When is the right time to replace an engine? One school of thought is the reactive method, which is to replace it at the time of engine failure.
"Typically, we do [engine] replacements when the engine fails," said Duane Walker, plant manager for Eddins-Watcher Co., a petroleum distributor based in Odessa, TX.
The company performs eight to nine engine replacements in a typical year for its fleet of approximately 200 vehicles.
The other method is planned replacement at a specific mileage, regardless of whether the engine has experienced a failure or major breakdown. The proactive method offers other savings in engine-related maintenance costs, since the related parts receive less ancillary wear.
"We found that if you are proactive in replacing engines, you won't spend more in the long run, although your initial expense may be more," said Bob Haddox, director of transportation for Tulsa Public Schools, which routinely replaces engines to extend vehicle service life in its fleet of 600 trucks, buses, cars, and maintenance vehicles.
With planned replacements, it's a good idea to schedule them during slow times of the year, since a typical replacement requires 14 to 22 hours of labor time. This is an addition to the time it takes to order and ship the replacement engine.Once a vehicle has undergone an engine replacement, it should be able to last at least as long as the original engine, provided the other systems are all in sound mechanical condition. For example, if an engine was replaced at 150,000 miles, its replacement should be expected to last for another 150,000 miles if it is properly maintained.
In some cases, remanufactured engines offer increased performance over new factory engines of the same model and size. Some companies, such as Jasper Engines and Transmissions, a national supplier of rebuilt engines, make modifications which it says improves the performance and durability of engines.
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