2009 March | GotEngines.com Auto Repair Blog

What Makes Ford Engines Popular Replacement Candidates?

March 31st, 2009

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One thing I can assure you of is that Ford builds a darn good engine, The reason they are so popular in terms of engine replacements is actually a testimonial of how good the Ford trucks are. It is hard to take the truck commercials too seriously, but Ford claims to sell more trucks than any other manufacturer.

If that is the case and Ford sells the most trucks than we can conclude that either they are excellent trucks or cost less than the other brands of trucks. Assuming they are good trucks, then the large amount of failed engines is consistent with their popularity. Which means that GotEngines.com sells more used, rebuilt and new Ford engines than any other product.

The fact is that the ratio of failed Ford truck and car engines is the same as any brand of car or truck. Trucks seem to be the main recipient of a replacement engine. That is logical too. Trucks work harder than your everyday grocery getter. In many cases people overload their work trucks with tools and supplies anyway.

The demand for work truck engines is not much greater than the grocery getter. Why? People who use their trucks for commercial purposes have a tendency to understand the importance of maintenance better than people who use their cars and trucks for ordinary every day chores. Possibly the work truck owner experienced some sort of issue that was caused by lack of maintenance. That is usually enough to learn the lesson of taking care of your vehicle, especially with the economy damaged and the car makers just barely hanging on.

While we are here to sell engines, we personally don’t wish bad luck to anybody. This is why we have added the GotEngines,com Blog to our site. Our hope is to supply you with the information needed to avoid premature, unnecessary engine failure.

I’m am not going to profess to you about becoming a maintenance freak like me. I do want you to do the small things like, use a synthetic oil when you get your oil changed at the lubrication specialist. Have your radiator and cooling system examined and maintained every year by your favorite repair shop, and keep your engine tuned up for maximum performance and fuel mileage.

Talking to an expert on engine replacement strategies who carefully listens and understands your particular situation is a real confidence builder. Call us at GotEngines.com anytime at 1-877-268-0664.

Tags: Ford Engines
Posted in Ford Engines | 1 Comment » Engines

We Are Not Joking Around at GotEngines.com…

March 28th, 2009

I don’t understand why a couple of well respected and famous guys would answer a question as stupid as the one Click and Clack answered today in our local newspaper. I breeze through their column as often as possible. I don’t understand why they continue to answer silly unqualified car questions when people need real answers, especially when more folks are doing simple repairs at home now. It seems that they providing us with entertainment value only. Granted, the questions they choose to answer can give one a good chuckle.

Rarely do they answer a real life car question on their radio show either. Most of the time I think they just like to hear themselves laugh. I wonder what their credentials are as mechanics? I know they are good entertainers.

The whole purpose of the GotEngines.com Blog is to answer real world questions for home mechanics and give the appropriate answers to folks that are trying to repair their cars or trucks.

Our job is to teach you how to maintain your car or truck engine. Supply information to help you understand how to choose the correct replacement engine. Instruct you how to maintain your cooling system either on a regular basis, or when you install a new engine. Do you know how to change your oil? Realistically, it cost less to go to a lubrication specialist.

Lots of mechanically inclined people have real problems with their cars and they need a quality diagnosis put in terms they understand. Do you really know what the difference is between a rebuilt, remanufactured or rconditioned engine is? Or how to find the most qualified engine at the best price. Do you know how to choose a reputable repair shop. Can you distinguish between an educated and trained mechanic or a “cobb-artist”?

Read our blog. That is the answer. If you find yourself needing to talk with an expert or needing a replacement engine of some sort, call GotEngines.com at 1-877-268-0664 and find out what it is like to talk to someone who will listen your problem seriously and then provide a real world answer.

Tags: engine edu., GotEngines.com Articles
Posted in Engine Univ. | 1 Comment » Engines

Hybrid Battery Technology is Improving Rapidly..

March 26th, 2009

Exxon Mobil Corp said a new technology developed by its chemicals business will be key in helping the automotive industry switch to lighter, more efficient batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles.

The technology is a film that will allow battery companies to make larger lithium ion batteries that will not overheat.

