Engine Replacement
Veteran Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,180
Likes: 542
From: San Francisco, CA
The biggest problem with "reconditioned" is that it's a rather vague description that is meaningless without a complete list of things that have been done.
"Reconditioned" can be anything from a complete ground-up rebuild with new main/conrod/thrust bearings, rehoned cylinders and new piston rings, valve clearances checked, all new timing gear, new injectors, new coils/plugs, where basically anything that might have worn has been replaced, all the way down to not much more than a cursory check of all these things and maybe a fluid/filter change.
I agree with the above points, I'd always take a factory engine with 4900 over a reconditioned one. 4900 miles is barely broken in, and providing it was not mistreated by the owner is likely to be essentially the same as fitting a new engine but you don't have to go through the break-in period again.
"Reconditioned" can be anything from a complete ground-up rebuild with new main/conrod/thrust bearings, rehoned cylinders and new piston rings, valve clearances checked, all new timing gear, new injectors, new coils/plugs, where basically anything that might have worn has been replaced, all the way down to not much more than a cursory check of all these things and maybe a fluid/filter change.
I agree with the above points, I'd always take a factory engine with 4900 over a reconditioned one. 4900 miles is barely broken in, and providing it was not mistreated by the owner is likely to be essentially the same as fitting a new engine but you don't have to go through the break-in period again.
