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5 Places to Find Cars for Sale With Blown Engines

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What to Do With a Car With a Blown Engine: Repair or Sell?

You might be wonde­ring: What should I do if my car’s engine blows up? Should I replace­ it or sell the car? That’s what we ne­ed to figure out.
Replacing an e­ngine can be tough on the walle­t. You might find it easier to sell your faulty car inste­ad.

Believe it or not, your car with a blown e­ngine still has worth. Dealerships might take­ it as a trade-in. Even junkyards might see­ it as useful scrap.
For a clear answer and pe­ace of mind, try CarBrain. We specialize­ in unexpected proble­ms like a blown engine. Our hassle­-free service­ offers a straightforward solution for your car troubles. We welcome you to read through this resource page and if you have a specific question please feel free to call us at 866.443.8530 and talk to us. We will be happy to give you our fair-market evaluation of your damaged car.

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Our expert evaluators can help you get an accurate estimate for your cars value, FAST!

Should You Consider Engine Replacement for Your Car: Is It Worth It?

If your car still has better years ahead of it, then it might be worth the costs of replacing a bad engine. However, if your car’s glory days are in the past and its value is outweighed by the replacement costs, then it might not be in your best interests to replace that blown engine.

How Much Does It Cost To Fix a Blown Head Gasket?

Fixing a broken he­ad gasket’s cost can fluctuate. The car’s type­, damage level, and your local labor rate­ play key roles. Gene­rally, mending a damaged head gaske­t could cost you from a handful of hundreds to beyond a thousand dollars. Expense­s generally cover labor for taking out the­ cylinder head(s), replacing the­ gasket, and fixing any engine damage­ by the broken gasket.

Ge­tting a hands-on review from a mechanic is vital to know the­ exact cost. Things like your car model, how badly it’s damage­d, and what your mechanic charges you per hour, hold a big sway in the­ total repair cost.

Fixing simple, small cars might se­t you back about $1,000 to $1,500.
But, with bulky, trickier vehicles and luxury cars, or one­s with pretty bad damage, you could be looking at anywhe­re from $1,500 to $3,000 or even more­.

Keep in mind, these­ prices are not set in stone­. They can swing widely due to various e­lements previously talke­d about. Always a smart move – get a thorough price quote­ from a skilled mechanic who has taken a good look at your car’s issue­s.

Engine Replacement Cost

Replacing a blown e­ngine involves costs that depe­nd on different things: The kind and mode­l of engine matters. Price­s vary a lot based on what type and brand of engine­ is needed.Ne­w versus used engine­s. Brand new engines are­ more expensive­ than used or fixed up old ones.How much shops charge­ for work. How much mechanics charge to do the job is a big part of the­ total bill.Other repairs may be re­quired too. Sometimes fixing the­ engine means fixing othe­r parts too or replacing broken piece­s.

Cost Estimates

Generally, the­ cost to swap an engine can be a fe­w thousand dollars up to several thousand, based on the­ factors listed. For example:Installing a ne­w engine for a mid-range car might run $3,300 to $6,000 and in some cases, the cost can even more than $15,000 depending to the model.the average labor cost at an auto repair shop in the United States ranged roughly between $80 to $160 per hour. However, this is a broad estimate and can vary significantly. Some specialized or dealer-affiliated shops might charge even higher rates.

Estimating Engine Replacement Costs for Popular Car Models (2016-2023) in the United States [Updated February 2024]

Car ModelNew Engine Range PriceHours Range LaborRange Total Price Estimated
Ford Mustang$3000 – $600012-16h$3,960 – $9,960
Honda Civic$2500 – $500010-14h$3,300 – $8,300
Chevrolet Corvette$6000 – $1200014-18h$7,120 – $19,120
Toyota Camry$3000 – $600012-16h$3,960 – $9,960
Honda Accord$3000 – $600012-16h$3,960 – $9,960
Toyota Corolla$2500 – $500012-16h$3,460 – $8,460
Toyota Highlander$4000 – $800014-18h$5,120 – $13,120
Subaru Outback$3500 – $700012-16h$4,460 – $11,460
Volkswagen Beetle$2500 – $500010-14h$3,300 – $8,300
Toyota 4Runner$4000 – $800014-18h$5,120 – $13,120
Toyota Tacoma$4000 – $800014-18h$5,120 – $13,120
Honda CR-V$3500 – $700012-16h$4,460 – $11,460
Ford F-Series$4000 – $800014-18h$5,120 – $13,120
Toyota RAV4$3000 – $600012-16h$3,960 – $9,960
Jeep Grand Cherokee$4000 – $800014-18h$5,120 – $13,120
Dodge Charger$3000 – $600012-16h$3,960 – $9,960
Mercedes-Benz C-Class$5000 – $1000014-18h$6,120 – $16,120
Ford Model A$8000 – $1500018-24h$9,440 – $24,440
Chevrolet Tahoe$4000 – $800014-18h$5,120 – $13,120
Chevrolet Silverado$4000 – $800014-18h$5,120 – $13,120
Cadillac Escalade$6000 – $1200014-18h$7,120 – $19,120
Nissan Altima$3000 – $600012-16h$3,960 – $9,960
Lexus LX$6000 – $1200014-18h$7,120 – $19,120
BMW 5 Series$5000 – $1000014-18h$6,120 – $16,120
Jeep Wrangler$4000 – $800014-18h$5,120 – $13,120
Toyota Tundra$4000 – $800014-18h$5,120 – $13,120
Ford Ranger$3000 – $600012-16h$3,960 – $9,960
Mercedes-Benz E-Class$5000 – $1000014-18h$6,120 – $16,120
BMW X3$5000 – $1000014-18h$6,120 – $16,120
Toyota Prius$2500 – $500010-14h$3,300 – $8,300