Lithium ion batteries, often used in consumer electronics like cell phones and cordless tools, remotes, and cameras hold a charge longer than the conventional batteries now used widely in automobiles. They are also considerably lighter than conventional batteries, which is one of the main ideas in terms of improving gas mileage in a car or truck.

The lithium ion batteries tendency to overheat, sometimes catch fire due to the heat they produce has been a major problem to solve before any realistic automotive use can be considered. Exxon-Mobil Chemical and its Japanese affiliate Tonen Chemical said they have developed new separator film technologies that can stand up at higher heat levels.

Separator films are thin membranes that keep the battery’s positive and negative electrodes apart.

This technology could help automakers address several of the biggest challenges in producing a plug-in car, by lowering the cost of the lithium ion batteries and boosting their power and storage capacity.

Unlike earlier gasoline-electric hybrids, which run on a system that combines battery power driving an electric motor and an internal combustion engine to provide minimal fossil fuel usage while helping keep the batteries charged. Plug-ins are designed for short trips powered entirely by an electric motor and a battery charged through a socket at home. Currently most electric only vehicle can go approximately 60 to 100 miles per charge, which is limiting in terms of how far you go, the new technology should provide up to 150 miles per charge.

Assuming the United States set up a grid across the country, such as Israel is now doing, it would be very conceivable to travel longer distances knowing there would be charging stations located conveniently all around the country. The new generation of batteries can fully recharge in less than 2 hours.

General Motors Corp plans to launch an electric car using lithium ion batteries called the Chevrolet Volt by the end of 2010.

The new technology should make hybrid batteries more efficient, affordable and lighter.

GotEngines.com Blog presents this article for your convenience. Understanding that currently over 90% of our cars, trucks and commercial vehicles will continue to use gasoline or diesel engines for a while longer is good reason to know about companies such as GotEngines.com, they continue to be the industry leader in all replacement engines. Until we make the conversion to fully electric vehicles, the need for detailed automotive information as well as replacement engines strategies will continue.

Tags: "Green" Auto Solutions, green vehicles
Posted in Hybrid & Green Technology | 1 Comment » Engines

A Replacement Engine Brings Back That New Car Feeling..

March 24th, 2009

Many times I have seen a customer agonize over whether to just go buy another car or have a replacement engine installed in their current car while upgrading the cooling system and various other related components at the same time.

Assuming your car or truck is in good operating condition other wise, why would you spend multiple thousands of dollars on another car when you can spend two to three thousand dollars on a used engine with a great warranty? Chances are if you had been more diligent about changing your oil and keeping a tight grip on regular maintenance like your radiator/cooling system and associated parts you may not be in this predicament, since heat is an engines enemy.

Money is money and credit is credit, the less borrowed or spent is the goal. By choosing a competent repair shop you have the advantage of becoming an educated consumer so you can make a qualified decision instead of a knee-jerk reaction. If you choose to do your own engine swap at home than reading some of the articles such as engine replacement strategies may be helpful. One of the reasons we write the GotEngines.com Blog is exactly for that purpose.

Deisel engines and foreign engines car are more popular than ever and are part of the wide inventory available at GotEngines.com.

Happy customer

One of the most gratifying things that would happen to me is that almost inevitably our customers would call or return just to thank us for educating them so well. They would tell me how happy they are with their decision to keep the car and how they forgot how good the car drove before the engine started to decline in performance.

It all starts with a good education, then finding a reputable source for your used engine. GotEngines.com is one of the most reputable sources of engines anywhere. Not only do they offer the best pre-tested and certified engines, but the experts that answer the phone are very good at listening to your needs before a recommendation is made.

Tags: Engine News Tips, Used Engines Sales
Posted in Engine News Tips | 1 Comment » Engines

Affordable Honda Insight Takes on the Prius

March 21st, 2009

The other day I was discussing with Brian of GotEngines.com that I had a feeling the competition is about to get a little more crowded for the Toyota Prius. Perhaps this week the Honda Motor Company will offer to American consumers what it bills as â€œthe worldâ€™s first affordable hybrid.â€

2009 Honda Insight Hybrid

Costing just a little bit less than $20,000, the Honda Insight is the first viable alternative to two of the leading problems facing us: the environment aka carbon footprint and the recession.

