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If a Diagnostic Machine Says You Need An Oxygen Sensor, You Might Not OR Why You Still Need a Mechanic

May 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

On board computers and diagnostic computers have made diagnosis and repair of vehicles more efficient and less costly. If you don’t believe me, consider the fact in recent years many shops that used to charge a higher rate for diagnostics than actual repair labor have ceased that practice. Plugging a diagnostic computer into a car is a lot like running an MRI or an X-Ray on a person: you get a quick and exact picture of the symptoms of your patient.

For many repairs, this computer is more than what you need. For some repairs, a diagnostic computer in the hands of of someone who doesn’t understand what they’re working with can be a nightmare. Let’s look at a common sensor issue that causes a check engine light to come on: an oxygen sensor. If your oxygen sensor fails, you definitely need to replace it. But there are other issues that can cause a false positive on an oxygen, or O2 sensor. The main false positive happens if you aren’t getting enough fuel pressure to the engine. If this is the cause, you could either need a new fuel line (if you do, I recommend Gates Submersible Fuel Line Hos or Gates Barricade hoses) or a new fuel pump/fuel sending unit. Not getting enough fuel pressure can cause the O2 sensor to read “lean” and out of acceptable range. So, if this happens, and you go to an auto parts store, get a free diagnosis, and you still get the error after you reset the code, what happens? You’re out the money for the sensor, since you can’t return installed electronics (“we don’t sell parts for diagnosis” – even though they diagnosed you!) and you still have to figure out exactly what’s going on.

If you’re competent at repair diagnosis yourself, you might not need a mechanic. But if you’re not sure, you should definitely pay someone else to work on your vehicle. You don’t always need to take it to the dealership – though they do fine work. You don’t only have to utilize the mechanic just down the road – though he might be the best in town. In that case, use him.

Rather than finding a convenient mechanic, find the best in your area. An experienced mechanic that is good at diagnosing can save you hundreds on each repair and help you keep your vehicle on the road for a long, long time.

If you’ve had your vehicle competently diagnosed and you need an engine gas or diesel for a car or light truck, please, give our sales staff at call at 901-266-9996.

Popularity: 9% [?]

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We’ve Made Our Warranty Even Better

May 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

For years, Low Mileage Engines has offered the strongest standard warranty available on used engines. For years, Low Mileage Engines has offered one of the easiest to understand Labor Warranties available on used engines. Now, we’ve made our Labor Warranty even more affordable and even easier to buy.

$100 will get you the best labor warranty available on a used engine. What does this cover? For this $100, Low Mileage Engines will cover the number of hours specified in the Mitchell Book for a Complete Engine Assembly R&R. If you have an engine failure not due to overheating (blown head gasket), not due to your failure to keep oil in the engine, and not due to any type of “obvious” abuse, Low Mileage Engines will cover replacing the engine we’ve sold you at $45 an hour. This is a good deal – you get a lot for a very little. Replacing a 6.8L Ford Triton engine, for example, calls for over 20 hours of labor. 20 hours X $45.00 means Low Mileage Engines would cover up to $900 for the replacement.

There are very few companies selling used engines that offer a solid option for a labor warranty. Low Mileage Engines strongly recommends each and every customer purchase a labor warranty. While each engine comes standard with a part warranty, Low Mileage Engines can only help to cover labor costs if a customer chooses to purchase the labor warranty.

If you have any questions, or need a quote on a used engine, please call us at 901-266-9996.

Popularity: 5% [?]

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In Light of the Toyota Recalls, Should I Replace my Toyota Engine?

April 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment

I’ve been talking to a lot of customers over the last several months asking us flat out if they should fix their Toyota. Drivers are worried about safety and investing money into a vehicle that might see a rapid decline in value.-

The fact is that whether you have a Camry, a 4Runner, a Tacoma, or any other late model Toyota, replacing your engine still probably makes sense – whether you choose to keep your vehicle or not. You have to make a decision that works for you, your family, and your financial situation. My job is to make you aware of what you need to know when you look for a used Toyota Engine.

The first question you need to ask is “What happens if I do nothing?”

If you don’t replace your engine, you will be stuck with a yard decoration that you can keep or sell. If you keep it, you’re a unique breed, and I can’t help you! If you sell it, know that you’re only going to get around 25% of the wholesale value the vehicle has with a good engine in it. In other words, a $10,000 car with a bad engine is worth, at most, $2,500. If you have a paid for car worth  $10,000, figure you will invest at most $4,000 to replace it ($2500 for engine, $1500 for installation – this is a HIGH figure). In this example, by replacing the engine, you net $6,000. Since you’re not buying another car, you net an additional $10,000. That’s right – replacing your engine just saved you $16,000.00.

