What to Do If Your Car’s Engine Block Gets Cracked

Marc Skirvin
Marc Skirvin

What's in this Article

A cracked engine block can be a real problem. It’s not an issue you can just ignore because it can lead to a serious engine problem that poses safety risks. If your engine block is already damaged, this is a sign that your car may really be worse for wear because the block is built to handle extreme temperature shifts and pressure. 

If your engine block is severely damaged, you have options for either replacement or cashing in on it as auto salvage.

How To Tell If Your Engine Block Is Cracked

An engine block can be cracked due to a number of reasons. It can come from external trauma or from extreme heat due to a lack of coolant or a damaged gasket. There are some signs that can tell you there’s an issue. 

  • Your antifreeze and oil have started to mix.
  • You are running out of gas more rapidly than normal.
  • There is a loud knocking noise coming from under the hood often.
  • Your engine is producing a large amount of smoke.
  • Your oil and coolant start depleting too quickly.
  • Your engine is overheating.

What to Do If You’ve Got a Cracked Engine Block

The first thing you need to do is check how bad the damage already is. If the signs above apply to your situation, adding more coolant may be like putting a bandaid on a burst artery. At this point, you are already at risk of full engine failure. 

You can bring it in for repairs, though if the damage is too extensive, your technician may suggest a replacement. Be prepared for a high estimate depending on the make and model of your vehicle. This also depends on how many other parts have been affected by this issue.

If the fees for replacement may be too much for your pocket or don’t seem worth it anymore, you can consider going to centers that buy cars for cash. They will accept any vehicle, even if it’s no longer fully functional. They will set the price depending on the model and level of repair it needs.

Options After Engine Failure

Let’s say you swept it under the rug for too long. This will inevitably lead to engine failure, which, at best, will lead to your car just stopping all of a sudden. If you’re stuck at the side of the road, you’ll need to get towed.

Engine replacement can be quite expensive, with costs usually going for no less than $2,000. You can still choose this option, but the cost makes it infeasible for many car owners. In this case, you can either have your car scrapped for parts or sell it to an auto salvage company. These two options are similar but have different payouts and purposes. 

Selling your car for scrap means the junkyard will take out metal parts for recycling and repurposing, so you’ll only be paid for those salvaged parts. For companies buying junk cars, they will want your vehicle as a whole so they can resell and reuse specific car parts as intended. 

Closing

The last thing you want is an unusable car just rotting in the corner, taking up space. The best thing to do is either shell out for a repair or simply sell your vehicle to a car scrap yard. The options above are the best way to go about a cracked engine block, or else you may just end up with an accident or exorbitant fees.

If you’re looking for an auto salvage with the best deals, Cash Auto Salvage takes vehicles in any condition and pays in cash. Reach out to us now and get an online offer in 90 seconds or less.

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About the Author

Marc
Marc

Marc is the Co-Founder of Cash Auto Salvage and Director of daily operations. He retired from a leading Internet Marketing company in 2013 and has been involved in the automotive industry ever since.

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