Installing a contract engine: is it better than overhauling?

The concept of a “contract engine” becomes relevant for a car owner if a major overhaul of an existing power unit is required or if there is a need to completely replace the engine, since repairing the installed engine is not possible or is impractical for technical, economic and other reasons. The decision to purchase a contract engine becomes a good alternative option for capital. For this reason, the number of motorists who deliberately prefer this method is growing every year. Let's look at why this happens, and also evaluate the pros and cons of purchasing and installing a contract engine.

What is a contract engine

In simple terms, a contract engine is a gasoline or diesel power unit that was removed from a vehicle operated outside the Russian Federation. Such engines most often come to our country from Japan, but European models are usually sold in the countries of the Customs Union and do not reach us.

The engine is called a contract engine because companies supplying it from abroad enter into contracts with auction organizers and various recycling factories. Contractual goods are subject to contractual obligations: the seller is obliged to negotiate with the buyer the timing of delivery of the motor, its equipment and provide a warranty card, as well as pay all required duties upon import into the country.

What is a contract motor

A contract engine is a power unit that was used in the countries of the European Union, Japan, the USA, etc., and which was officially imported into the territory of the CIS countries. In other words, it is a working used engine, legally removed from a vehicle abroad and imported into another country, subject to payment of all taxes and import duties. Such an engine can be either gasoline or diesel, rotary, etc. It should be added that the purchase of a used contract engine requires the availability of accompanying documents confirming the legality of the import and subsequent sale of this product. Dealers who specialize in the delivery and sale of contract used engines undertake a number of specific contractual obligations regarding delivery times, the amount of advance payment, the configuration and condition of the internal combustion engine, as well as warranties for the delivered engine and other conditions. Let us remind you once again that the contract power unit is imported completely legally, that is, it has a full package of documents for customs clearance and subsequent registration with the State Traffic Inspectorate. The work pattern of professional companies or small organizations selling contract engines is approximately the same. The main task for such sellers is to supply high-quality goods at a reasonable price, and in the shortest possible time. The key point is the formation of a good professional reputation, after which the flow of clients increases, which allows you to receive a stable profit. To solve the problem, most dealers have their own mechanics and engine repair specialists who are located in Japan, Germany, the USA, France, etc. Often, these are former citizens of the CIS who are permanently or temporarily in a particular country and work in conjunction with foreign specialists. Less often, a company can separately send its employee to independently select the required contract engine. After selection, the engines are tested on a special stand, after which the optimal options are selected. Then the unit is delivered to the CIS, where the motor is checked again. Large dealers also have a stand for a complete engine check; small organizations may limit themselves to repeated compression measurements, removal of the cylinder head and visual inspection, relying on foreign specialists. If the unit passes the test, then the seller issues the buyer documents for registering the purchased internal combustion engine with the State Traffic Inspectorate, as well as a warranty for the contract motor, which is usually 6 months. or 10 thousand km, whichever comes first. Let us note that this is how large companies and trusted sellers work, who value the company’s image and care about their reputation. Let's talk about the possible nuances and risks that a buyer of a contract engine may encounter in practice.

How to choose a contract engine

It would be wise to first determine the average price target and not strive to purchase the cheapest sample, which is usually deprived of something.

• Guarantees . A good company does not increase the price and provides a decent guarantee, while small traders offering an inexpensive unit are not so smooth with the warranty period. Its duration will be only a month or so, which may already be alarming. It is preferable that the warranty extends not to a certain period of time, but to a mileage of, for example, 10 thousand km.
• Accurate information . A complete analogue of a broken internal combustion engine can only be selected if you have all the data on it: make, model, year of manufacture, number (body and engine), VIN code. This is important because engines from the same manufacturer produced in the same year, but for different markets may have differences, which prevents interchangeability.
• Service . It is necessary to find out the frequency and nuances of maintenance during the warranty period. The ideal option is when the inspection is carried out by the selling company itself, which is typical for serious companies with dedicated service stations.
• Visual comparison . To do this, before shipping from abroad, photographs provided by the dealer are used, allowing for the most detailed analysis of the external data of the purchase to be carried out.
• Prepayment . A trustworthy seller will ask you to pay in advance no more than 30% of the total cost of the engine, which is best done through a bank, with a note indicating the purpose of payment and then saving the receipt. With other prepayment options, it is extremely difficult to assert your rights in case of problems.
• Final settlement . Before making the main part of the payment, it is necessary to inspect the engine for external damage, examine it for serviceability, check documents, including customs ones, and make sure that it was imported legally and not stolen. A used engine, called a contract by the seller, but without documents, is better not to be considered as a product.

