Seized Engine

[srozing]

Hey everyone,

Was cruising on the highway on the weekend when my 2014 2500 suddenly started making some crazy noises and died. It wouldn't turn over so I had it towed to the dealer. The diagnosis: engine won't crank and needs replacing, catastrophic failure. I got a few different quotes from them (Canadian $): $13000 for a new engine, $11000 for a reman or a used one they found with 117,000km on it which would run me $10000 all said and done.

This is my first time around with an engine replacement, so looking for advice. The engine remanufacturers seem to advertise their engines are better than factory. I found a shop locally that has several used engines which could save me near half the price, $4200 CAD (plus install for about $7500 total) for an engine with only 10,000km on it for instance. While this sounds like a much better deal, I have no idea where the engine came from and whether or not they're full of it.

Existing engine is the factory 5.7L.

Looking for advice on how to proceed. Is buying a used engine with low mileage that risky? Would the dealer test it for me etc? Or should I just go with a new engine to be sure not to have future issues.

Thanks!

 

[Ribtipram]

Does the used come with some kind of warranty. Motors like that come out of trucks that were totaled some how. My vett was totaled and someone got a nice motor out of that one.

 

[grizzstang]

First decide if your 6 year old truck is worth spending that kind of money on.

If it is I would try to find a good used one. Many mass rebuilt engines are a crapshoot as to whether you get a good one or not.

See it you can find a low mile Ram that was crashed and is being parted out first. That way you have some idea of the miles.

Used engines that are already pulled out of a vehicle have unknown miles no matter what they tell you.

$3000.00 labor to put in an engine seems really high, is this a dealer?

I would think an experienced tech could crank this out in 8 to 12 hours. Even at 16 hours the labor rate they are quoting you is $187.50 per hour.

 

[Tach_tech]

First decided if your 6 year old truck is worth spending that kind of money on.

If it is I would try to find a good used one. Many mass rebuilt engines are a crapshoot as to whether you get a good one or not.

See it you can find a low mile Ram that was crashed and is being parted out first. That way you have some idea of the miles.

Used engines that are already pulled out of a vehicle have unknown miles no matter what they tell you.

$3000.00 labor to put in an engine seems really high, is this a dealer?

I would think an experienced tech could crank this out in 8 to 12 hours. Even at 16 hours the labor rate they are quoting you is $187.50 per hour.

Labour time for a long block on OPs truck is about 20hrs so that puts labour rate around $140 which if it’s a dealer is pretty average. If it was me I’d be able to get that done way under the labour time, probably around 10hrs. However with labour rates you pay for the book time not actual time.

 

[Wild one]

Hey everyone,

Was cruising on the highway on the weekend when my 2014 2500 suddenly started making some crazy noises and died. It wouldn't turn over so I had it towed to the dealer. The diagnosis: engine won't crank and needs replacing, catastrophic failure. I got a few different quotes from them (Canadian $): $13000 for a new engine, $11000 for a reman or a used one they found with 117,000km on it which would run me $10000 all said and done.

This is my first time around with an engine replacement, so looking for advice. The engine remanufacturers seem to advertise their engines are better than factory. I found a shop locally that has several used engines which could save me near half the price, $4200 CAD (plus install for about $7500 total) for an engine with only 10,000km on it for instance. While this sounds like a much better deal, I have no idea where the engine came from and whether or not they're full of it.

Existing engine is the factory 5.7L.

Looking for advice on how to proceed. Is buying a used engine with low mileage that risky? Would the dealer test it for me etc? Or should I just go with a new engine to be sure not to have future issues.

Thanks!

What dealer,as they sound a bit high,i just priced out a brand new 6.4 truck long block last week at Airdrie Dodge and it was 8500 bucks,a 5.7 long block should be cheaper. You don't need a complete engine,just the long block,then they can transfer everything off your old engine onto the new long block.

 

[grizzstang]

I would not have guessed 20 hours book to R&R an engine in a Ram.

Seems like a lot of hours to me but I have not done one in a Ram.

I would recommend the OP finds a private shop to tackle this and not a dealer.

 

[srozing]

Does the used come with some kind of warranty. Motors like that come out of trucks that were totaled some how. My vett was totaled and someone got a nice motor out of that one.

Yes, they're offering a 90 day warranty and also an extended warranty option as well.

 

[Taylor513]

How many miles were on the original engine when it happened? 90 day warranty doesn't seem that long of a warranty to me.

