Is engine rebuild a good option ?

anotherjd

Skoda Octavia 191, 1.6 Diesel bhp 115

Timing belt broke and Skoda dealer is recommending a new replacement engine for approx €9000.

I was told the recommend replacement interval for belt is is 160,000km or 5 years.

The engine has not been stripped down to determine level of damage.

Should I consider engine rebuild, which would be unknown price depending on the level of damage.

Has anyone experience of engine rebuild for a Skoda or other car?

What was overall cost and time to fix?

If anyone had positive experience and can recommend someone to do rebuild (in Dublin area) please share.

Thanks

Anotherjd

User1998

Have you gotten a price for the engine rebuild? Its sometimes cheaper to get a second hand engine from a scrapyard and have it fitted to the car. Good idea to give the new engine a full service and new timing belt too. Buying a second hand engine comes with its own risks tho.

Mad_Lad

160,000 Kms for a TDI belt ? never heard it go that long ? but last VAG I had in fairness was one of the 1.9 PDs. I don't think I'd let a belt, water pump and tensioner run beyond 100,000 kms ?

Couple of options here,

2nd hand engine from breakers, never know it's true condition, definitely get belt, water pump replaced, tensioner.

breakers engine you will know the price + price for mechanic to fit + belt etc.

Rebuild, well, for starters mechanics are very hard to get so you could be waiting weeks and that's just to strip it down to give you an estimate of the cost.

However, the advantage is that a rebuild should be as good as new and potentially an engine that will last another 480,000 with proper maintenance and belts every "100,000" kms. Getting a competent mechanic these days to undertake such a task might be a challenge, not sure where you would find someone who rebuilds engines, start googling.

In fact, it might be more cost effective in the long run to replace engine and keep it many years.

By the way, how many kms are actually on the car ?

I just found these lads, I know nothing about them

https://robertsengines.ie/

maidhc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122270694#Comment_122270694

it doesn’t pay to get an engine in a low value item like an Octavia rebuilt. Maybe if it was a db5 or something it would be different, and if the car was such that matching numbers matter it would of course be worth it.

Roberts mostly do Agri and industrial engines because that is what is worth doing. A 20 year old John Deere can often be worth as much and more than a new car. I got them to do an engine before. There are a lot cheaper than the likes of Murphy’s in Cork City, but I’d pay the premium the next time.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122270694#Comment_122270694

Most VAG cars of the past 10 years have a ‘lifetime belt’ which is supposed to last 260k km. In the UK it is 160k miles with no time limit but I think dealers here insist it should be changed after 5 years regardless of mileage.

Mad_Lad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122270809#Comment_122270809

Don't know, that would scare the sh1t out of me leaving a belt that long, Proof in post 1 ?

I'm no expert of course, maybe it's a rare issue ?

Mad_Lad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122270738#Comment_122270738

Depending on the price but if it cost max 5 K I'd probably do it if it included a full rebuild, but it would mean the car is off the road a good while but would be basically a brand new engine.

How many miles are on the car ?

Probably all top end damage, worse if it blew due to oil starvation, probably valves, pistons, rings ?

Still might be worth getting it looked at vs engine from breakers with God knows what condition.

colm_mcm

Get the hell out of the main dealers for a start!

If a rebuild is being considered it would be probably a load cheaper to get the car brought up north on the back of a truck and get it done there

Cos20

Had this last month on a 2017 Octavia 1.6 TDI. It spun the lobes on the cams after the belt broke so I got a new genuine cam box (04L103044AE) from Skoda > €1500.00 + vat. There was a possibility of broken rockers but none were broke on this one. With new cam box, water pump, timing belt kit, coolant, gaskets, washers, bolts etc it ended up being €3,000.00 all in including parts & labour. It would need to be stripped first but as said above I’d get it out of the main dealers.

Mad_Lad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122274761#Comment_122274761

@ what mileage did it brake ?

So I think probably sticking to the old 100 Km interval is better really ?

Cars are becoming disposable white goods these days.

anotherjd

Appreciate all the feedback.

The car had 91000km when belt broke.

However it is 191 so is 5.5 years old.

Am weary of 2nd hand engine, with unknown history and more likely to get an engine rebuild.

I think having engine rebuild by reputable mechanic/engineering company will help if I want to sell it in future Vs second hand engine.

Only 1 quote for engine rebuild

Of 4k max, but could be (hopefully) less.

Cos20

The one I had broke at 141,000 kms. Dealer said interval was 210,000 kms & that’s what we were changing them at but I’ve since found out the interval is 120,000 kms under severe conditions. I hadn’t seen one break before but have seen plenty of water pumps to leak & we’d replace the belt at the same time. Best of luck with it.

mickdw

Rebuilding engine is a great idea if done properly. If not, its the worse option of all as it might only run for a few months.

An engine remanufacturing company should do a good job. A mechanic in a random garage throwing together engine with some new parts, not a good idea.

soundman45

If your near Dublin try Dony Engineering at Newlands cross

RMC10

@anotherjd - just wondering how you got on with this? In a similar situation at the moment and trying to decide whether its worthwhile for an engine rebuild.

Dartz

An engine rebuild is always wortwhile.

Didn't realise how tired the engine was in my yoke until I got it back. It's like a new car.

