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Attempting to demystify the confusion existing caused by companies that choose certain terminology, over other terminology in the engine replacement industry is an important matter since the APRA, (Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association) decided to include the term rebuild in the same category as remanufactured. I applaud the APRA for lessening the confusion for people who frequently did not know what the difference between rebuilt engines and remanufactured engines. 

Using this terminology or method, used engines are disassembled into sub-assemblies, which are repaired to stock factory specifications, ready to be reassembled into a remanufactured engine. This is the case when remanufacturing automobile engines, transmissions, alternators, fuel injectors and many other related automotive components. Once the product is disassembled and the parts are cleaned, inspected and replaced, the process concludes with assembling the remanufactured sub-assemblies into a rebuilt engine on an assembly line, much like the factory process.

The remanufacturing process, in particular, causes a loss of the original products identity since the final assembly process includes using remaufactured sub-assemblies from different sources, reconditioned to the factory specifications.  Some of the open questions relate to the commonality of parts in products of different models and years, the uncertainty in the supply of used products, and their relationship with production process.

Certain groups of people, particularly vintage car owners want all of the sub-assemblies to be the original assemblies that are to be reassembled in the engine rebuilding process. Thus keeping the car completely original. Vintage cars lose tremendous value when the original parts are not used in a restoration project. So the basis of remanufacturing is not acceptable to vintage car owners.

Vintage car owners use smaller engine replacement companies so the original integrity of the product is not disturbed. The personal aspect of a smaller engine rebuilding company allows one to achieve the same result as a large remanufacturing firm, without losing integrity.

As a car and truck owner, I would prefer to have the original part, in this case the engine that came in the truck rebuilt using all original use-able sub-assemblies. Especially my vintage Porsche 911RSA.

That being said don’t allow the fairy dust some companies sprinkle on their terminology for descriptive purposes make your decision more complicated. Arm yourself with this type of information, educated consumers always make better decisions.

The fact is that no matter what term one may use to describe a rebuilt engine, it comes down to the ethics of said shop as to what really goes on behind closed doors. Simply put, if the supplier you choose to deal with has poor ethics, than call it what you want as far as terminology is concerned, but be prepared to purchase an inferior replacement engine, in this case.

When we rebuilt a component such as an engine or transmission at my shop, the terminology had much less to do with the outcome of the job than the paradigm we upheld. Which was to provide our customers with a product they could count on to build confidence by providing long term trouble free performance as long as we follow  proper maintenance procedures.

The next time you are confronted with the subject of rebuilt, remanufactured or reconditioned, remember that it all boils down to the ethics of the company providing the product. Choose your rebuilt engine supplier wisely.