Replacement Engine... Ouch!

[deanrufleg]

Have had some bad luck with the wife's car.... It's a Nissan.
Won't give too much info out, but first, it's not in warranty. Has full service history, 80k miles. It's done its head gasket and cracked the head.
Decision is to either sell as is and take a hit, or try a second hand engine...
I like the idea of a replacement engine, and have found a couple of places around the Midlands.
I assume its a safe thing to do - as engine numbers can be checked etc?
Obviously they re- use existing ancillaries...
Does anyone have any opinions/experience of such?

Thanks in advance.

Oh and if this should be in JapChat, could a moderator kindly move!!!

[illmonkey]

Can't you just change the head? Will be a lot less work.

[deanrufleg]

Willing to do anything, but getting someone to do it is the problem .
London/Surrey based. Not much use with the spanners myself.

If I could get someone to do the head, I would still be looking at £1k...
And to be honest, it's even been to Nissan, as well as a couple of Indies'
and they can't even say what's caused it/why it's gone.
It did overheat once when in use, which has obviously caused it, but why?
It had no leaks, and not using any water/oil.


Don't want to spend £1k + on a fix if it could happen again.
A complete engine swap, but using my ancillaries is around £1400-£1500,
Circa 30 k miles...

But undoubtedly no history....it's from a large company in Midlands.

[stevieturbo]

It seems given how unscrupulous many garages are...even more so those selling engines. Engine swaps are always a huge risk, and rarely go as smooth as one would like.

First off you need to try and find a reputable garage....and get an idea of repair or replacement cost.

TBH, I cant see a full replacement engine of any worth fitted and drive out costing £1500. Although you dont state what vehicle etc it is.

It seems many places that charge cheap labour, the workmanship is usually terrible.

it's a minefield out there !

[deanrufleg]

stevieturbo said:

It seems given how unscrupulous many garages are...even more so those selling engines. Engine swaps are always a huge risk, and rarely go as smooth as one would like.

First off you need to try and find a reputable garage....and get an idea of repair or replacement cost.

TBH, I cant see a full replacement engine of any worth fitted and drive out costing £1500. Although you dont state what vehicle etc it is.

It seems many places that charge cheap labour, the workmanship is usually terrible.

it's a minefield out there !

Is exactly the doubt I have....
So only one way to go then, take the hit on the chin and scrap it.
Shame, as it was only. £8k a year ago!!!

[paintman]

Why scrap it? Advertise it as it is, you may find someone who can do the repairs will buy it. You may not get a lot, but I'd expect more than the scrappie will offer.
The overheating could be as simple as the thermostat failed in the closed position.

Edited by paintman on Wednesday 8th January 12:36

[GregK2]

Why not state which model it is?

[anonymous-user]

See if you can get one that came from Japan, I run a sr20det in my race car, source them from Japan, change the head gasket, and run them with a big turbo etc at 500bhp+, they last me a year and a half, then I buy a 'new' one never had a problem with a single engine.

[deanrufleg]

Sorry guys, I don't literally mean scrap it. If it's sold as damaged/mechanical fault, it's probably only going to realise say £3k???
It's a Nissan qashqai

[craggers]

deanrufleg said:

Sorry guys, I don't literally mean scrap it. If it's sold as damaged/mechanical fault, it's probably only going to realise say £3k???
It's a Nissan qashqai

Qashqai use Renault engine so might be cheaper to search for one based on Renault model than Nissan.

[deanrufleg]

paintman said:

Why scrap it? Advertise it as it is, you may find someone who can do the repairs will buy it. You may not get a lot, but I'd expect more than the scrappie will offer.
The overheating could be as simple as the thermostat failed in the closed position.

Edited by paintman on Wednesday 8th January 12:36

This is the exact problem. If it was the thermostat jammed, and caused a world of pain, then what's to stop it doing it again? Or maybe it was something else - but what?
Either way, no one has given an answer.... And I thought Nissans were supposed to be ok?

We had a thermostat changed in November - it's an order only part from Nissan. Indeed, the parts guy who has been there since 05' a year before even the first Qashqai came out has never sold a thermostat....

