With regular maintenance, many modern gasoline engines last 150,000 to 200,000 miles or more, and heavy-duty diesels are often built to go further. How long a particular engine lasts depends mostly on oil changes, cooling system health and how it is driven. When an engine does wear out, the usual choices are a rebuild, a remanufactured engine, a used engine or a replacement short or long block.
What makes an engine last
- Oil changes on schedule with the specified oil; neglected oil is the most common cause of bearing and valvetrain wear.
- A healthy cooling system: overheating warps heads and blows head gaskets; see signs of a blown head gasket.
- Clean air and fuel: replace the air filter and fix misfires promptly.
- Gentle warm-ups and avoiding hard use with cold oil.
- Fixing small problems early, such as leaks, knocks and warning lights.
Gas vs diesel engine life
Heavy-duty diesels such as the Cummins inline six are built with sturdier blocks, crankshafts and bearings and run at lower engine speeds, which is a large part of why they often outlast gas engines. They still depend on clean oil, clean fuel and a healthy cooling system, and towing at high loads shortens the life of any engine if maintenance slips.
Signs an engine is near the end
- Heavy oil consumption or blue exhaust smoke
- Low or uneven compression
- Knocking from the bottom end; see engine knocking
- Coolant in the oil or oil in the coolant
- Metal in the oil
How to tell if an engine is blown covers the signs in more detail.
What is a remanufactured engine?
A remanufactured engine is taken apart, cleaned, inspected and machined, with worn parts replaced to bring it back to specification, usually in a production setting and with testing before it ships. A rebuilt engine is repaired, often by a local shop, and may only have the failed parts replaced. A used engine comes out of another vehicle as it is. Definitions vary between suppliers, so read exactly what each listing says was done and what is included.
Short block, long block or complete engine?
A short block is the block, crankshaft, rods and pistons; a long block adds the heads and valvetrain; a complete engine includes more of the parts around it. See short block vs long block and engine replacement cost.
Making a replacement engine last
Fix whatever killed the old engine first, such as a cooling problem or an oil leak. Prime the oil system before the first start, follow the break-in procedure, change the oil early as the supplier recommends, and check for leaks and correct coolant level during the first few hundred miles.
Replacement engines we carry
We carry engines and blocks for Chevy, Dodge/Ram, Ford and Subaru by engine code on our engines page, including the listings marked as remanufactured on our remanufactured engines page. After installation, follow an engine break-in procedure.
More guides: rebuilt vs remanufactured engines · is it worth replacing an engine? · how long diesel engines last · how long remanufactured engines last · 5.3 Vortec · 5.7 Hemi · 5.4 Triton · Subaru engines · how long a 6.0 Vortec lasts · how long a Chevy 350 lasts · how long LS engines last · how long an LT1 lasts.
Shipping is a flat $80.00 per order to US addresses, with 15-day free returns. Questions? Ask a parts specialist.