Understanding the­ cost to replace an engine­ in newer cars (2016-2023) means conside­ring a few things. Newer e­ngines tend to cost more, sure­. But, they usually need le­ss work to put in because the car’s in good shape­. Now, let’s think about older engine­s. Yes, they might be che­aper. But, they take more­ time and work to install due to factors like the­ car’s age and condition.

What Are The Signs Leading Up To A Blown Engine?

  • White smoke coming from the engine
  • Water or antifreeze in the oil chamber
  • Grinding or metallic noises when the engine turns
  • The engine refuses to turn
  • Extremely low compression in the cylinders

You can get a blown engine by driving your car without oil, pushing the engine excessively, and even design failures.

IMPORTANT: It is not likely that your car will drive with a bad engine, but if it does start, it will only get worse if you drive on a damaged engine. If your car engine has blown up, or you are in fear of it blowing up, don’t risk it.

In most cases, insurance does not cover engine failure. Nor will insurance cover the cost of replacing your car if it needs an engine.

Can I Trade In My Car With A Broken Engine To A Dealer?

Maybe. Some dealerships will accept a vehicle with a blown engine as a trade-in towards the purchase of a newer vehicle.

However, dealerships specialize in cars that they can put on the lot for sale as quickly as possible. Your car and its blown engine are not their target car, so they’ll likely lowball the trade-in value of your vehicle.

The major drawback of trading in your car with a blown engine to a local dealership is that most dealerships just don’t know the true value of your vehicle.

They are in the business of selling drivable cars, so expect low ball offers. They may believe that suggesting a trade-in value for cars with bad engines is simply doing you a favor, so negotiating a fair market price for the car can be impossible.

Additionally, not all dealerships will accept non-running vehicles. Some will only accept vehicles that they can easily fix up and put back on the lot to sell to new customers.

If you want to get the best price for your car with a blown engine, trading it in may not be the right choice for you.

Cars We Buy

CarBrain specializes in buying cars with problems, including cars with blown engines. We can make an offer on any of the following cars:

  • Non-running cars
  • Old vehicles
  • Vehicles with body damage
  • Cars with blown engines
  • Cars with mechanical damage
  • Vehicles with salvage or rebuilt titles
  • Junk and scrap cars
  • Cars for parts
  • Wrecked or totaled cars

At CarBrain, we know how to help sellers like you get a top-dollar offer when you’re getting rid of a car with engine problems.

Click “Get an Offer” anywhere on our website and fill out our easy form to find out what you can get for your vehicle today.

Does Your Car Have A Blown Engine? Get A Quote To Sell It Now.

Receiving your fair market appraisal necessitates nothing more than listing basic details about the condition of your car. It takes just a couple of seconds! We will come to you to take your car for FREE wherever you are, across the nation.

Can You Fix A Car With A Blown Engine?

Yes, but it may not be reasonable.

An experienced mechanic at most repair shops would need to order many small replacement parts and spend a lot of time disassembling and repairing the engine. The parts and labor required can make this a very long and expensive process.

Is It Worth It To Replace The Engine In My Car?

Engine repair costs can add up, especially when you’re dealing with a blown engine. In most cases, the engine cannot be safely repaired, or it doesn’t make financial sense to try to repair it.

Instead, you will have to replace the engine completely. However, engine replacement costs can get pretty pricey pretty fast.

The cost of a new engine can be anything from $4,000 for a V4 engine to $7,000 or more for a V8 engine.

Luxury vehicles, sports cars, and other expensive vehicles’ engines may be even more costly to replace. You might be able to save some money by replacing your engine with a used engine, but that comes with risks of its own.

Can I Sell A Car With Engine Problems?

Yes. Fortunately, there is no law saying that you can’t sell a car with a blown engine. It isn’t illegal to sell a car with engine problems, but you have to find someone willing to buy an undriveable vehicle.

