Everybody wants a new car. You see a nice car pass you on the highway and think, ‘Why can’t I have that’? However, financial planners think keeping your current car may help you in the long run with your goal of financial freedom, according to the Engine Repower Council (ERC).

“We advise our clients that if they want a 10-percent increase on their investments every year they need to cut down on their expenses,” said Terry Mulcahy, vice president of investments for R.W. Baird in Mequon, Wis. “A new automobile is for most people their second biggest investment next to a home, so a great way to save money and increase financial assets is to hang onto their current vehicle rather than buy a new one every few years.” Rather than buying a new car, investing in a rebuilt engine can be an excellent way to cut costs and keep the vehicle.

When a car or truck suffers major engine damage, often the first reaction of most consumers is to buy a new or used vehicle, but the cost to buy a rebuilt engine is a drop in the bucket compared to monthly payments on a new car, according to ERC Chairman Tom Schrader. “The bottom line is that a repowered engine makes a vehicle more dependable, more fuel efficient, less polluting and more valuable.”

With a rebuilt engine, your engine or an identical one from another like-vehicle, is completely remanufactured / rebuilt. Also, unlike installing a used or junk yard engine, critically important internal parts get replaced with new ones that meet or exceed original equipment performance standards. Frequently, remanufactured / rebuilt engines are even better than the new engines installed at the factory. This is because the original factory engine problems have been redesigned or repaired with better quality parts. They are dependable, reliable and backed by excellent warranty programs that also usually cover installation expenses.

The Engine Repower Council is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating consumers about the economic and environmental benefits of remanufactured / rebuilt engines. The Engine Repower Council supports the “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign. For more information about the Engine Repower Council and where to find qualified rebuilt engines and installation providers, visit http://www.enginerepower.org

With gasoline prices projected to hit the $4 per gallon point by this summer, the Engine Repower Council (ERC) reminds motorists that a rebuilt engine gets better gas mileage than a worn out engine, emitting fewer pollutants as well.

“If your car or truck is experiencing major engine damage, but is in relatively good shape otherwise, repowering it with a remanufactured / rebuilt engine not only will help you stretch your dollars at the gas pump, it is also a much more cost effective option compared to purchasing a new or used car,” said ERC Chairman Steve Rich.

With a rebuilt engineering, the engine or an identical one from another like-vehicle, is completely remanufactured / rebuilt. Also, unlike installing a used or junk yard engine, critically important internal parts get replaced with new ones that meet or exceed original equipment performance standards.

Frequently, remanufactured / rebuilt engines are even better than the new engines installed at the factory. This is because the original factory engine problems have been redesigned or repaired with better quality parts. They are dependable, reliable and backed by excellent warranty programs that also usually cover installation expenses.

Rebuilt engines also saves the tremendous amount of energy used in processing discarded engines and vehicles, as well as saves an incredible amount of raw materials that would have been used in building a new engine.

“According to a survey conducted by Opinion Research Corporation for the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, 75 percent of drivers are maintaining their vehicles better because of rising gas prices. Now is the time to talk with an automotive technician to see if repowering your engine with a remanufactured / rebuilt one is the right choice for you,” concluded Rich.

The Engine Repower Council is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating consumers about the economic and environmental benefits of remanufactured / rebuilt engines. The Engine Repower Council supports the “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign. For more information about the Engine Repower Council and where to find qualified rebuilt engines and installation providers, visit http://www.enginerepower.org

Consumer Reports Says By Trading In Your Car You Are Losing Thousands in Savings

Vehicle owners who trade in their cars every few years may be losing thousands of dollars in savings, according to Consumer Reports magazine. With the housing and credit markets in a state of turmoil, the Engine Repower Council recommends repowering your engine as a way to significantly reduce costs and save money over the long run.

Consumer Reports found that car owners save more money than the original purchase price of the car by keeping the car for 225,000 miles over 15 years as compared to buying that same car new every five years.

