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Replace engine or replace car?

  • Replace car

    Votes: 2 22%
  • Replace engine

    Votes: 7 78%

Engine replacement or replace car

30K views 24 replies 18 participants last post by  Jeffro  
My daughter had problems with the original engine in her Element at 130,000. We purchased a used engine with a three year, unlimited mile warranty, which cost $1350 (I think $950 without the warranty). Installation cost was probably that much as well. The conditions of the warranty required replacing a lot of seals and such. Unfortunately, my daughter didn't keep very good record of oil changes after installing it, so by the time she hit 205,000 three years later (warranty expired), that engine was using a quart of oil almost every tank of gas. Do the best you can to get an engine with a known history. Your other option is to have your engine rebuilt, then you're starting fresh. I did a partial rebuild of my daughter's (new rings, rod bearings, valve seals) and got the oil consumption to less than a quart in 5000 miles.