We recommend: Do-it-yourself valve grinding

How to purchase a contract engine correctly

If your engine has failed and a “contractor” seems to be the solution, then the first thing we would recommend is to contact a company that has a good reputation. It is possible that its prices will be slightly higher than the market average, but it is better to overpay for a really good motor than to spend a considerable amount on a tired unit in any case. When purchasing a contract engine, such an important part of the car, it is better not to save money. It is highly desirable that attachments, such as a generator, starter and power steering, be included in the kit. Otherwise, the seller must reduce the price.

Experts strongly recommend dealing only with companies that issue a cash document and accept payment only in cash. As for installing it on a car, you can do it yourself, provided you have special equipment and, of course, skills, or use the services of a service. Remember that replacing an engine is a very responsible undertaking.

How to order a “contractor” and not make a mistake

If you independently purchase an original used motor abroad, the risk of error increases by an order of magnitude. And in the case of Japan, business without an intermediary company will not work out at all - you will have to pay only by bank payment, in addition, Japanese sellers usually do not deliver. Therefore, it is preferable to order this type of components through Russian companies, having previously learned about their reputation and price differences. However, even in this case, it is necessary to take into account not only the make and model of the foreign car, as well as the year it left the assembly line, but also the exact characteristics of the unit. A significant help in this matter is to study the instructions for the machine, in which the manufacturer indicates the exact marking of the engine.

Secondly, you should be aware that even if there is a 100% match, it would not be superfluous to check the completeness of the “contract item”. After all, sometimes electronic ignition is required, while coil ignition is offered. Thirdly, it is very important to ask whether the engine has been removed from a vehicle that has traveled around the Middle East. If this is confirmed, the unit will require adaptation to Russian winters, which is associated with considerable costs. Finally, when drawing up a sales contract, you should clarify the completeness of the delivery, since there have been cases when a used motor was sold “naked”, that is, it did not have attachments.

How to choose and where to buy a contract engine?

There are two ways to purchase used engines: yourself at a car dismantling station or through a specialized company. On the Internet you can find many organizations involved in the sale of contract engines - it is very important not to make a mistake in choosing a supplier. As for buying a power unit at a car disassembly site, this is not the best option. Most of the cars that end up there have completely exhausted their service life; no one will give any guarantees for the engines removed from them.

When choosing a company from which you will order a contract engine, you should consider a number of nuances:

1. It is better to contact organizations that not only supply motors, but also install them.
2. The warranty period for the supplied engine must be at least six months. You should refuse the deal if this clause is not reflected in the contract. Warranties provided verbally have no legal force, and it will be impossible to prove your case in the event of a breakdown.
3. The complete set of the contract motor should be as complete as possible. If you are offered a bare engine, it is better to refuse such a purchase. The attachments installed on your power package may simply not be suitable for it.
4. When concluding a contract and upon receiving the engine, even before payment and installation, you must carefully study all the documents. The slightest mistake or even a typo in the papers can lead to great difficulties when registering a replacement license plate with the traffic police or customs authorities.

As noted earlier, it is better to choose a company that supplies and installs the engine. Such organizations usually provide a guarantee.

How to check a contract engine?

In this case, it will not be possible to start the unit, observe the operation and carry out diagnostics on the computer. It is impossible to evaluate compression, exhaust and test a car. Also note that the history of such a node remains a mystery. In essence, this is buying a “pig in a poke”. A deal with a trusted supplier minimizes risks.

How to install a contract engine yourself? It is important to comply with all legal (economic, customs, technical) requirements of the delivery country. Draw up all the documents with the help of a lawyer and complete the transaction through trusted resources: you can find them on automobile forums.

Contract engine - what is it?

In car market slang, contract engines are usually called used engines supplied from car dismantling yards in foreign countries. In the Russian Federation, deliveries are made from car dismantling yards in Western Europe, the USA, South Korea and Japan. Taking into account the rapid turnover of cars in developed countries, especially in Japan, at the time of delivery the unit has a significant residual technical resource and can serve the new owner for quite a long time.

We recommend: All about the oil in the gearbox of a Gazelle car

The main destinations from which units are supplied are Japan and Western Europe. An internal combustion engine that has not previously been used in our country can be considered contract. Many companies offer services not only for delivery, but also for installation of a contract engine on the customer’s car.