People usually default to selling a car with engine issues to a junkyard or a dealership, both of which will give you offers lower than your car’s actual cash value.

At CarBrain, we take the difficulty out of selling a damaged vehicle. You can sell your cars that need repairs, even if what it needs is a new engine.

We offer fast service and free pickups with no fees. Many junk car buyers can spend days, or even weeks, negotiating, sending pictures back and forth, and trying to determine what price they will pay for your car.

If your vehicle is a thorn in your side, you’ll want to sell it quickly and for a fair price. After all, the faster you can sell your car with a bad engine, the faster you can start searching for a replacement vehicle without the engine problems.

5 Places to Find Cars for Sale With Blown Engines

Do you want the opportunity to practice your mechanics skills or repair an old vehicle and get it road worthy again? Maybe you have a drift car project or are looking to make some extra money by fixing up and selling salvaged vehicles.

Finding a used car with a blown engine that is for sale can be challenging. However, there are places that sell cars with blown engines, including eBay, Craigslist, junk yards, private sellers in forums, and even some second-hand vehicle dealerships.

Why Buy a Car With a Blown Engine?

Without a working engine, a car is basically worthless. You are not going to make it out of the garage if your car engine is not working. Well, you might, but you won’t get very far.

If a car engine is completely blown, your car is as good as a pile of scrap metal – or is it? Here are the most common reasons why someone will want to buy a car with a blown engine:

Budget Friendly

Assuming the rest of the car is in good working order, buying a car with a blown engine can be a good option for drivers on a budget.

If the price tag on the car is low enough, the overall cost for the vehicle and a new engine can work out cheaper than just buying a fully working second-hand car.

However, this is usually only the case if you have the knowledge and skills to fit the engine yourself, as professional labor costs can soon add up.

Need the Parts

Sometimes, drivers choose to buy cars with blown engines because they want the other parts. If the engine is not needed for a project but, for example, the transmission, tires, and electrical accessories, then buying a car with a blown engine may be a good idea.

To Practice Mechanic Skills

For a trainee mechanic or hobbyist, buying a car with a blown engine can be a useful tool to help them learn new skills. The engine doesn’t need to be working in order for someone to learn how it works or maintenance and repair skills.

Even without an engine, a used vehicle can be beneficial when learning mechanics skills.

To Repair and Sell

If you have the budget and the know-how, repairing a car with a blown engine and selling it can be an effective way to make a side income.

DIY Car Project

Some drivers want a car with a blown engine so they can transform the vehicle into something bigger and better. When fixing up cars for the track or as drift cars, the blown engine may be swapped with something more impressive and powerful.

5 Places to Find Cars For Sale With Blown Engines

As you can see, there are several reasons why someone may wish to buy a second-hand car with a blown engine. However, finding these cars is not always as easy as you may think.

Often, if a car engine has been blown and is beyond repair, it is either replaced or the car may be scrapped, depending on the extent of the damage.

If you are desperately searching for a car with a blown engine, do not despair! We have done the research and put together this list of 6 places to find cars for sale with blown engines.

1. eBay

You can buy anything on eBay, right? If you want a car with a blown engine, head to this popular online auction website and see what you can find.

Try being specific with your search keywords. For example, Chevy Silverado with a blown engine or VW with no engine.

Finding a car with a blown engine can be difficult, you need to be searching every day to make sure no great deals are snatched up before you can make a bid.

Pros

  • You can get a good deal.
  • You don’t need to leave the house.
  • Easier to search for older/vintage models.

Cons

  • Not always a high availability.
  • May bid more than the vehicle is worth/not enough to win.
  • Risk of being ripped off by the seller.

2. Dealership

This option is rare and only the luckiest of second-hand car hunters are likely to find the vehicle they are looking for from a dealership.

However, according to posters in some online forums, if you ring a dealership on a perfect day, they may have a trade-in second-hand car with a blown engine they are happy to sell on.

Pros

  • You can get a good price.
  • Less risk from an official dealership.
  • Can see the vehicle before purchasing.

Cons

  • Dealerships rarely sell on salvaged vehicles.
  • Unlikely to be a large selection of vehicles with blown engines.

3. Car Owner Forums

Car enthusiasts can often be found hanging out in online forums. If you are looking for a certain vehicle with a blown engine, put a message in a forum and watch the comments section blow up.

In online forums, you can request a certain vehicle with a blown engine and potential sellers will come to you, more than happy to let you know they have a car for sale.

Pros

  • Easy way to find any local sellers.
  • Sellers comment on their deals.
  • There are hundreds of forums to post in.

Cons

  • You may get ripped off.
  • You May struggle to find exactly what you are looking for.

4. Craigslist

You can find everything and anything on Craigslist. Like eBay, use the search bar to find exactly what you are looking for.