 

[srozing]

First decided if your 6 year old truck is worth spending that kind of money on.

If it is I would try to find a good used one. Many mass rebuilt engines are a crapshoot as to whether you get a good one or not.

See it you can find a low mile Ram that was crashed and is being parted out first. That way you have some idea of the miles.

Used engines that are already pulled out of a vehicle have unknown miles no matter what they tell you.

$3000.00 labor to put in an engine seems really high, is this a dealer?

I would think an experienced tech could crank this out in 8 to 12 hours. Even at 16 hours the labor rate they are quoting you is $187.50 per hour.

I think it is worth putting a new engine into. Similar replacement used is about $30,000 cad if I could find a good deal.

I believe labour was $2900 and $600 in misc parts. Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it.

In looking for a low mileage used engine, are all of the 2009-2018 year 5.7's interchangeable?

 

[srozing]

I would not have guessed 20 hours book to R&R an engine in a Ram.

Seems like a lot of hours to me but I have not done one in a Ram.

I would recommend the OP finds a private shop to tackle this and not a dealer.

Quote from the guys that have the used engines in question are quoting $2100 for install. So the "10,000km" engine I could

What dealer,as they sound a bit high,i just priced out a brand new 6.4 truck long block last week at Airdrie Dodge and it was 8500 bucks,a 5.7 long block should be cheaper. You don't need a complete engine,just the long block,then they can transfer everything off your old engine onto the new long block.

Crowfoot dodge in NW Calgary.

 

[srozing]

I would not have guessed 20 hours book to R&R an engine in a Ram.

Seems like a lot of hours to me but I have not done one in a Ram.

I would recommend the OP finds a private shop to tackle this and not a dealer.

That's funny because I was originally thinking exactly the opposite... major job like this should go to the dealer was my initial thought.

 

[crash68]

In looking for a low mileage used engine, are all of the 2009-2018 year 5.7's interchangeable?

If I remember reading correctly the crank position tone ring is not the same between the 09-12 and the 13-18 model year trucks. It's not easily changed or compatable with each other.

 

[srozing]

How many miles were on the original engine when it happened? 90 day warranty doesn't seem that long of a warranty to me.

185,000 km or 115,000 miles

 

[Pull Ya]

Usually I have found that the dealer's hourly rate is higher than a locally-owned shop, at least down here in Tx. IMHO I'd rebuild what you got, at least you would know for sure what you have, rather than gambling on a used engine that you have no idea of what kind of care or maintenance has or has not been done. It would also give you the opportunity to add a few aftermarket parts if you wanted to.
Jay

 

[Tach_tech]

Usually I have found that the dealer's hourly rate is higher than a locally-owned shop, at least down here in Tx. IMHO I'd rebuild what you got, at least you would know for sure what you have, rather than gambling on a used engine that you have no idea of what kind of care or maintenance has or has not been done. It would also give you the opportunity to add a few aftermarket parts if you wanted to.
Jay

I would agree, as long as He didn’t window the block or it would likely just be cheaper to rebuild.

 

[Cwils80]

@Tach_tech
Does 13k for a new engine and install sound about right to you? Or is that on the high side?

 

[Tach_tech]

@Tach_tech
Does 13k for a new engine and install sound about right to you? Or is that on the high side?

I don’t know the dealer retail cost for a 5.7 long block for his truck off the top of my head. I know a long block for my truck was around 8k cad. Labour depending on hourly rate would be around 2-3k. So 10K is a good ball park estimate. 13k does seem high but we don’t know what else is being quoted with the repair.

 

[Wild one]

Quote from the guys that have the used engines in question are quoting $2100 for install. So the "10,000km" engine I could


Crowfoot dodge in NW Calgary.

Talk to the skinny tall parts guy,his name is Dan,ask him if he can do better on the price of a longblock,or else you'll go see the guys at Airdrie,lol. Dan used to work at Airdrie,and there's some competition between him and Airdrie's parts guys,lol

 

[Pull Ya]

^^^^ Whatever works!!!!
Jay

 

[Wild one]

^^^^ Whatever works!!!!
Jay

I've been known to work the 2 of them every once inawhile Jay,lol. I've known Dan since he was a parts driver in Airdrie years ago,so i'm not adverse to pitting the 2 parts departments against each other,lol.
Tell him Rick Wildman told you to see him for a good price,lol