The Insight could bring an increase in it’s quest for a share of the hybrid market for Honda, which unsuccessfully tried selling hybrids for nearly a decade. In fact, Honda stopped production on a previous Insight model in 2006, believing buyers thought hybrids were too expensive. But when sales of Toyotaâ€™s Prius rose as oil prices elevated to $4.00 per gallon, Honda quicklyÂ increased the pace of hybrid technology to compete with Toyota, but giving the consumer a big price break.

Behind the more affordable Insight is an aggressive cost-cutting effort, as well as small, perhaps insignificant technological sacrifices.

Instead of the more complicated hybrid system used in the Prius, the Insightâ€™s main source of power is a tiny and lite weight gasoline engine that is assisted by smaller batteries. That greatly reduces manufacturing costs, but gives the Insight a hair less fuel economy than the Prius … 43 miles per gallonÂ highway compared with 45 miles per gallon for the Prius. Honda really used their heads by sharing some parts with some other Honda models, this practice helps the car-maker keep costs to a minimum.

Honda used to purchase their batteries from Panasonic and Sanyo, which also makes the Prius battery’s, has also put a lot of money in battery technology has set up a company with a battery maker, Yuasa, to produce lithium-ion batteries. That move came because Honda was reluctant to continue obtaining batteries from the same company as Toyota. The greater capacity of lithiom ion batteries would allow Honda to introduce hybrid versions of its other models.

After talking about this for a while we both agreed that the scenery won’t change very fast. Brian is an advocate of having a green future, and will always strive to offer what ever is in his customers best interest. He also did not deny that he must keep up with the times and be prepared to offer replacement power-plants for hybrid cars as they fail. We both encourage you to read the GotEngines.com Blog to help keep your car running tip top or to pick up some maintenance tips for free.

Tags: "Green" Auto Solutions, engine talk
Posted in Hybrid & Green Technology | 4 Comments » Engines

More Thoughts on The Chevrolet Hybrid Pickup Truck

March 19th, 2009

I’m not picking on Chevrolet trucks. I own two GMC products for that matter. This new hybrid Chevrolet makes disturbs me a bit. The whole idea of making a hybrid just for the sake of keeping up with the times has been compromised by building a hybrid in the manner Chevy has.

The paradigm is good, but using a 6.0 liter engine does not solve certain issues. A 6.0 liter engine is quite a large engine in fact. Six liters is 366 cubic inches, and that is a large motor. What kind of effect would this xxl engine have on improving the carbon footprint? Not much since the size of the engine would dictate the size of the carbon footprint. Why is the highway mileage barely improved? Because once the electric motor stops functioning at about 30 MPH, the xxl sized engine(6.0 Liters) is doing all the work, which makes it not much different than a non hybrid truck on the highway.

My point is that the hybrids that get the best fuel mileage use a combination of a small internal combustion engine (ICE) working in conjunction with an electric motor at all speeds. By setting hybrid cars or trucks up in the more traditional manner, a small ICE and an electric motor, the best of both worlds is possible. Actually the best of three worlds is possible. Reducing the carbon footprint is a big issue, and a small engine has a smaller carbon footprint.

I think that the new Hybrid truck is a step in the right direction and in time a giant ICE will not be necessary as our technology grows.

I hear Toyota will be adding solar panels to the Prius in the next year or two. This is the type of thinking that we need to pursue more. Using all available assets at hand to reduce carbon footprints and increase fuel mileage using renewable sources. I would expect the cost to come down in the future as well.

We all agree at GotEngines.com that they need to try harder, or should have been trying harder all along. Now that our tax dollars are literally bailing the auto manufacturers out, we want results.

Use your time to your best advantage, keep your old car maintained properly and in a timely manner and prevent an engine failure. Use the GotEngines.com Blog and become better educated in keeping your car running longer and more efficiently. Subscribe for free.