Mad_Lad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122639837#Comment_122639837

How much did it cost and what did you end up getting done ? Who did that work for you ?

I'm sure it's worth it vs a brand new car considering the cost of new cars these days I'd say engine rebuilding is going to get a lot more popular and why not if the rest of the car is in good shape ? the chassis and bodywork on cars these days is incredibly good and a car could easily last 30+ years if taken care of.

It's a lot more environmentally friendly to fix old stuff than to buy new stuff.

I know I'm done buying new cars, I'd rather have a cheap car with just the basics without all the electronic sh1t we find in cars today !

fits

I had a new engine put into an Audi q5 that was seven years old. Used an independent dealer and I think it cost around 4000 euro with an engine from breakers. Car is running fine since. It’s 12 years old now.

selectamatic

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122639837#Comment_122639837

Apples and oranges comparing getting a rotary engine rebuilt Vs a bog standard 1.6tdi when it comes to positives and cost effectiveness.

OP if I was you I'd be getting a good independent mechanic who is familiar with VW stuff to fit a guaranteed (usually 3 months) and low mileage used engine from a crashed yoke from reputable breakers.

Another option is get the mechanic to open up the engine to assess the damage and repair/rebuild as necessary.

Either way I'd definitely be avoiding the main dealers.

Mad_Lad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122640361#Comment_122640361

What happened the engine ? could it have been rebuilt ?

fits

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122641547#Comment_122641547

cracked prop shaft I think. I can’t remember which shaft it was exactly. Bit of a freak thing. Indie mechanic recommended new engine. It’s been running well since to be fair.

Hailtothethief

I've gotten engines rebuild in the past. It was a tired engine for a classic car and I wanted to keep it a matching number car so putting in a different running engine wasn't a runner. Even though, it needed oversize pistons, bore and a head rebuild as well as the typical bolts, pumps, gaskets, carb and dizzy rebuild.

OP, If there was no damage and it was just a tired engine, then it may be worth it. However, you don't know the level of damage done due to the timing belt snapping. There's more than likely head/valve damage meaning new valves and possibly a head. The pistons are probably goosed due to striking the valves. If pieces of the valves broke off and bounced around the cylinder, they could score the bore. If so, block is damaged, possibly fecked (I don't know if they have liners or not).

OP, it's going to be a lot more cost effective to get a good mechanic to put in one from a breaker. It's not like the 1.6TDi is a rare engine.

Dartz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122640392#Comment_122640392

Not really.

A scrapyard engine has an unknown history. Could be about to **** itself 5km down the road. Basically needs to be torn open and inspected at the very least before being put in, which is part way towards rebuilding it anyway.

A rebuilt engine is basically new. You're starting at Zero. You know everything that's ever happened to it. What has been done and what has been failed to do. A good builder will have a warranty on their work.

It's a gold standard fix, but if the rest of the shell's in good order it's basically a brand new engine.

I've done both. The salvaged engine had a few quirks and needed its shell bearings replaced before going in (Good thing they were checked). When I sent the car in for rebuild 5 years later it was still 'in-spec' inside when it came apart - all parts including seals were still clean and in-tolerance, but it feels a hell of a lot better on the other side after going back together. It was a complete unknown factor for mileage and otherwise beforehand.

The work I got done was porting work which makes for a bit more bhp.

The reality is, it's not the cost of the rebuild compared to the value of the car - it's the cost of the rebuild compared to the quality of the car you could buy with the money to replace it.

Mad_Lad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122643783#Comment_122643783

Yeah, I'd be of the same opinion to go for the rebuild because then you know the history and it will drive for 30 years more with proper maintenance.

anotherjd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122636160#Comment_122636160

Hi RMC10
I talked to my mechanic about the options, and he agreed with some comments here that getting a secondhand engine from scrapyard could work, but v.difficult to know the history of the engine.
I also decided that if selling car in future having an engine rebuild from reputable provider was the best option.
I used Howard Engineering in Glasnevin, who were excellent to deal with.
The cost was €4000 + vat.
Happy that the car is driving well now.

If considering the options, it does depend on the age of your car, and are you planning to keep or sell in the future.
For me, I am planning to keep the 5 year old car for at least another 5 years, and possibly give to adult child in future.

User1998

For reference you could get a second hand engine plus fitting for half that so it really depends on your circumstances as to which option is best. Personally I’ve never had a problem with any second hand engine I’ve fitted granted I’ve only done 3 or 4 of them.

GavPJ

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122281709#Comment_122281709

I'd be fuming if the belt went at that mileage.

It's not even 57,000 miles. Are you the original owner?

Luna84

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122646410#Comment_122646410

It let go with age from years and not mileage. 5 years and couple of months old.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122646666#Comment_122646666

Thats disappointing, I thought that engine was fitted with a lifetime timing belt with an interval of 150k miles and no time interval (in the UK anyway)

Dartz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122644867#Comment_122644867

4k for a piston engine's not bad considering there're a lot more moving parts in there and a lot more time involved. That's actually fairly good value considering the time/work involved.

Let it run-in and it'll feel like a new car again.

GavPJ

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122646817#Comment_122646817

I'd be going to Skoda and a solicitor, but I'm an argumentative c**t.