“People don’t realize how much money they are losing by buying a new car every few years when today’s vehicles can last over 200,000 miles,” said Steve Rich, chairman of the Engine Repower Council. “A one time investment to repower a car’s engine makes financial sense. It not only eliminates new car payments and higher insurance rates, but repowering also makes the vehicle more fuel efficient, saving money at the pump. In addition, a more fuel efficient vehicle reduces harmful emissions which helps protect the environment.”

With repowering, the engine or an identical one from another like-vehicle, is completely remanufactured / rebuilt. Also, unlike installing a used or junk yard engine, critically important internal parts get replaced with new parts that meet or exceed original equipment performance standards. Consequently, remanufactured / rebuilt engines are frequently even better than the new engines installed at the factory. This is because the original factory engine problems have been revealed through use, and can then be redesigned or repaired with better quality parts. Remanufactured / rebuilt engines are dependable, reliable and backed by excellent warranty programs that also usually cover installation expenses.

The Engine Repower Council (ERC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating consumers about the economic and environmental benefits of remanufactured / rebuilt engines. To learn more about repowering a vehicle with a remanufactured / rebuilt engine, visit www.enginerepower.org or click the ERC logo below to view a video.

“When a car or truck suffers major engine damage, the first reaction of most consumers is to buy a new or used vehicle, but that’s simply not necessary,” said ERC Chairman Steve Rich. “This video shows consumers that they do have options and explains why remanufacturing / rebuilding their engine is the most reliable and cost effective choice over the long term. Visitors to our Web site will find the new video helpful and educational.”

The Engine Repower Council is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating consumers about the economic and environmental benefits of remanufactured / rebuilt engines. The Engine Repower Council supports the “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign. For more information about the Engine Repower Council and where to find qualified rebuilt engines and installation providers, visit http://www.enginerepower.org

It was among travelers' worst nightmares and a very expensive trip for this motorist. His beloved pickup blew the engine and had to be towed 250 miles home. The temperature gauge didn't work, nor did the check engine light. By the time he realized the engine was overheated the damage was done.

Exploring his choices, he and his technician considered the pros and cons of trading in the truck, having a new engine installed, overhauling the old engine or installing a remanufactured engine.

Trading in the truck, like "throwing the baby out with the bath water," was out. The costly option of a new engine was also out. How about overhauling the old one? Also expensive, said his mentor, possibly costing about the same as installing a remanufactured engine.

However, the remanufactured engine would carry a strong factory warranty. The remanufactured engine would not only be as good as the original, in several respects it would be better. Hand-built with the finest equipment available, these engines are built to more exacting standards than original. Further, a reman has the added benefit of a "seasoned" block, a metallurgical phenomenon which extends engine life and enhances performance.

Several lessons can be learned from this owner's experience and that of others who have "blown" their engines.

Lesson #1: Don't gamble with inoperative instruments and warning lights (the latter, when working properly, light up when the ignition first is turned on).

Lesson #2: At the first indication of overheating pull off the road and shut off the ignition. You may be able to avoid totally destroying your engine.

Lesson # 3: If, by failing lessons #1 and #2, you've ruined your engine, you have some viable options beyond disposing of your vehicle.

ERC: Benefits of Repowering
Engine Repower Council

Technology and auto manufacturing have advanced dramatically in the past two decades. Cars and trucks last longer. Paint is better. Bodies are more corrosion resistant. Interior materials are more durable, and even suspension and other components last longer. So when an engine "dies," it does not have to be the end of your vehicle. When a car or truck suffers major engine damage, the first response and reaction of most consumers is to buy a new or used vehicle. Sometimes that might make sense, but often it's simply not necessary.

If your vehicle is in relatively good shape it may be wise to repower it with a rebuilt engine, rather than completely replacing it with another vehicle. Once you consider the "hidden" costs in a new or used vehicle, the economic benefits become very clear. It's environmentally sound, and economically wise.

Rebuilt engines get better gas mileage than a worn engine and emit fewer pollutants. Engine repowering also saves the tremendous amount of energy used in processing discarded engines and vehicles.