Related Article:

Chevrolet 2009 Hybrid Pickup Trucks

Tags: "Green" Auto Solutions
Posted in Hybrid & Green Technology | 2 Comments » Engines

Strategies For Buying A New Car..

March 17th, 2009

This particular comment was from the my last post, which coincidentally was a response to a comment also. I will continue with the Chevy Hybrid Truck post next time on March 19th 2009.

Comment: When you have time, I’d like to know what you think people should go about planning their next car purchase’strategically. That is, I donâ€™t have a hybrid or alternative energy car but want my next one to be. I’d like to think my car has a few more years on it. What do you think will be available when (and at affordable prices)? Thanks!

Without knowing your needs, it may not be the exact answer you want. Since you made the comment on a hybrid vehicle, Iâ€™ll assume you are looking for great fuel mileage at an affordable price. Is that an oxymoron? Affordable is not defined by you, so lets assume you can spend $30,000, that is a realistic price if you are looking at Hybrid vehicles. However you can get terrific mileage out of some of the pea-shooters (little tiny cars) that use tiny gasoline engines and are NOT hybrid, and cost less than $20,000.

Realistically, who knows exactly what will be available in a few years? Lots of talk, but little results so far. Lets see what President Obama can manipulate in the next few years.

Basically, hybrids are expensive beasts. That being said, you have to determine if the cost will pay for itself in a reasonable amount of time. When gas goes back up in price, you probably can recover costs in a few years. Hybrid also means being a “greener” by not damaging the environment like fossil fueled cars.

Knowing hybrids use internal combustion engines, although very small, since an electric motor supplements the power is important.

What applies today may not apply in a few years. I can’t make a strategy now without a crystal ball that can tell me what may be available in a few years. But if I wanted a new car now, based on what is available I would look for hybrids and reliability.

The only Hybrid I have driven is a Toyota Prius. I was blown away at how well the car drove, the extra power it had for passing cars and the way the car was built. It was a terrific car. I got approximately 35-38 MPG at 80 MPH. Hard to argue with that. It even has an eight year or maybe a ten year driveline warranty. However the cost blew me away too, a little more than $30,000.

You can buy a pea-shooter now for as little as $12000 to $15000 that gets over 30 MPG city in both and highway driving. Money can become an issue here. Assuming I had the money, I would buy the Hybrid. I know almost every manufacturer is building hybrids and working on new technologyâ€™s too.

Reports indicate that by the time you need a car there may be fully electric cars available or cars that have better hybrid technology that translates into better mileage, less emissions and more reliability. Hopefully they will cost less by then.

I think you should see what is available when your time comes for a car and re-ask me the question. The other problem is you really did not say what cars and options interest you. One thing for sure is that if your engine fails and you are not ready for a car at that point, it is very cost effective to purchase a replacement engine from GotEngines.com.

Reading the article on replacement engine strategies may help too, should you have an engine problem and take my advise.

I also suggest reading more of the GotEngines.com Blog to help understand more about cars in general. If you take care of your preventive maintenance, you may not even need or want to spend the money on a new car anymore.

Tags: green automotive solutions, hybrid cars
Posted in Hybrid & Green Technology | No Comments » Engines

Response to Comment on 2009 Chevy Hybrid Trucks

March 15th, 2009

This particular comment we received from our last post on the new Chevy Hybrid Pickup trucks was very interesting and thought provoking. I want to discuss this thought pattern in more detail.

Comment: ok, cool article, I am pretty impressed with the new technology for the transmission, but how much more than a gas or diesel does this hybrid cost? Lots Iâ€™ll bet, and seriously 21mpg? is that supposed to impress me? Now my tax dollars are going to support GM, and really I am all for helping them out, but I expect them to try harder now that I am helping to bail them out. I wanna see a 2Ã—4 truck that gets at least 35mpg.

I’m not sure I can answer that in one post.

First we need to have some statistics to compare gas mileage between a 2009 1500 series Chevy Hybrid truck and, a 2009 1500 seriesÂ Chevrolet non hybrid truck with 6.0 Liter engines.

