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Engine Replacement?
BaronSamedi
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Two days before christmas I noticed that my engine oil pressure was a little high at normal driving rpms (2-2.5k) and low during idle. The engine ran fine with no noticeable differences noise or performance wise. I took it in for an oil change because it was due for one hoping this might be the source of the problem. It was not. The oil pressure spikes and drops were not as severe but still continued.
Today I finally got the chance to take it in for a diagnostic test. The technician came back with the results showing that my bearings were failing. He then said that it is not a cheap problem to fix and that it generally costs around the same amount of money to replace the engine itself due to the labor involved in fixing the bearings. His advice was to drive it until it failed, basically.
A little background on the vehicle: 2001 Dodge Dakota, 87k miles. Maintenance is pretty regular. Driving is mostly highway. (I only put about 450 miles on it a month and about 380 is on the highway.) Bought from a friend after we came back from Iraq, so it sat for most of the 15 months we were gone, with his brother going out and starting it and driving it around for one day each month, but an oil change and other minor maintenance were performed on it before I bought it.
Now for my questions:
1. Was the technician right? Are the two repairs going to cost about the same? Is the only recourse to drive until it fails?
2. If I choose to fix it, how much should each repair cost? (I have been googling this for a couple hours but can't really get any good estimates. I know next to nothing about vehicles, so estimating the amount of man hours that go into taking apart an engine is near impossible for me.)
3. If I don't choose to fix it/can't afford to fix it, what are some things to watch for when the engine gets close to failure?
Thanks for your help H/A.
Today I finally got the chance to take it in for a diagnostic test. The technician came back with the results showing that my bearings were failing. He then said that it is not a cheap problem to fix and that it generally costs around the same amount of money to replace the engine itself due to the labor involved in fixing the bearings. His advice was to drive it until it failed, basically.
A little background on the vehicle: 2001 Dodge Dakota, 87k miles. Maintenance is pretty regular. Driving is mostly highway. (I only put about 450 miles on it a month and about 380 is on the highway.) Bought from a friend after we came back from Iraq, so it sat for most of the 15 months we were gone, with his brother going out and starting it and driving it around for one day each month, but an oil change and other minor maintenance were performed on it before I bought it.
Now for my questions:
1. Was the technician right? Are the two repairs going to cost about the same? Is the only recourse to drive until it fails?
2. If I choose to fix it, how much should each repair cost? (I have been googling this for a couple hours but can't really get any good estimates. I know next to nothing about vehicles, so estimating the amount of man hours that go into taking apart an engine is near impossible for me.)
3. If I don't choose to fix it/can't afford to fix it, what are some things to watch for when the engine gets close to failure?
Thanks for your help H/A.
BaronSamedi on
"Have you ever noticed that their stuff is shit, and your shit is stuff?"--George Carlin
Posts
I cannot imagine the fix being as much as a new engine. I just googled a 4.7L engine for a dodge dakota and it was $2700 bucks for a new one, and thats just the engine cost. changing the actual bearings is easy, its just getting to them, but its still a job that can be done in a day. I would imagine the fix wouldn't be more than $1200 and most of that would be labor pulling the engine out and tearing it apart. I would take it to a different mechanic personally and get a 2nd opinion.
That said, the amount of labor required to disassemble an engine and replace internal components is frequently much more than the additional cost of a replacement engine.
I second getting a second opinion. There's no reason that engine should be dying so soon. If the crank bearings are bad, there's nothing you can do. The engine might continue to run for 87k more miles, or might die after 10 minutes. I second having the engine rebuilt instead of tossing the whole thing (if you're interested in keeping it, anyway).
PS. Is it a 5-speed? Are you anywhere near the west coast? I've been looking for a later model Dakota, don't care much about the engine.
This, and don't tell Mechanic #2 what Mechanic #1 said it was, or how much.
Random googling led me to this ballpark for engine rebuilds for the Chryslers: http://www.rpmmachine.com/engine-rebuild-kits-chrysler.shtml
4.7L master kit is $800, and includes:
"Pistons, Rings, Gaskets, Cam Bearings, Rod Bearings, Main Bearings, Oil Pump, Freeze Plugs, Camshaft, Lifters,Timing Set And Wrist pin Bushings where applicable."
Mechanic #1 is probably quoting you for the full kit + labour, not just the bearings.
Can trade TF2 items or whatever else you're interested in. PM me.
It's an 01, I'm guessing he's outside the time limit for the engine even if he's within the mileage.
Can trade TF2 items or whatever else you're interested in. PM me.
Link 1
Link 2
Link 3
Link 4 Rebuilt for 2k
New Dodge's have a lifetime warranty on the powertrain, but I don't think they've been running it since 01. I remember for a long time they had a 7-year warranty, which (depending on when the truck was bought) it may still qualify for.
The lowest price I have found for an engine is 2300. Didn't even think about checking ebay. Thanks alot for the point in that direction.
@Fats: Im in Texas and unless I come into some money (or good credit) fixing it is my most feasible option.
Like that Lucas oil stuff?