Big jobs quoted honestly, including when the car is not worth it.
Engine Repair & Replacement
Head gaskets, timing cover leaks, chronic overheating and oil consumption are big-ticket repairs, so the diagnosis has to be right. We pressure test, block test and inspect before quoting, and we photograph what we find.
We are especially experienced with Honda, Toyota, Nissan and Subaru engines — from B-series head gaskets and 2.5L Subaru head gasket service to Toyota 2AZ oil consumption and Nissan VQ timing chains. When an engine is past repair we quote a replacement with a warrantied unit — and if the number is more than the car is worth, we tell you that too.
What's included
Scope of work
- Cooling-system pressure testing and combustion leak (block) testing
- Head gasket and cylinder head service
- Valve cover, oil pan, rear main and timing cover leak repair
- Overheating diagnosis: radiator, thermostat, fan, water pump
- Oil consumption and low compression diagnosis
- Used, remanufactured or new engine replacement
- Motor mount and accessory drive replacement
- Post-repair break-in check and follow-up
Symptoms we fix
Sound familiar?
- Overheating, especially climbing grades or in traffic
- White smoke, sweet smell or coolant loss with no visible leak
- Milky oil or bubbles in the coolant reservoir
- Knocking, ticking or heavy blue smoke
- Adding a quart of oil between changes
- Engine misfire that will not clear
How we work it
The four steps, every time
- 01
Test
Pressure, block and compression testing confirm the failure before a single bolt comes out.
- 02
Options
We price repair versus replacement side by side, with the honest answer about the car's value.
- 03
Repair
Machine work where required, OE-grade gaskets, factory torque procedures.
- 04
Break-in
Fill, bleed, road test and a follow-up inspection after break-in mileage.
Questions
Straight answers
Is it worth fixing?
Sometimes not. We will give you the repair number next to the vehicle's realistic value and let you decide with the facts.
Do you use used engines?
We offer used, remanufactured and new, each with different warranty and price. You choose after we explain the trade-offs.
Will a sealer fix my head gasket?
No. It may buy weeks and can plug the heater core and radiator on the way out.
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Get a straight answer on your vehicle.
Tell us what it's doing. We'll tell you what it takes — in writing, before any work starts.