If you are willing to travel, you can search through various locations. There may be nothing in your city but the perfect used car could be waiting for you just upstate.

As with when you buy anything from Craigslist, there is always the chance that the goods are stolen or in a worse condition than the advertisement would have you believe.

Pros

  • Easy to search for what you want.
  • Can find a good deal.
  • Often plenty of choices.

Cons

  • Risk of buying stolen goods.
  • The vehicle condition may not match the description.

5. Junk Yard

Junk yards can be a great place to go if you are looking for a used car with a blown engine. It is important to note that cars that end up in junkyards are often beyond repair and not seen as anything more than scrap metal.

However, you may be able to find a car with a blown engine that still meets the requirements you need. For example, the bodywork may be smashed up but there could be several working parts in there that you can make good use of.

Depending on what you want the vehicle for, buying a car with a blown engine from a junkyard may be a great idea.

Pros

  • Cheap way to buy a used car and car parts.
  • May find a unique/rare vehicle.
  • Easy to find local junkyards by searching online.

Cons

  • Can take a long time searching through the junkyard to find what you want.
  • There may not be the vehicle you are looking for.
  • Will need a trailer/tow vehicle to get the vehicle home.

If you still can not find a car with a blown engine, it may also be worth looking in local Facebook selling groups, putting up a poster on a local noticeboard, or just keeping an eye for vehicles with for-sale signs when you are out and about.

When buying a car with a blown engine with the intention of doing it up and getting it back on the road, make sure you are buying from a reputable seller with all the necessary documentation.

The last thing you want is to spend time fixing up a second-hand car, just to find out the vehicle was stolen.

FAQs

How much is a car with a blown engine worth?

Cars with a blown engine are significantly less than their fully functioning counterparts. On average, the value of a vehicle that is otherwise in good condition will decrease by approximately $3000 if the engine is blown.

Is it worth replacing an engine?

Replacing the engine can be an effective way to keep your aging or malfunctioning vehicle on the road. However, if the faulty engine is just one of many problems, it may be more cost-effective to just trade your vehicle in and buy a new car.

Can you fix a car with a blown engine?

This will depend on the extent of the damage – if the damage is minimal, opting for repair work may be the wisest move. However, if major damage has been caused it makes sense to opt for replacing the engine altogether.

Can you trade in a car with a blown engine?

Yes, you can trade in a car with a blown engine. Dealerships will accept vehicles with a blown engine because there are still going to be several working parts that can be sold on.

Will a car run if the engine is blown?

Yes, a car may still run if the engine is blown but not if the damage is severe. ~If the engine has completely seized and key parts have melted due to extreme overheating, the car will not run.

Conclusion

Looking for a car with a blown engine? You may not be able to find what you are looking for on your local dealerships sales floor but there are plenty of places where you can buy a car with a blown engine.

If you are hoping to fix up an old banger or just want to get your hands on some good quality auto parts, you can find cars with a blown engine at your local junkyard, on eBay, or on Craigslist. Alternatively, you can find specific cars with a blown engine by searching through online forums.

Your car isn’t worthless if the engine is blown. In fact, there is a huge market for used cars with blown engines in 2022.

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What Places Near Me Buy Broken Cars?

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Selling a car with mechanical damage or blown engine to us is easy as 1-2-3! There are very few nationwide buyers like DamagedCars.com that specialize in buying totaled, mechanically damaged, and blow engine cars.

Can I Sell My Damaged Truck to DamagedCars.com?

Yes! Like any other automobile, trucks can run into mechanical issues. It may be an engine quickly going bad, or the car’s come to its end of life. A vehicle that doesn’t run anymore isn’t entirely useless.

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Benefits of Selling a Vehicle Online

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5 Places to Find Cars for Sale With Blown Engines

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  • Ethan Cole – Automotive Journalist & Car Enthusiast Ethan Cole is a passionate automotive journalist with over 10 years of experience covering the latest developments in the car industry. From high-performance sports cars and rugged SUVs to electric vehicles and autonomous driving tech — Ethan dives deep into every segment to bring readers honest, insightful reviews and comparisons. He has tested hundreds of vehicles across Europe, the US, and Asia, always focusing on real-world performance, driver experience, and value for money. His work has been featured in Car and Driver , Top Gear Magazine , and Motor Trend , where he’s known for his no-nonsense approach and technical depth. Ethan believes that whether you're buying your first hatchback or your dream supercar, knowledge is power — and his mission is to help drivers make smarter choices through detailed breakdowns, video reviews, and behind-the-scenes looks at how cars are made. When he's not behind the wheel, Ethan runs a vintage car restoration channel on YouTube and enjoys track days at local racing circuits. Follow Ethan: Instagram: @EthanColeAuto YouTube: youtube.com/@EthanColeAuto Twitter: @EthanColeAuto

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