The next question you need to ask is “Would a replacement vehicle be a better option?”

If you can stomach throwing away $16,000, and need another reason to replace your engine, consider the value of “the known.” You know your vehicle, you know how you have maintained it, and you know whether or not it has a good chance of needing other major repairs. You know what you’re dealing with.

Sadly, one of our largest customer groups is people who have just bought a used car. They drive it off the lot without having a mechanic look at it prior to their purchase. A week later, boom. It could be an original high mileage engine failing. It could be due to lack of previous maintenance. Sadly, a common reason is that the engine was replace with a high mileage piece of junk by the dealership. I know that I answer calls all day long from used car dealerships looking for a $500 engine. Here’s a hint: $500 dollar engines typically aren’t worth the $500 you pay for them – especially when dealing with late model Toyota engines.

The last question you need to ask is “Is replacing my Toyota Engine a patch, or a good long term solution?”

In 2003, I replaced the engine in my aunts 1997 Toyota Camry. This is 2010. She has put close to 200,000 miles on the engine I got her. If you get a good low mileage engine, replacement is considered a “permanent repair.” Recently, I purchased a 2002 Toyota Camry with a bad 2.4L engine. The vehicle has 189,000 miles in it. I’m putting a 19,000 mile engine and a 16,000 mile transmission in it, along with a new all aluminum radiator and new struts. My expectation is to have the equivalent of a new car for used car price when I’m done

In conclusion, I would say that yes, you should fix your Toyota if you have a bad engine. You’ll save yourself a lot of money and have a good, lasting solution. By avoiding the headaches that can come with buying a used car, you can avoid stress and drive your vehicle “on the cheap” without sacrificing safety and worrying about getting stranded on the road.

If you need an engine, please, contact our sales team at 901-266-9996. We would love to help find an engine that will last you a long time – at a good, fair price!

Popularity: 5% [?]

Filed Under: General Engine Information Tagged With: ,

Ford Focus Engines: The Right Replacement Option

October 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

As late as 2007, it seemed that you could not give away Ford Focus SOHC (single overhead cam) used engines. Mid 2007, this quickly changed.  Many consumers started to have their SOHC engines go bad at once. They were like ticking time bombs, and overnight extreme demand caused these engines to go from worthless to scarce and valuable almost overnight. Because of their extreme price, these engines are very difficult to sell, and for a while, we didn’t sell any of them.

Lately, we’ve started selling Ford Focus SOHC engines again. You see, we now offer a better option than a used Ford Focus engine – we offer a high quality factory remanufacturd engine for them. The problem with these engines is that they like to drop valves on the 1st and 4th cylinders. When our Focus engines are through with our remanufacturing process, every component including the valves is of higher quality than the day that engine left the Ford assembly plant. Where many companies are selling used Ford Focus engines for $1500 to $1700 (and these engines are time bombs!), we sell remanufactured Ford Focus engines for $1620 (plus a $250 core deposit – you pay $1870 up front), including all shipping costs to a business.

This makes sense for our customers. For around the price of a decent used engine, you can get a completely remanufactured Ford Focus engine which is not a ticking time bomb.

For more details, give our staff a call at 901-266-9996.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Filed Under: Engine replacement tips Tagged With: ,

The Market for Used Engines is in Flux

September 28, 2009 By Leave a Comment

The market for used engines is in flux. Suppliers in the US are being bitten by high auction prices, and sourcing good used engines is more difficult every week. Sadly, some companies are sacrificing their integrity in these trying times. Rather than share the true condition of their used engines, they are lying about the number of miles when they sell to customers. Some of these companies have only recently begun misleading their customers, but some of them have been doing it for years. The crux of the issue is that if you have been lied to by a company misrepresenting their used engines, they have directly cost you money, and this is putting the market in flux.

Reader, let me ask you a question. If you’re like most people, you will call at least three companies in your search for a used engine. You’ll write their quotes down, and you will compare the value in each quote before you make a purchasing decision. This is smart shopping. Sadly, not everyone will be honest enough with you for this method to work. If you’ve been quoted on a 65,000 mile engine for $1,400.00, a 42,000 mile engine for $1525.00, and an 88,000 mile engine for $12,00.00, you could legitimately decide between any of these engines and call it preference. However, if the “65,000 mile” engine actually has 130,000 miles on it, and the 88,000 mile engine actually has 154,000 miles on it, both of these cease to become contenders to any rational person. Lying like this goes on every day. I run into it every day. Customers call us to by a second engine every day.

