Engine repair and rebuild

Engine work runs from replacing a single component to rebuilding or swapping the whole unit.

What engine repair means

The first step is always diagnosis: compression and leak-down tests show whether the problem is mechanical, and a scan shows what the car has recorded. That tells you whether a repair or an exchange engine is the better spend.

What the job covers

Engine diagnosis and compression testing
Engine rebuild and reconditioning
Replacement and exchange engines
Oil leak tracing and repair
Cylinder head removal and skimming

When you might need it

Knocking or rattling that changes with engine speed.
Blue or white smoke from the exhaust, or oil and coolant levels dropping with no visible leak.
A loss of power with no fault code to explain it.

What it costs, and what changes the price

Typically £800 to £4,000.

What is wrong. A single injector or a timing component is a different order of cost from a rebuild.
An exchange or reconditioned engine is often less than a rebuild and comes with a warranty.
Getting the engine out is a large part of the labour on many cars.

How long it takes

Diagnosis is usually a few hours. A rebuild or engine change is several days.

Common questions

Is it worth repairing, or should I replace the car?

A garage can price the repair against what the car is worth. Ask for that comparison directly; a good one will give it to you.

What is a reconditioned engine?

A used engine stripped, measured, and rebuilt with new wear parts, then sold with a warranty. It usually costs less than rebuilding yours and takes less time.

Will a compression test tell you everything?

It tells you whether the cylinders are sealing. Combined with a leak-down test it also shows where the loss is going, which is what decides the repair.