After a car's engine gives up the ghost, the cost of a new replacement can be mind-boggling. Original equipment manufacturers charge a premium for engines as a way of encouraging drivers to simply buy new vehicles.

It will generally be far more economical to purchase a used engine that has plenty of use remaining. Naturally enough, it does take a bit of effort to be sure of purchasing a pre-owned engine that will be a pleasure to own. Look into the following five issues before committing to a purchase, and you should end up with a used engine that will serve you well.

1. Engine Grade

Used engines can be obtained from sources ranging from low-mileage wrecks to fleet vehicles that have put in hundreds of thousands of miles of service. Just how much use an engine has already seen will always impact its reliability and desirability to a subsequent owner.

Companies like the one online at sircarpart.com make things easy on buyers by only stocking engines of the highest grades. Choosing to buy from such a supplier will rule out the kinds of problems that so often impact older, worn-out engines.

This will normally be the simplest way to make the process of buying a used engine easier. While there might be times when buying a low-quality used engine will make sense, they tend to be quite rare.

2. Warranty

A used engine can only possibly be a bargain if it actually holds up well after being purchased and installed. Companies that take care to stock and sell only high-quality used engines often back their products with warranties that reflect their confidence in them.

While the duration of a warranty offered on a used engine will always be important, make sure to look into the other terms, too. If it proves overly difficult to make use of a warranty when needed, that will make an engine purchase less satisfying.

3. Engine Status

Some companies that sell used engines strip them down to the basics before putting them on the market. That can mean needing to buy and install accessories like cable harnesses before putting an engine into service.

This will always drive up the effective price of a used engine, which buyers sometimes overlook. An engine delivered in a stripped-down, partially disassembled form will also normally require more work to be installed, which will increase its overall cost, as well.

4. Shipping Costs

Automotive engines weigh hundreds of pounds, with some especially massive power plants tipping the scales at nearly half of a ton. It can be expensive to transport such a heavy package to its destination, and used-engine buyers sometimes overlook this fact to their financial detriment.

Some engine sellers make things simple by including shipping in the price of each product. Make sure to figure any crating or shipping costs into your calculations when comparing the options.

5. Engine Configuration

Many models of cars are available with several different engines. Even when any of these will work with a given vehicle, make sure you understand which one you are considering at any time.

It will not be helpful, for instance, to compare the price of a used performance-package engine with a base model that produces a lot less power. While some suppliers and websites do a poor job of highlighting such important differences, most today make them fairly clear.

Look into these five details when shopping for a used engine and the process should be straightforward. Buying a used engine often ends up being the best way to extend the life of a vehicle without spending too much money.