According to the Edmunds.com, a new base model 2009 Chevrolet truck with an xx-LÂ engine cost in the range of $20,350. This is non hybrid truck, advertised at 14 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway.

A new base model 2009 Chevrolet Hybrid truck cost in the range of $38,885, a new 2009Â Chevrolet Hybrid Tahoe is in the range of $51,000, both Hybrids advertise 21 mpg city and 22 mpg highway.

What concerns me is that the truck still uses a big V-8 engine, 6.0 liter or 366 cubic inch for main power. Noticing that the main gas mileage improvement is largely in city driving supports the fact that the electric motor can operate the truck by itself up to 30 mph with a full charge. In reality the gas mileage improvement on highway driving may be little or nothing, based on the actual rated maximum of 22 mpg on the two wheel drive model.

Note: A truck’s actual gas mileage usage is never tested in the real world … no wind resistance, no accessories running.

With the difference in cost of a hybrid model and and on a non- hybrid model, it does not add up in terms of cost effectiveness.

Does it add up to fix an earlier model Chevrolet or GMC pickup that is paid for and gets adequate fuel mileage and is in good shape other than it may need a used replacement engine? It does to me, in fact I’m the worlds biggest advocate of keeping your older Chevrolet truck and making even a major repair than going into debt for 5, 6 or 7 years.

Not good enough for me to go spend about $18000.00 or more for hardly anything more in fuel mileage, even if I wanted a new truck. Not many positives for people who do lots of highway miles.

Is it really “greener” too? You tell me.

The bad economy is forcing people to fix older cars and trucks. Doing proper maintenance is more common and replacing broken transmissions and engines is increasing. Why? It certainly is cheaper to buy a rebuilt, reconditioned or remanufactured engine than a new truck.

Brian, owner of GotEngines.com understands the new demands we face keeping our cars and trucks longer now. Call him or one of his assosiates at 1-877-268-0664 for a free qoute. Subscribe to our GotEngines.com Blog for free and get it delivered every other day.

Tags: "Green" Auto Solutions, Chevrolet trucks
Posted in Hybrid & Green Technology | 2 Comments » Engines

Chevy Pickups With Hybrid Engines for 2009 Can Pull Their Own Load

March 13th, 2009

I was discussing with Brian at GotEngines.com the other day the first production gas-electric pickup by any carmaker, the hybrid Chevrolet Silverado. It claims to ride with the same authority as its gasoline brothers, just quieter, cheaper and cleaner, except I wanted to know how it affects his business.

2009 Hybrid Chevy Truck

Since, it seems to be the real deal, having the necessary power and attributes most pickup truck owners demand. No one would guess there’s a 332-horsepower 6-liter V-8 ICE under the hood — and that power number doesn’t reflect the instant torque from the 300-volt motor inside the transmission.

Brian knows that he needs to stay right on top of things. Everything changes so fast that supplying whatever engines are in demand at affordable prices will always be his paradigm.

The electric only mode at low speeds is silent, allowing you to cruise the neighborhood or parking lots on 18-inch low rolling resistance tires as good as any gas truck, sans noise. You can get it up to 30 mph without burning a drop of gas.

The Chevrolet Silverado hybrid includes an electrically variable transmission, which is perhaps the masterpiece to this vehicle’s powertrain. While there are four fixed gears inside, it electronically controls various internal electrical components giving it the feel of a six-speed tranny. It also has the ability to eliminate the electric motors when the computer determines the load is too much ..such as towing a boat or horse trailer up a steep hill. The electric takeoff is supposed to be smooth and you can top 20 mph in electric only mode when towing if the batteries are fully charged. While the Silverado uses the same system as other hybrid GM vehicles, this system has been updated with new computer programming to suit a truck.

This pickup gets 21 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway for the two-wheel-drive version. The 4×4 hits 20/20. Tests averaged 17.5 mpg in combination highway and city driving. My old beautiful 1 ton 1988 GMC 5.7 liter(I bought it new) gets 14 MPG at best on the highway at 70 MPH, this is a sizeable improvement for a big heavy vehicle.

