Need guidance...anyone have experience with re-manufactured engines??

[yodathejedimacster]

HTA,
Baseline engine oil tests should be performed on each car that you purchase, new or used. It will give you the info & facts of how your engine parts are wearing.If you do have a problem & a shop says........ so & so about the engine, you need to see the testing done on the oil sample to compare it to your baseline. On my cars, I test them within the 1st 3 months of usage & then every 3 yrs after to compare & keep an eye on the internals. There are many labs that will do this testing for you for a few $$. I have always used Blackstone Labs out of Indiana. They will send you the test kit for free & each kit costs $28 to run the tests. Here is the site if interested, & NO, I am not working for them....... It is too nice being retired to work.

https://www.blackstone-labs.com/prod...ree-test-kits/.

I am including a screen shot of the oil test I got on our new to us 2 month old 2004 Birdy w/ 36k miles on the engine. I use Mobil 1 5w-30 SYN in all of the cars we have owned, filters also. Hope this helps........ Tbird1stLuv, very good news that you didn't have to scramble for engine parts on that Birdy.

[AZTB]

Most excellent news, Lynne...congratulations - all it takes is the right mechanic!

[TBird1stLuv]

Thank you for all the well wishing. I had a fantastic day today!! Drove Ruby all day long in the heat and she behaved herself quite nicely. The temperature gauge stayed put at the half way mark with no deviations. It was so good to have her back...I really missed our rides together. I am blessed to have my birdy back!

yodathejedimacster : Thanks for the info. Good advice.

I am not certain what type of lab work was done on my oil initially from our original mechanic; but he claimed there was 500 ppm of coolant present in the oil. This was what led him to suspect the head gasket. The second mechanic did a CO2 test on the radiator coolant and got a negative result which indicated the head gasket was good. I guess it helps to have more than one test to determine problems with a head gasket.

[428PI]

We would always use a 4 gas analyzer to determine whether there was exhaust in the coolant. If the hydrocarbons went high we suspected head gasket. No one keeps their gas analyzer going these days at least in states that don't require yearly tests. I haven't been confident in the test that uses a special fluid in a suction type tool that the liquid changes color in the presence of exhaust. I did have one Lincoln LS where I couldn't keep it from overheating and it had a new waterpump, thermostat housing, etc. Would be ok around town but on highway the temp would always go high. I suspected head gaskets in that one but owner didn't want to spend the money and I really didn't want the job (already couldn't get intake off of engine because of stubborn bolt that would break if forced).

[TBird1stLuv]

428PI Zing! checked the price for a 4 gas analyzer...gosh they are expensive. Don't think that is an option at this time but thanks for info!

6 days later and Ruby is still in the normal range! Nice day today close to 80 degrees. Plan on a few errands to stretch her legs and monitor that temp.