You heard the mechanic say 'blown engine' and quote you $4,000. Should you fix it or junk it? How we value cars with engine failure.
The Mechanic’s Diagnosis
It’s the phone call nobody wants. “I’m sorry, but your engine has low compression/rod knock/blown head gasket. It needs a new motor. That will be $4,500.” Your car is only worth $5,000 when it runs perfectly. Mathematically, the car is totaled.
Now you have a 3,000 lb paperweight. What do you do?
Fix It vs. Junk It: The Math
Scenario: 2012 Chevy Equinox. 140,000 miles.
- Value (Running): $5,500.
- Repair Cost: $4,000 (Used engine + Labor).
- Risk: You spend $4,000, and next month the transmission blows.
The Junk Option:
- Junk Offer: $700.
- Math: You take the $700, add the $4,000 you didn’t spend, and you have $4,700 cash to buy a newer, more reliable car.
- Verdict: Usually, junking is the smarter financial move for cars over 10 years old.
How We Value “Blown Engine” Cars
If the engine is bad, aren’t we just buying scrap metal? Not necessarily. A car is the sum of its parts. If the engine is 0, the other parts still have value.
1. The Transmission Factor
If the engine blew up, the transmission might still be perfect. Used transmissions are in high demand.
- Example: A Nissan Altima with a bad engine but a good CVT transmission is worth money to us because we can sell that CVT.
2. Clean Body Panels
Engines fail from the inside. They don’t dent the doors. A 2015 car with a blown engine likely has perfect fenders, doors, hood, trunk, glass, and interior. Body shops need these parts for collision repair.
- We pay for the “shell” value.
3. The Catalytic Converter
The engine dying doesn’t hurt the converter (usually). The precious metals are still there.
Types of Engine Failure (Does it Matter?)
Yes. Tell us how it died.
- Timing Belt Snap: ( Interference engines). The valves hit the pistons. The head is trash. The block might be trash. Low Value.
- Overheating / Head Gasket: The head is warped. The block might be okay. Medium Value.
- Rod Knock (Low Oil): Bottom end is destroyed. Crankshaft is scored. Low Value.
- “It Just Stopped”: Could be a sensor, timing chain, or electrical. High Value (Gambler’s value).
Should You Part It Out Yourself?
you think: “I’ll sell the transmission for $500, the wheels for $200, the doors for $100…” The Reality:
- Do you have an engine hoist?
- Do you have space to store a gutted car for 6 months?
- Do you want strangers coming to your house to haggle over a door handle?
- Final Trap: Once you strip the good parts, nobody wants to tow away the heavy, empty shell for free. You might have to PAY someone to take the skeleton.
Our Service: We buy the whole package. We do the dirty work of pulling the transmission. You get one lump sum and your driveway back instantly.
Summary
A blown engine destroys the resale value of a car (as a driver), but it does NOT destroy the parts value. Don’t let a mechanic talk you into a repair that costs more than the car is worth. Cash out with {businessInfo.name} and use that money as a down payment on something with a warranty.