Diesel Engine Rebuild Cost – Save Money

Trucks powered by diesel keep this country running. They are the movers of national freight as well as local deliveries, and this constant movement racks up the miles. These miles may be as beautiful as they are necessary, but many of those miles are going to be hard and they will eventually take their toll on your truck. Other than routine maintenance, you replace tires, hoses and maybe even get trailer damage repaired by a welder but, in some cases, the engine is going to need some rehabilitation.

The engine in your truck will likely give you hundreds of thousands of profitable miles, but eventually, the time and miles will cause enough wear and tear that you may face the need for an engine rebuild. Some in the trucking industry may never have rebuilt their engine before, and are likely wondering what it would cost. The cost can fluctuate, but we’re going to take a look at just how much a rebuild is going to cost, what rebuilding the engine means, and what some common signs are that a rebuild is needed.

How much is a diesel engine rebuild?

The average diesel engine rebuild cost will range between $20,000 and $40,000, depending on the make, model, and specifics regarding what’s needed to properly rebuild it. In contrast, the cost of a brand-new engine will often be $40,000 – 50,000 so, depending on what your individual engine needs, you may find out that a complete replacement will be only a marginal difference in cost.

What is a Diesel Engine Rebuild

Rebuilding an engine is a huge undertaking, and before you decide if you need one or if you would rather buy a new engine entirely, there are some things that you should know about what a rebuilt engine is, what the process consists of, and how it actually stacks up to a new engine. The steps generally involved in rebuilding a diesel engine include:

1. Completely disconnecting the engine from all systems and removing it from the truck.
2. Disassembling all components of the engine down to the bare block.
3. Cleaning, inspecting, and measuring the tolerances of each piece and engine component.
4. Replacing any damaged parts or parts worn beyond specifications with new parts that meet the OEM demands, including commonly-needed parts such as piston rings, seals, gaskets, bearings, and lubricants.
5. The internal surfaces of the cylinder head and block are often reconditioned and inspected to ensure they remain in spec.
6. The reassembling of all components of the engine entirely, reinstalling it into the truck and reconnecting it to the driveline and all other systems.

It’s worth noting that many people choose to replace all or nearly all of the engine components, regardless of wear or damage. The idea here is that since it is such a major project to remove the engine to rebuild it, anything that can be replaced with relative ease should be. This is a big step in preventative maintenance, and while it does add considerable expense to the project, it also improves overall performance and can replace used parts before they fail. However, larger components, such as the crankshaft, should only be replaced when needed.

Once a rebuild has been completed, you will have an engine that is as good as new. It can perform just as well as a new engine and can be expected to perform for as long as a new engine would. You are reaping the benefit of a lower cost than a brand new engine, and the environmental benefits of not scrapping your old engine and sending it to a landfill or scrapyard. Additionally, since the engine was completely torn down and rebuilt from the ground up, you know the health and condition of every piece and part that keeps that engine running.

Signs You Need A Rebuild

Just like nearly any other malfunction or part failure on a truck, the engine will give some indication that it is going to expire soon. If you miss the indications or purposely ignore them, there is the chance that your engine will eventually be damaged beyond repair, which will necessitate a brand new engine. However, if you are paying attention to your truck, you should notice signs such as:

• Unusual or knocking sounds during operation, often most noticeable while idle.
• Burning or consuming oil at a faster rate than usual.
• Consistent engine overheating that isn’t caused by cooling equipment failure.
• Smoking more than usual during operation.
• Leaking fluids, particularly oil or coolant.

Unusual Sounds

When an engine is failing, the operator will commonly notice an increase of unusual sounds or the development of a knocking or rattling sound from the engine itself. This can be caused by several things, such as timing or piston issues.

If your pistons have worn down or been damaged, they may begin making a noise in the cylinder, called “piston slap.” This is something that can be fixed without a complete rebuild, but when ignored for too long it can spell disaster for an engine.

The sounds may also be caused by a damaged or broken timing system. The timing belt or chain is what keeps the activity of the pistons and the valves in sync, and if it breaks it can cause catastrophic internal damage to your engine. Broken valves or pistons will require a complete rebuild in most situations.

Leaking Fluid

Leaking fluid is a big indication that there is a problem with your engine; not only fluids leaking out onto the ground but fluids leaking from their designated area in the engine to any other area. When you find oil has leaked into the coolant, or that coolant has leaked into the oil, it indicates there is a serious problem in the core of the engine that will need a rebuild to address. This is often caused by blown head gaskets, cracked blocks, or damaged cylinders.

Vehicle Producing a Large Amount of Smoke

Another sign that your engine may need to be rebuilt is that it is creating much more smoke than usual. When the piston rings and other seals wear down over time and miles, it allows a larger gap between the piston and the cylinder walls, which oil gets through.

That oil gets into the cylinder during combustion and is burned, creating much more smoke than usual. The same thing can also happen with coolant, causing it to be burned instead of oil. The difference is that oil will make dark smoke and coolant will make very light smoke.

Get Your Diesel Engine Rebuilt At Blaine Brothers

If you have noticed one or more of the indications that your engine needs to be rebuilt, or if you have known for a while and have been hesitant to speak with a technician about it, reach out to Blaine Brothers today and speak to one of our diesel engine specialists! Not only can we answer any questions that you may have, but we can also give you more specifics regarding your truck’s engine and what may be involved in the rebuilding process. We will do everything we can to get you and your truck back on the road and generate income as quickly and affordably as possible.