and needs replaced. Now we have a dilemma on whether or not replacing is the best idea. I've gotten opinions from both sides and can't seem to make a decision.
We own an 04 Honda Element with 220,000 miles. It's been a great car. We have no debt on it and have had it for about ten years. This spring we started having some issues. The mechanic has let us know that they found metal shavings in the oil and that the lower engine is failing. They said the engine needs replacing and was estimated to cost about $3500 dollars (we're currently waiting on other quotes for the replacement). I'm nervous about spending the money, but I love the car and it hasn't given us any trouble up until now. We just replaced the shocks and struts (among other maintenance things) and with a new engine feel that it will continue to be a reliable car.
We have 10,000 in our emergency fund and can use that to fund the repair. We both feel like while we could spend an extra 2,000 dollars (around 6,000 total) to replace the car entirely with one that is two years newer with 120,000 miles on it... it's better to deal with the beast we know than one we don't and just hope we can get another ten years out of ours with a newer engine.
Is this a terrible way to think about this? What do you guys think?
Update on my update post.
So this whole potential engine replacement had me googling like crazy and the news of metal shavings in the oil had me convinced that getting a new engine was inevitable. That was until I remembered that we had our oil changed the day before our starting issue started. I thought about how we had had our oil changed at it's regular interval (no mention of metal shavings) and again when we were having the sludgy oil problem (no metal shavings). Since the last oil change the car had only been driven about five miles. That made me suspicious. How would there be noticable metal shavings in brand new oil if none were noticed in older oil. Hmm. I told my husband my concerns and we decided to just go pick up the car and to bring it home. When we got there he went in to get the keys and what do you know. They offer to do an engine flush (for 400.00 😳). Of course they said it would be risky, but it was worth a shot. Why didn't they offer this earlier??? I called the mechanic who changed the oil last and asked if he noticed any metal and he said he didn't see anything. I asked how much an engine flush at his shop would be and he said about a hundred dollars. I drove the car there and didn't have one problem along the way. He's going to flush the engine and check the computer. I mentioned that I had read about after market solenoids potentially not jiving with the Element and he agreed that that could be the issue.
I'm really disappointed in the other shop, but damn. I'm proud of myself. I can't believe I almost paid to replace the engine in my car.
We own an 04 Honda Element with 220,000 miles. It's been a great car. We have no debt on it and have had it for about ten years. This spring we started having some issues. The mechanic has let us know that they found metal shavings in the oil and that the lower engine is failing. They said the engine needs replacing and was estimated to cost about $3500 dollars (we're currently waiting on other quotes for the replacement). I'm nervous about spending the money, but I love the car and it hasn't given us any trouble up until now. We just replaced the shocks and struts (among other maintenance things) and with a new engine feel that it will continue to be a reliable car.
We have 10,000 in our emergency fund and can use that to fund the repair. We both feel like while we could spend an extra 2,000 dollars (around 6,000 total) to replace the car entirely with one that is two years newer with 120,000 miles on it... it's better to deal with the beast we know than one we don't and just hope we can get another ten years out of ours with a newer engine.
Is this a terrible way to think about this? What do you guys think?
Update on my update post.
So this whole potential engine replacement had me googling like crazy and the news of metal shavings in the oil had me convinced that getting a new engine was inevitable. That was until I remembered that we had our oil changed the day before our starting issue started. I thought about how we had had our oil changed at it's regular interval (no mention of metal shavings) and again when we were having the sludgy oil problem (no metal shavings). Since the last oil change the car had only been driven about five miles. That made me suspicious. How would there be noticable metal shavings in brand new oil if none were noticed in older oil. Hmm. I told my husband my concerns and we decided to just go pick up the car and to bring it home. When we got there he went in to get the keys and what do you know. They offer to do an engine flush (for 400.00 😳). Of course they said it would be risky, but it was worth a shot. Why didn't they offer this earlier??? I called the mechanic who changed the oil last and asked if he noticed any metal and he said he didn't see anything. I asked how much an engine flush at his shop would be and he said about a hundred dollars. I drove the car there and didn't have one problem along the way. He's going to flush the engine and check the computer. I mentioned that I had read about after market solenoids potentially not jiving with the Element and he agreed that that could be the issue.
I'm really disappointed in the other shop, but damn. I'm proud of myself. I can't believe I almost paid to replace the engine in my car.