[Munter]

Japanese. Engine. My default suggestion is: http://www.apiengines.com/index2.php

[zedx19]

Maybe I've missed something, but why are you replacing an entire engine when it just needs a head? There is no more work required for a head gasket change then swapping cracked head for refurbed head. Source refurbed head yourself, ask local garage for costs on fitting refurbed head.

[Vince70]

deanrufleg said:

This is the exact problem. If it was the thermostat jammed, and caused a world of pain, then what's to stop it doing it again? Or maybe it was something else - but what?
Either way, no one has given an answer.... And I thought Nissans were supposed to be ok?

We had a thermostat changed in November - it's an order only part from Nissan. Indeed, the parts guy who has been there since 05' a year before even the first Qashqai came out has never sold a thermostat....

I guess it's the Renault bit that's gone wrong...it seems a big hit to take if you sell it for spares repair.

Can't you just buy an old £350 shed to drive about in then it will give you time to sort out a decent engine..

It always makes me wonder when I see these second hand engines for sale with remarkably low mileage on eBay with no proof of mileage.

It maybe worth looking to see if you can see the vehicle the engine is coming from before buying one and check out its history.. or as the previous poster has said go for a low mileage jap import engine.

[paintman]

deanrufleg said:

This is the exact problem. If it was the thermostat jammed, and caused a world of pain, then what's to stop it doing it again? Or maybe it was something else - but what?
Either way, no one has given an answer.... And I thought Nissans were supposed to be ok?
We had a thermostat changed in November - it's an order only part from Nissan. Indeed, the parts guy who has been there since 05' a year before even the first Qashqai came out has never sold a thermostat....

Faults in cooling systems include incorrect level, faulty stat, collapsed hose, leakage (both coolant & pressure, the latter allowing coolant to boil at lower than usual temp), faulty pressure cap, loose/broken pump drive belt, impeller broken away from pump drive shaft, build up of crap inside the system affecting the cooling ability - esp radiators and this includes the various sealants that get used, head gasket failure, cracks in head.

Overheating isn't necessarily the cause of cracked heads, it may well be the symptom that leads to the finding of the crack. Some engines seem more prone than others, but I don't know if Nissan has an issue.

[deanrufleg]

zedx19 said:

Maybe I've missed something, but why are you replacing an entire engine when it just needs a head? There is no more work required for a head gasket change then swapping cracked head for refurbed head. Source refurbed head yourself, ask local garage for costs on fitting refurbed head.

Nissan want £1000's to repair. Out of the window.
It's been to 2 other trusted mechanics I have used in the past. Much sucking of breath/shaking head....
My logic is like yours. Refurbed head/new gasket. But they don't seem to want to know... let alone commit to how much £££
I don't really have the time to keep getting it taken to people to have a look at it, and leave it open ended, by saying we will know more when we start stripping it....
Realistically a head - say £500, gasket kit/bolts etc £200? Then labour, say £3-£400?? Simple man maths reckons that's about £1-£1100, but no assurances that it won't go tits up again.

There's a company akin to API who will supply a low mileage, imported used engine, and swap for ~£15-£1600 all in.
If the engine is good, I have no problem. That's the main issue really, no real guarantees....

[deanrufleg]

paintman said:

Faults in cooling systems include incorrect level, faulty stat, collapsed hose, leakage (both coolant & pressure, the latter allowing coolant to boil at lower than usual temp), faulty pressure cap, loose/broken pump drive belt, impeller broken away from pump drive shaft, build up of crap inside the system affecting the cooling ability - esp radiators and this includes the various sealants that get used, head gasket failure, cracks in head.

Overheating isn't necessarily the cause of cracked heads, it may well be the symptom that leads to the finding of the crack. Some engines seem more prone than others, but I don't know if Nissan has an issue.

Of course.
Good full service history with the car. Had no leaks/using no water. No fault codes shown up or pending when checked.
Car been fine in couple of years we have had it, both motorway and local use.

[stevieturbo]

Well, I guess if you do go down the replacement supply/fit route. Choose a proper garage who is doing the entire supply and fit, and make sure you pay by credit card.

Buyer protection and all that.