The content of the article:
- Why and who needs contract engines
- Advantages
- disadvantages
Behind the sonorous name "contract engine" stands a common second-hand engine (second-hand) of foreign production, brought from abroad and not used in Russia. Why such motors are called "contract", no one knows for certain. Most likely, this is just slang invented by someone.
Most of the "contractors" are purchased in bulk at European, Japanese and Emirati autos. The best are Japanese "contractors" because of the traditionally high-quality and reliable assembly ("Japanese quality"), good maintenance and quick renewal of a private car fleet, as a result of which young engines with low mileage often end up in auto-analysis.
A large number of Japanese contract engines are purchased from the Emirates, where there is a huge wholesale market with mountains of various auto parts and spare parts.
Why and who needs contract engines
Private consumers of contract engines, first of all, are the owners of foreign cars with foreign-made engines, whose "native" engine is seriously broken or worn out, and it needs major repairs.
In this situation, the owner of a foreign car has a choice: to overhaul the "native" engine or buy a working second-hand "contractor". Of course, it is better to buy a new engine, but ordering a new foreign engine will cost a lot of money and time. The costs may be such that it is easier and easier to buy an entire car.
With a major overhaul of a failed "native" imported engine, everything will not be easy either. Imported spare parts in retail are very expensive. Some spare parts for the "foreigner" will have to look for a long time or even order and wait for delivery.
Another urgent problem is the quality of major repairs. In different repair shops, you can hear different understandings of overhaul. For some, a major overhaul means a complete disassembly of the engine and replacement of heavily worn parts. For some, a major overhaul is the replacement of all parts and assemblies with new ones. And for someone - this is cylinder boring with subsequent liner and complete replacement of old parts.
There is also the problem with the quality of the overhaul... For a high-quality and full-fledged overhaul of an engine with cylinder bore, high qualifications of a master and expensive modern equipment are required. And finding a workshop with high-class craftsmen and expensive modern equipment, despite the large number of different car services, is not so easy.
Benefits of contract engines
Contract engines have only two advantages: saving money and time. But the advantages of a contract engine can only be discussed using the word “if”.
That is, a contract engine will have advantages if it:
- It is cheap, and its purchase is economically justified.
- It will quickly and easily be installed in the car and "go".
- Before purchase, it was normally operated and did not overheat.
- Has a relatively low mileage and a sufficient resource reserve.
- He worked on high quality gasoline and oil.
- Timely and efficiently technical service.
- Before the purchase, it was stored in good conditions, and not outdoors in the open air or in a damp garage. Long downtime without work is also not good for the engine.
- Once was not seriously injured in an accident.
- Legally clean and has all the necessary documents and guarantees.
If the contract engine meets the conditions listed above, then it will undoubtedly have advantages and benefits. Otherwise, the buyer of the "contractor" will receive shortcomings and problems.
Disadvantages of contract engines
- The main disadvantage of such motors is increased risk when buying them... Even the most conscientious sellers of "contractors" are not 100% sure that their engine will work and run after being installed in the client's car.
To understand the increased risk, you can compare the purchase of a contract engine and the purchase of a used car, which also has a used powertrain installed. When buying a used car, in addition to the usual inspection, the engine can be started, listen to how it works, carry out diagnostics by ear, look at the exhaust, and also evaluate the operation of the engine on the move, in motion. But, when buying a contract engine, there will be no such opportunity, since the “contractor” will not stand in the car, but on the floor.
- There will also be it is impossible to find out even an approximate emergency biography of the contract motor... When a used engine is sold together with a used car, then by the biography of the car and the condition of its body there is a chance to find out whether the car has been in an accident and whether the engine could have suffered in this accident. In the case of a "contract soldier", it is almost impossible to obtain such information.
- In case of an unsuccessful purchase of a contract engine (if it turns out to be faulty or simply does not fit in its modification), the buyer will incur inevitable material losses.
The fact is that when buying an engine, the buyer pays only the cost of the motor itself, without installation. That is, the buyer will install the engine in the car at his own expense, which costs serious money.
Besides, in case of an unsuccessful purchase, it will be necessary to dismantle and deliver the unsuccessful "contractor" back to the seller, for return... And the engine is not a computer in a box. It is heavy and cumbersome, so it will require appropriate transportation. And that will also cost money.
The trouble with the moment is that, as a rule, sellers of contract motors return only their cost (purchase), but will not refund installation, dismantling and return shipping costs for return.
Conclusion
The purchase of a contract engine is justified only when there are no other options. At the same time, it should be understood that buying a "contractor" even from a large and trusted seller still has an increased risk, according to the "pig in a poke" principle.
Therefore, before deciding to buy a contract power unit, it is necessary to calculate the possible losses well and adequately assess the risks.
