If you have a semi-truck, it has probably taken on a great deal of wear and tear. Still, it’s your livelihood, and taking care of it keeps in on the road. Routine maintenance is an important part of that process, and having repairs carried out promptly is equally essential. That being said, some maintenance and repairs are more expensive than others. That’s especially the case when it comes to keeping the truck’s engine working the way it should.
Once wear begins to take its toll on your truck’s engine, you have a couple of options. You can look for rebuild engine shops near me or look into replacing the old engine with a new one. Each option has its benefits and downsides, but which one is the better option? The following points can help you decide.
Comparing the Costs
One factor to consider is the cost of rebuilding versus replacing. It’s usually far less expensive to have an engine rebuilt than to buy an entirely new one. Even buying a used one may cost more than having the one you’re already running rebuilt. Besides that, you may end up with more problems than you solve when you buy a used truck engine.
When you’re weighing the costs, though, be sure to do your research. In some cases, it’s actually more cost-effective, and potentially safer, to replace an engine than to have it rebuilt. That’s certainly true if the old engine block is damaged.
Age and Condition of the Engine
The age and condition of your truck’s engine should also be taken into account. As mentioned, if the block is cracked or otherwise damaged, replacing the entire engine could be a more practical solution. Additionally, many experts recommend replacing a semi-truck’s engine if it’s 10 years old or more. Some people might argue that age isn’t really a factor with heavy-duty engines, though, especially once they’re rebuilt.
On the other hand, if the block is in good condition and the engine isn’t extremely old, you might fare better by having it rebuilt. In general, you should have an engine rebuilt once it has between 500,000 and 1,000,000 miles on it with a happy medium being 700,000 miles. Under normal circumstances, you can have an engine rebuilt as many times as you want. After all, a rebuild involves replacing the worn and damaged inner components, so you’re essentially starting with a clean slate each time as long as the block itself isn’t damaged.
Downtime
Another factor to think about is downtime. That can cost businesses a great deal of money and cause a ripple effect that impacts your entire operation. From rearranging drivers and loads to facing delays with your pick-ups and drop-offs and creating problems for your clients, the effects of downtime can be significant.
Replacing an engine is usually faster than rebuilding one. Of course, with the right team of mechanics, you may only be looking at a difference of a couple of days. Considering the money you’ll save with a rebuild, you could potentially rent a truck, shuffle loads a bit, or outsource a couple of loads without losing money.
Deciding Whether to Rebuild or Replace Your Truck’s Engine
Generally speaking, rebuilding a semi-truck’s engine is a better option than replacing it. It’s certainly the more cost-effective alternative, and if your engine hasn’t sustained extensive block damage, there’s no sense in spending more money than necessary. Though it may take more time to rebuild an engine than to simply replace it, the difference may not be significant enough to warrant the cost of a new one.