At Low Mileage Engines, we provide a free CARFAX with every USDM (US Domestic Market) engine we sell. Our reasoning is simple: customers deserve to know that they’re getting what they pay for. When you buy from suppliers who provide a CARFAX, you can verify you’re getting an engine with the miles quoted to you because the CARFAX will show the number of miles that were on the vehicle your engine is coming from when it was involved in the wreck that took it off the road. In rare cases where that mileage doesn’t show on the CARFAX, you can normally get a good idea of the mileage of the vehicle from the previous mileage reports. Depending on the state the vehicle was in, these reports could be from title transfers, maintenance reports (many dealers, for example, report the mileage of those maintenance reports), or state inspections. These are invaluable in determining not just the mileage of the car, but what shape you can expect the engine to be in. There is great peace of mind if you can see a CARFAX that indicates the vehicle was meticulously maintained.

There is simply no denying the value of a CARFAX when purchasing used engines. As Low Mileage Engines was the first company to provide a free CARFAX to verify the mileage with every used USDM engine we sell. We’re happy that some other companies are imitating us in this. We’re unhappy to report that there are some companies using even this to be fraudulent. How? A few very simple ways. Some companies tell you they will give you a CARFAX, but only after you pay them. The sale comes and goes, and the CARFAX never shows up. Low Mileage Engines will email or fax you a copy of your CARFAX before any money changes hands. Another way companies will lie is by pulling VINs off of Auto Trader. These CARFAXes will not show the final mileage or even a wreck. When you buy used engines, you want to see an accident took the vehicle off the road. This way you know this was an operable vehicle with a good engine – not a clunker found on the side of the road.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Filed Under: Engine replacement tips Tagged With:

Kia Engines

August 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

More customers call us looking for Kia engines than just about any brand of engine. Why? Well, in almost every case, the customer’s engine has been destroyed because of a broken timing belt or a locked up water pump stripping the timing belt. When this happens, the valve train in the Kia engine goes “out of time,” the valves bend, and the engine is destroyed. Complete engine replacement is recommended by most familiar with Kia engines, though it is possible to replace only the cylinder head (assuming a piston hasn’t been cracked by a stray valve).

This is not a problem with the engine, rather, it is a problem with consumer education. Kia doesn’t make their customes aware that they use timing belts which require changing at 40,000 or 60,000 miles. Honda engines, Toyota engines, etc., can often go 120,000 miles without needing a timing belt change because the quality of the timing belts used is so good. Honda, in fact, uses an interference engine just like Kia, meaning that if a timing belt breaks on a Honda, the engine is toast. This isn’t a problem with Honda’s, of course, because of the high quality timing belts that they use.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Filed Under: Engine maintenance, Engine replacement tips Tagged With: ,

A History of Honda Accord Engines, 1990-Present

July 28, 2009 By 4 Comments

Ranked second on the list of Affordable Midsize Cars by U.S. News, the Honda Accord has shown great improvements since Honda began manufacturing it in 1976.  Although the Accord has had many changes in things such as its design and size, this article will focus on the transformation of the Accord’s engine over the past twenty years in North America; the engines in cars overseas differed at times from the North American models.  Certain aspects, such as the size and power, of the engine have change from 1990 to now and have only increased the reliability and popularity of the Accord.

In 1990, Honda introduced its fourth generation of Accords.  This generation of Accords included a 2.2 liter, 16 valve electronic fuel injected engine standard.  There were three versions of the Accord in this generation: DX, LX, and EX.  The DX and LX came equipped with engine F22A1, which had 125 horsepower with four cylinders and 93 kW.  During the fourth generation, the EX version of the Accord came equipped with two different engines.  Engine F22A4 was used in 1990 and 1991; this engine had 130 horsepower with 97 kW.  In 1992, engine F22A6 was introduced in the EX Accords, and it had 135 horsepower with 100 kW; this engine was used until 1993.

In 1994, the fifth generation of Accords was introduced.  The main change in this generation was seen in the EX model.  The engine still had 2.2 liters with four cylinders, but the new VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) version of the engine increased its horsepower to 140 horsepower with 108 kW.  According to HowStuffWorks, the VTEC allowed the engine to have multiple camshafts.  In 1995, Honda began using the C27 engine in the Accord.  This was a V6 engine with 2.7 liters, and it was only offered in the LX and EX versions.