WHY IS A CONTRACT ENGINE BETTER THAN THE SAME FROM DISASSEMBLY

ICEs are removed from disassembly from cars that were used in Russia. This means that their resource is almost exhausted. It's useless to check mileage. Our compatriots often “correct” the meters; their readings cannot be trusted. In addition, there is a possibility of purchasing a motor from a stolen or damaged car.

In Europe and Japan, cars are used for 3-5 years. They are driven on good roads, filled with high-quality fuel, and regularly sent for maintenance. It is then disposed of or transferred to the used vehicle market.

Engines from such cars can last for many years and cost much less than new ones. They are subject to contractual obligations and all duties and fees have been paid. Contract gasoline and diesel engines are sold with a package of documents required for registration with the traffic police.

Is it worth buying a contract engine?

This device is removed from cars that have been used abroad. When importing a unit into the territory of the Russian Federation, legal procedures (customs, etc.) must be observed. Thanks to this, the internal combustion engine will have a warranty and all the necessary documents (you shouldn’t buy the engine without them). Spare parts purchased at dismantling sites are in most cases sold illegally.

The benefits of purchasing an “overseas” unit are obvious when the question of expensive major repairs arises. In addition to high costs, there is a risk of poor-quality repairs.

When you purchase a contract engine, it is always original (used). If it came from Japan or Europe, then there is no doubt about the quality. These countries have strict maintenance requirements. They sell motors there in good condition, because repairs are expensive. It is cheaper to scrap the car and buy a new vehicle at a discount.

How to choose a contract engine

To ensure that your purchase does not end up in a landfill and serves your car for a long time, you should take into account several nuances. First of all, pay attention to:

1. Cost and method of payment . If the engine is suspiciously cheap, this should alert you. Remember that a contract engine cannot be sold cheaper than a similar model from disassembly. If the seller asks for an advance payment, be sure to ask him to provide a package of documents that confirm the transaction. This could be an agreement or a simple receipt. Vigilance will allow you to prevent deception by scammers. Do not make payments to the seller's card; do this only at a special cash desk. Don't forget to ask for and keep your receipt.
2. Documentation . Since the goods were brought from abroad, documents drawn up during customs clearance (state declaration) must be attached to it. The store also provides a sales contract or a certificate of purchase. If they refused to provide you with these papers, it means the engine has already been in operation within Russia.
3. Compatibility of your car with this engine . Check that all the characteristics on the papers correspond to the make of your car, modification, year of manufacture, engine and body number, model and other criteria. This will greatly facilitate the process of installing the part and registering it with the traffic police.
4. Guarantee . Due to the fact that you are purchasing a used engine, it does not come with a manufacturer's warranty. But sellers usually provide a minimum guarantee of 14 days so that you have time to check the functionality of your purchase. Please note that if the engine is installed poorly or if it is performed by a non-certified service center, the warranty will be void. You should also discuss all aspects of operation and maintenance of the unit with the seller. It is best to immediately purchase suitable oil and filters from this company, and install the engine itself on site.
5. Availability of attachments . Usually the engine comes complete with all the necessary parts, but this does not always happen. If it lacks intake and exhaust manifolds, a distributor, a starter, a hydraulic booster and a generator, you have the right to bargain.
6. Safety of packaging . The sheathing and film on the engines must be intact, otherwise damage may be discovered during installation or operation.

Advantages of purchasing a contract engine

The first and most important thing is that a contract engine is always original. Operating rules abroad are more strictly regulated than in Russia. Maintenance is carried out more often, faulty parts are replaced exclusively with new ones, so that the car is not considered dangerous to others. In many countries, it is much more profitable to scrap a car and buy a new one at a discount than to repair it.

This means that the advantages of an internal combustion engine under a contract include:

1. the presence of only the original box, all other components and parts;
2. resource depletion by only 25-30%;
3. careful preparation and control before shipment;
4. moderate cost.

Most motors come with attachments for easy installation.

The companies that supply these engines test them on benches and select the best ones. All units are re-tested in Russia, paying special attention to compression. The final inspection is carried out in the presence of the buyer. Most suppliers sell motors with a warranty.

Contract engine - what is it?

Contract engine is a used gasoline or diesel power plant, previously used in the European Union, America or Japan and legally delivered to one of the CIS countries. This is a fully working engine, dismantled from some foreign car and imported from abroad in accordance with the requirements of customs and tax legislation. It is accompanied by accompanying documents indicating the legality of the supply and permitting its sale and use. Even before purchasing, you should make sure that nothing will prevent you from registering such an engine with the traffic police.

