Engine rebuild is a term many have heard of, but not as many really know what a rebuilt engine really is or what is done when an engine is rebuilt. An engine rebuild is done for a variety of reasons. Today we will talk about why engines are rebuilt, what is done to rebuild an engine, and some signs that your car may need an engine rebuild.
About An Engine Rebuild
- Reasons for an Engine Rebuild – There are two main reasons people choose to do an engine rebuild: wear to engine bearings, and poorly seating piston rings. The moving parts of the engine (such and the crankshaft, rods and pistons) are mounted on bearings that allow them to move freely. These bearings are lubricated by engine oil. Bearings are built to last many thousands of miles, but they do experience wear after time. This wear is accelerated exponentially when a vehicle is poorly maintained and is run on low oil levels or the oil change schedule isn’t properly followed. Worn bearings produce loud knocking and eventually can cause a destructive failure of the engine. Piston rings seal in the expanding gasses created by the burning of gasoline within the engine. As piston rings wear, they no longer seal the cylinders properly, resulting in a phenomenon called “blow-by.” Blow-by occurs when crankcase oil escapes past worn rings and is burned with the fuel mixture in the cylinder. Often this is the reason that older engines have an excessive amount of smoke in the exhaust.
- What’s Done during an Engine Rebuild
When an engine is rebuilt, a few basic things are done to restore it to good working condition. First, the lower half of the engine is removed and sent to an automotive machine shop. At the shop it is disassembled and cleaned so that the condition of the block can be properly assessed. Depending on the condition of the internal parts of the engine, the piston rings, bearings and sometimes the pistons themselves are replaced. The internal surfaces of the cylinders are also reconditioned to ensure that the new piston rings can form a proper seal with the cylinder walls. Finally, the engine is reassembled and installed back in the vehicle. Often the cylinder head is also reconditioned at the same time.
- Signs You May Need an Engine Rebuild
There are some frequently seen signs that an engine rebuild may be necessary for your engine. The most common sign is oil consumption and excessive white smoke in the exhaust, especially when the engine is cold. This is normally a sign of worn piston rings. More extreme signs could be metal shavings in the engine oil and “knocking” or “chattering” from the engine bearings.
An engine rebuild can be very expensive and it might not be the right choice for all vehicles. If you think that you might be in the market for a rebuild, you might also want to consider swapping in a lower-mileage engine or an engine that is in better condition as this option could be cheaper.
AutoWorks offers engine rebuild services for classic cars and other cars, window tinting, backup camera installation, detailing, and other auto services to towns in the Monmouth County area such as Middletown, Red Bank, Oceanport, Rumson, Little Silver, Marlboro, Freehold, Colts Neck, Aberdeen, Manalapan, Point Pleasant, Millstone Township, Long Branch, Keansburg, Eatontown, Shrewsbury, Tinton Falls, Fair Haven, and many more. To learn more about our hot rod restoration and other services contact us today at 732-671-0225 or visit the website.
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