In 1998, the sixth generation of Accords burst onto the scene.  This generation of Accords came with the option of a four-cylinder engine or a V6 engine.  The DX four-cylinder engine was equipped with 2.3 liters, 130 horsepower, and 97 kW.  The LX and EX models came with 150 horsepower, 112 kW, and included VTEC.  The other engine option was the V6 engine.  All V6 models included three liters, 200 horsepower, 150 kW, and VTEC.

2003 was the first year for the seventh generation of Accords.  During this generation, the four-cylinder engines had 2.4 liters with 160 horsepower; while, V6 engines saw an increase in horsepower to 240 horsepower because of changes to the intake and exhaust. The Accord Hybrid was introduced in the 2005 model year and included a V6 engine that produced 255 horsepower.  In 2006, the 30th anniversary year for the Accord, the V6 engine increased its power to 244 horsepower and the four-cylinder engine increased its power to 166 horsepower; the 2006 Accord Hybrid was re-rated at 253 horsepower with 189 kW.

According to Edmunds, the current Accord has better engine performance without losing any of its fuel efficiency.  Now in its eighth generation, the Accord still offers a four-cylinder or V6 engine.  The basic 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine now produces 177 horsepower; in the EX, an upgraded version of this engine is available that produces 190 horsepower.  The V6 engines now are 3.5 liters and include VCM (Variable Cylinder Management), which shuts off two or three of the cylinders while driving; the VCM can increase the horsepower of the V6 to 271 horsepower with 202 kW.

Overall, the Honda Accord engine has shown itself to be very reliable.  Drivers around the country have continued to show their love for the Accord, as seen in the increase in sales.  The Accord continues to win awards and despite the importance of the appearance of a vehicle, the Accord would not receive these accolades without having a strong engine.  It is evident in the previous twenty years that Honda values improvement in its engine, and as the heart of the vehicle, one must believe that the Accord’s engine will only get better in the next twenty years.

As always, if you need an engine, please feel free to get fill out an online request for a quote on replacement engine or call us at 901-266-9996.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Filed Under: Engine Identification Tagged With: ,

Toyota Tundra Used Engines

July 22, 2009 By 3 Comments

The Toyota Tundra was first sold for the 2000 model year. Even though they’re produced in Princeton, IN and San Antonio, TX, the Tundra is still considered to be an import. Noteably, it was the first full sized import truck sold in the USA. With the model getting close to reaching the ten year mark, we’ve seen an increase in demand for Tundra used engines. We have experience with all four engines offered in Tundra’s to this point, those being the 3.4L 5vz-FE, 4.0L 1GR-FE, the 4.7L 2UZ-FE, and the 5.7L 3UR-FE.

3.4L 5vz-FE 6 cylinder engine

The 5VZ-FE is one of the most widely used Toyota engines of all time. In addition to the Tundra, it has also been used in the Toyota Tacoma, Toyota 4Runner, and Toyota T100.The actual displacement of the engine is 3378cc. We’ve sold a number of these engines for other applications, but rarely get calls on them for use in Tundra applications. The 5VZ-FE was used in the Tundra from 2000-2005. We would rate this engine 4.5/5 on reliability.

4.0L 1GR-FE 6 cylinder engine

The 1GR-FE was first offered in the Tundra beginning in 2005, and was also used in the Toyota 4Runner, toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Tundra, and Toyota FJ Cruiser. Using 87 octane gasoline, it is rated at 236 horsepower. This 4.0L engine has a 94mm bore and a 95mm stroke. I would rate reliability at 4.8/5.

4.7L 2UZ-FE 6 cylinder engine

The 2UZ-FE engine has been used in Lexus GX 470, Lexus LX 470, Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota 4Runner,  and Toyota Sequoia. This engine has an actually displacement of 4663cc and is a 32 valve, dual overhead cam. In our experience, this is the most called on engine in the early years. We’ve found these to be good, solid engines. The most common reason customers who call us need one of these engines is that they’ve run them without any oil. The 2UZ-FE was used in the Tundra from 2000-2005 and is produced by Toyota. We would rate this engine a 4.5/5 on reliability.

5.7L 3UR-FE 8 cylinder engine

We assume the 3UR-FE engine is very reliable. Why do I say assume? Because it doesn’t seem like many people are looking for them! This engine has also been used in the Toyota Sequoia, Toyota Land Cruiser, and Lexus LX 570. With a bore of 94mm and a stroke of 102mm, this engine is rated at 381 horsepower. We give this engine a 4.9/5.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this cursory look at the engines used in the Toyota Tundra. Thanks for reading!

