buying a junk yard engine how to check if its good?
#1
buying a junk yard engine how to check if its good?
so when pulling an engine at pick and pull obviously you cant start it.
and i already bought a junk engine that i cant return cuz its been way past 90 days.
it has a rod knock and all kinds of leaks
so im gonna have to buy another long block y7 to replace it or a z6
whats the best gameplan to check as much as i possibly can without tearing it down.
i know for one to rotate the crank with spark plugs in to check for burnt valves there will be much less force if one of the cylinders is leaking compression.
but how ot check if the engine has bad bearings or rod knock
-------------------------------------------------------------
so to keep track
check for body damage
if no body damage then engine is the problem if rolled over also bad engine
if hit on the front, engine mounts or exhaust manifold bolt holes might be stripped
1 spin the crank to see if its seized up or spins freely. if theres no compression the crank will spin much easier with spark plugs in.
2 pull spark plugs and see what they look like and ook inside spark plg holes
3 pull valve cover off and check for buildup and signs of overheating or low oil
4 pull oil pan and check for signs of overheating( black color rod caps and black color crank around bearings) also metal shavings in oil pan
5 sings of heavy oil or colant leaks around engine bay.
6 ask for recorded mileage from junk yard.
7 try to get a warranty
and i already bought a junk engine that i cant return cuz its been way past 90 days.
it has a rod knock and all kinds of leaks
so im gonna have to buy another long block y7 to replace it or a z6
whats the best gameplan to check as much as i possibly can without tearing it down.
i know for one to rotate the crank with spark plugs in to check for burnt valves there will be much less force if one of the cylinders is leaking compression.
but how ot check if the engine has bad bearings or rod knock
-------------------------------------------------------------
so to keep track
check for body damage
if no body damage then engine is the problem if rolled over also bad engine
if hit on the front, engine mounts or exhaust manifold bolt holes might be stripped
1 spin the crank to see if its seized up or spins freely. if theres no compression the crank will spin much easier with spark plugs in.
2 pull spark plugs and see what they look like and ook inside spark plg holes
3 pull valve cover off and check for buildup and signs of overheating or low oil
4 pull oil pan and check for signs of overheating( black color rod caps and black color crank around bearings) also metal shavings in oil pan
5 sings of heavy oil or colant leaks around engine bay.
6 ask for recorded mileage from junk yard.
7 try to get a warranty
Last edited by raverx3m; 04-08-2012 at 10:52 PM.
#2
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Colorado
Posts: 806
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: buying a junk yard engine how to check if its good?
In my experiences of the hundreds of junkyard trips I've made.. If the car has enough body damage to total it out, more then likely that motor is good. If the car has no body damage or very minor, more then likely the car was scrapped because of a drivetrain issue.
#5
Honda-Tech Member
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: nc
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: buying a junk yard engine how to check if its good?
Best way to check is to turn it over by hand first. A lot of these cars you can start if you bring a battery and with a bit of work and car part swapping bam its complete.
#6
Re: buying a junk yard engine how to check if its good?
If the cluster is still in the car check how many miles along with the suggestions above. No point in pulling a motor with 300k IMO.
#7
Re: buying a junk yard engine how to check if its good?
Also smell the oil, And pull the valve cover. Check for a burnt smell and for sludge. I would pass if the oil is really dirty or burnt and Obviously milky.
Trending Topics
#8
Seagull Management
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Miramichi, NB, Canada
Posts: 15,150
Likes: 0
Received 24 Likes
on
22 Posts
Re: buying a junk yard engine how to check if its good?
Take a flashlight with you, remove the oil cap and shine it under the valve cover, if it looks nice and clean chances are really good it's a good engine. If it's full of old burnt on oil and sludge pass. If it's still in the car take the rad cap off and check for rust, sludge or oil in the coolant. There's no easy way to check for a spun bearing without pulling the pan, but honestly if it looks clean under the valve cover 9 times out 10 it's a good engine.
#9
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: North Florida
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: buying a junk yard engine how to check if its good?
Also try removing the valve cover and inspecting the valvetrain. It should be a golden bronze color if the engine is low miles and had regular oil changes. If you have a black gunky sludge on anything other than just the bottom of the oil pan then the engine may be more suitable for a rebuild rather than startup. Learning how used oil should smell is a great benefit to inspecting engines as well.
If the engine still has oil I like to drain off the first bit and last bit into a small seperate pan to screen for shavings.
If the engine still has oil I like to drain off the first bit and last bit into a small seperate pan to screen for shavings.
#11
Seagull Management
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Miramichi, NB, Canada
Posts: 15,150
Likes: 0
Received 24 Likes
on
22 Posts
Re: buying a junk yard engine how to check if its good?
If it rolled I'd pass on the engine, running upside down tends to ruin an engine pretty quick. Other than that check very closely for cracks around mounts. Someone told me years ago they had horrible luck buying junkyard B16A transmissions from smashed up cars, they kept blowing differentials through the side of the case, he finally started blaming it on the extremely abrupt stop with the car still in gear, something to think about.
#12
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Funtown, MA, USA
Posts: 813
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: buying a junk yard engine how to check if its good?
do a leak down test.
drain oil, or a bit of it from the pan and check it out. look for metal shavings and if it looks milky.
see if you can put a socket on the crank bolt and rotate it by hand
pull the plugs and take a peak at them
drain oil, or a bit of it from the pan and check it out. look for metal shavings and if it looks milky.
see if you can put a socket on the crank bolt and rotate it by hand
pull the plugs and take a peak at them
#13
Re: buying a junk yard engine how to check if its good?
i have an inspection camera that can fit through oil pan hole.
looking at the rod caps i know when they are black is bad because of running with no oil. is black rod cap always an indication of bad bearing or can bearing be bad without any signs?
looking at the rod caps i know when they are black is bad because of running with no oil. is black rod cap always an indication of bad bearing or can bearing be bad without any signs?
#14
Honda-Tech Member
Re: buying a junk yard engine how to check if its good?
Interesting thread, Ive always been curious at the engine.
Good luck though! Whenever I see a Z6 or a Y8 at the junk yard, theyre gone by the time I blink.
Good luck though! Whenever I see a Z6 or a Y8 at the junk yard, theyre gone by the time I blink.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
EJ1 wilcox
Honda Civic / Del Sol (1992 - 2000)
8
08-29-2005 09:08 AM