We recommend: Mechanical supercharger - to make the engine more powerful

The supply of contract internal combustion engines is carried out by dealer companies that take responsibility for compliance with the obligations specified in the contract:

• Estimated delivery time;
• prepayment;
• equipment;
• state;
• warranty, etc.

Contract engines appear on the market for various reasons. These could be installations that survived an accident, taken from a car to be written off, disassembled for spare parts, etc. As a rule, the engine is equipped with the necessary attachments, including manifolds, hydraulic booster, generator, starter and distributor.

Advantages and disadvantages of contract engines

An undeniable advantage, which is the main argument in favor of purchasing a contract internal combustion engine, is the price of such an engine. The final cost of a contract engine, taking into account additional delivery costs, is not much different from the price of a major engine overhaul using high-quality original spare parts in a professional car service center. Moreover, if you do the overhaul from the officials, then the full cost of purchasing, delivering and installing a turnkey contract engine can be even cheaper. This is especially true when repairing a diesel engine.

As for the condition of the contract engine itself, a well-chosen power unit may turn out to be better than a similar engine after a major overhaul. But this is under ideal conditions, which is not always the case in practice. Let us add that this aspect directly depends on the honesty and professionalism of the seller.

Here's the thing. There is a widespread belief among domestic car enthusiasts that in Europe, Japan or the USA, owners treat their cars very carefully. The concept of “garage” non-professional service is practically absent; cars have a full service history, confirmed by official documents. This means that the mileage will be fair, the service life of the piston, timing belt, cylinder head, cylinder block and other important components of the contract engine will be sufficiently large for further operation until the overhaul occurs. Moreover, generous foreigners sell engines with attachments, as a result of which the subsequent installation of such an engine in a car is greatly simplified.

So it is, but there is one problem. It is quite obvious that such an engine will not be cheap, since foreigners are used to counting their money. It is naive to believe that a gasoline or diesel engine with a proven history and low mileage from Germany, which has always been operated sparingly on high-quality fuel, was serviced in a timely manner and received high-quality oil strictly according to regulations, has not seen dusty roads, etc., will cost about 500 euros or 600-700 US dollars. You also need to understand that in Europe, Japan and the USA the average car is used much more intensively compared to the CIS countries. In other words, an engine from a two or three year old car that was used for personal, non-commercial purposes can easily cover about 100-150 thousand km in such a short period of time. This mileage is facilitated by the good quality of roads, the habit of foreigners to travel by car, intensive intercity travel on autobahns, etc.

It turns out that a contract engine from a foreign car older than 5 or 6 years can almost completely exhaust its planned life. If it is less problematic to “recapitalize” a gasoline unit in this case, then in the case of a diesel contract engine, significant financial costs may be required.

Also, you should not blindly believe that all foreigners take care of their cars. For many citizens of developed countries, the usual practice is to use one car for no more than 3-4 years, after which the car is replaced with a new one. This is especially true for the USA. Americans can ignore routine changes of engine oil and other fluids in their cars for a long time. For them, the reason for contacting a car service center is often an existing breakdown. Taking into account the nuances described above, you should adhere to certain recommendations that will help you buy a used contract engine in good condition.

Why and who needs contract engines

The final buyers of contract internal combustion engines are, first of all, the owners of cars equipped with foreign-made power units. “Contractors” are used to replace engines that have exhausted their service life or have suffered significant damage due to improper operation or accidents.

Owners of cars with non-working internal combustion engines have to choose between overhauling the faulty engine or purchasing a working contract engine with mileage. Without a doubt, the most reliable option is to purchase a new power unit, but to order a motor from a foreign manufacturer you need to have a lot of time and money. At the same time, financial costs can be comparable to buying a used car.

Difficulties may arise with the “capital” of a native engine in a foreign car. Repairs may require spare parts, which are expensive and not always available (ordering and delivering them will take a long time). In addition, non-original parts of low quality are often found on sale.

The quality of engine overhauls in Russian car repair shops may also cause concern. At different service stations you can find different interpretations of this service. Somewhere, a major overhaul is called the complete disassembly of an internal combustion engine with the replacement of worn-out spare parts. Other auto repair shops only do complete replacement of parts and assemblies with new components. Some craftsmen, in the process of overhauling an engine, perform boring and cylinder liners with a complete replacement of old spare parts.

To properly repair a motor with cylinder boring, you need to have expensive, high-precision equipment. Only highly qualified specialists with extensive experience can do such work. Despite the large number of different service stations, it is quite difficult to find a car service that meets the above conditions.

Finding a workshop with highly qualified craftsmen and expensive modern equipment, despite the large number of different car services in Russia, is not so easy.