It can still tow up to 6,100 pounds and the bed can handle just more than 1,400 pounds. Sounds like it can handle a standard payload as in a full gas or diesel pickup. The cost is high, so a commitment to our environment and fossil fuel dependency is part of owning one of these gems. I don’t believe for one second gas will stay at $2.00 a gallon for long. When gasoline or diesel fuels go back up to $4.00 or more per gallon this truck will pay for the difference in cost over fossil fueled trucks monetarily and environmentally in less than 2 years. Think long term if you buy a new truck.

As mentioned, hybrids use gasoline or diesel fueled engines along with electric motors to power up, so realistically gasoline type motors will still be in use for a long time. Until the technology becomes good enough to power a vehicle on electricity alone. With that in mind preventive maintenance is still a major concern, as there is still a fossil fuel engine to take care of in this hybrid.

This is a step in the right direction as far as our environmental/green issues go. I’m glad to see the manufacturers are finally making hybrids to suit all tastes. Based on the fact that these newer trucks will be warrantied by the factory, there may be little demand for replacement engines for several years. If you do what I do based on the economy (and my paradigm that fixing your old vehicle is cheaper than buying a new one) and have an older car or truck, keep it well maintained to avoid the need for a used replacement engine.

If your luck runs out, I suggest you contact the expert engine and drive-line folks at GotEngines.com at 1-877-268-0664 for realistic solutions for replacement engines. You may want to read more of our free GotEngines.com Blog and become an educated consumer. Educated consumers always make better decisions.

Tags: "Green" Auto Solutions, hybrid pickup trucks
Posted in Hybrid & Green Technology | 5 Comments » Engines

Continuation Article on Hand Held Code Readers and Automtive Scanners..

March 11th, 2009

Continuing the last article on hand held code readers:
No what what, if it your engine strategy comes down to a new engine, GotEngines.com has a great variety to choose from. A pre-tested low mileage used engine can be a reliable and affordable choice for many applications. Obviously rebuilt engines are quite popular and affordable.

With a hand help code reader, one could actually diagnose a bad MAP sensor and easily bolt a new one in no time and save a bunch of money.

If you do your own engine installation, then you can make sure the job is done correctly by checking your system after the job is completed before and after your road test the vehicle..

Owning a hand held scan tool is becoming more popular as the economy weakens and car repairs become un-affordable. I don’t recommend fixing your own car if you have 2 left hands. In that case it may increase the price at a competent repair shop if you messed it up first. In the instance you can’t make the repair to your car, then it is nice to know what may be wrong when you talk to the mechanic. Educated consumers make better decisions.

Purchasing a professional Engine and Transmission (Modis Modular Diagnostic Information System) scanner tool from someone like the Snap-On Tool man is a waste of money for the home mechanic. Read what this amazing tool costs and what it can do. It takes a 2 day class by Snap-on to learn how to use all of the functions, and years of practice to become a master. In fact, most mechanics never learn to use a hi-dollar scan tool past the entry stages, thus making it only as valuable as a code reader.

As you can see professional scanners do more than read codes, they can access the most delicate of components and actually run internal tests on them. This is wonderful for the good, well trained mechanic in terms of automotive diagnosis and tracing a systematical problem. Here is a page of the many specialized scan tools for diagnosing every system on every car independently from the other systems and components. They dig deep and explore areas that require extensive knowledge.

That is were the auto industry is heading. Realistically though, if you are a home repair mechanic than a code reader is a must. Hit and miss diagnostic methods are inaccurate and costly.

If you choose to buy a code reader and need some help, feel free to ask me anything you need to know at GotEngines.com Blog. Education is why we are here. If the unfortunate happens and you need a replacement engine, please read our article on some strategies you may want to use to make a qualified decision. Don’t hesitate to call GotEngines.com at 1-877-268-0664 and talk to an expert who will listen to your need. Good luck and enjoy.

Tags: Engine Anatomy and Functions, how to read engine codes
Posted in Engine Anatomy and Functions | 5 Comments » Engines


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