Popularity: 9% [?]

Filed Under: Engine replacement tips Tagged With: ,

Good Mechanics – how do I know if I have one?

July 20, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Finding a good mechanic is very important. You need someone you can trust, not only when dealing with a major project like replacing your engine, but to help you with normal preventative maintenance. If you find such a mechanic and bring your car to them twice a year, you can save a lot of money on costly major repairs.

“What are some characteristics of a good, trustworthy mechanic?” you might ask.

  1. A good, trustworthy mechanic will always take the time to explain to you exactly what is wrong with your car. They don’t sell “magic,” they sell 1) their diagnostic skills and 2) their repair skills.
  2. A good, trustworthy mechanic will always offer to give you your old parts back after a repair has been completed. Do you know how many mechanics will, for example, say they replaced a fuel filter and only wipe said fuel filter off? The answer is a lot.
  3. A good, trustworthy mechanic will always have a clearly posted shop rate and call you before doing repair work that exceeds their original estimate. I don’t have much work done at Firestone – I get my tires there, rotations, alignments, etc – but I have always referred customers to them because of the fact that they do such a great job calling before continuing work if repair costs are going to exceed their estimate.
  4. A good, trustworthy mechanic will not act offended if you seek a second opinion in your first dealings with them.

A few years ago, we sold a 3.8L engine to a customer in Illinois. He was a do it yourselfer who could talk your ear off, but he wasn’t going to tackle the engine installation himself. This guy just didn’t have the equipment. He gave us his mechanic’s address, and we made our normal courtesy call to the shop to make sure they knew the engine was coming, had our phone number, and a copy of our warranty guidelines. The shop owner was a fantastically nice guy. We got to talking, and found out that he had a frustrating history with our customer. You see, over the years, our customer had the habit of bringing his car to this shop, getting problems diagnosed with the shops free estimates, and then doing the work himself or, even worse, taking his car to another shop to get the problem fixed cheaper.

Good diagnostic mechanics are hard to find. They are the kind of mechanic who will save money by figuring out the problem the first time and not “part swapping” until you’re bankrupt. Their shops are full. They typically don’t have the cheapest labor rate, but they can save you money. If you have one, don’t abuse them. Don’t let your car get so bent out of shape that it takes three days of work to get it fixed. If you find a good diagnostic mechanic, bring your car into him right away when your check engine light comes on or when your car starts driving differently. Doing so can save you the cost of buying a new engine.

As always, if you need a quote on an engine, please call us at 901-266-9996 or request a quote online.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Filed Under: Engine maintenance, Engine replacement tips Tagged With:

Toyota RAV4 Engines in Different Years

July 19, 2009 By 3 Comments

The Toyota RAV4 is a great small SUV that was released to give Toyota an edge into the market occupied by the Honda CR-V and the Chevy Tracker. For the number of RAV4′s that are on the road, we really don’t see many requests for quotes on these; in every year, the RAV4 has always had a truly solid engine.
When released in 1996, the RAV4 used the 2.0L 3S-FE engine, a mature engine platform that Toyota began using in the late 1980′s in the Camry and Celica. In 2001, Toyota began using the 2.0L 1AZ-FE engine in the RAV4. This engine was only used in the RAV4, and it was only used 2001-2003. In Australia and Eurasia, Toyota began using the 1AZ-FE engine in the Aurion version of the Toyota Camry in 2006. That continues to this day. In 2004, Toyota upgraded from a 2.0L 1AZ-FE engine to the 2.4L 2AZ-FE. The 2AZ-FE has been a truly cross-platform engine: it’s been used in the Scion TC, Scion xB, Toyota Camry, Toyota Highlander, Corolla XRS, Pontiac Vibe, and other platforms around the world. I think Toyota got their money’s worth when they paid the engineering team that designed that engine.

Of the engines used in the RAV4, I must again reiterate that none have really been super problematic.  The one thing that I’ve heard reports of from a few customers is reports of headbolts breaking on 2AZ-FE engines without the headgasket blowing. I’ve not seen their original engines myself, so I can’t verify this, but having spoken with their mechanics I do believe it to be true. I do know one thing:  those customers were glad they bought a used RAV4 engine from us, since the dealerships charge over$10,000 for a new RAV4 engine! We’ve saved customers well over $7,500 on every RAV4 engine we’ve sold, compared to dealer cost, and given them a comparable warranty to boot.

As always, if you need a used engine, please feel free to call us at 901-266-9996 or fill out an online request for a free quote.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Filed Under: Engine replacement tips Tagged With: , ,
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