Cost to Replace an Engine: Factors Affecting Labor Costs
Understanding the Cost to Replace an Engine
Replacing an engine is one of the most significant repairs your car could ever need, and it’s a job that’s incredibly labor-intensive. Having been in the industry for years, I’ve seen firsthand the complexities of this repair. If you’re wondering about the cost to replace an engine, you need to know that labor accounts for a significant portion of the final bill.
For more information on the different types of engine swaps, see this article
Labor Costs: What You’re Paying For
When you’re quoted a cost to replace an engine, it’s not just about the part itself. The labor involved is immense, and for good reason. On average, labor costs to replace an engine range from $1,500 to $4,500, depending on several factors. These include the make and model of your car, the mechanic’s hourly rate, and the complexity of the engine.
Factors That Influence The Labor
Several variables can impact the cost to replace an engine, especially the labor portion.
1. Vehicle Make and Model— Luxury or high-performance cars often have tightly packed engine bays or unique configurations that make the job more challenging. For instance, replacing an engine in a compact European sports car will typically take more time and skill than a domestic pickup truck, driving up the cost to replace an engine.
2. Engine Type— Four-cylinder engines are easier to remove and replace than 6-cylinder or V-8 engines. Turbocharged engines require more labor to remove and replace than a normally aspirated engine. Gasoline direct injection engines require a bit more disassembly and reassembly than port-injected engines, adding to the cost of replacing an engine.
3. Condition of the Vehicle— If your car has significant rust or damage, it will take more time to remove rusted components and fasteners without breaking them, in some cases adding hours to the labor.
4. Location and Shop— Labor rates vary widely based on your location. Urban areas often have higher rates than rural ones due to increased operating costs for shops. Dealer hourly rates are often 25% higher than independently owned shops.
What’s Involved In An Engine Replacment
Replacing an engine is not a simple job. It requires a skilled technician with experience and specialized tools. Here are some of the key labor-intensive steps involved:
1) Disconnecting Components— Before removing the engine, the technician must disconnect a wide array of parts, including:
The engine wiring harness, fuel lines, exhaust system, battery and charging system cables, drivetrain components, cooling system components, heater hoses, transmission cooling lines, AC compressor, power steering hoses, and suspension components are also included.
2) Removal of the Old Engine: The engine/transmission

This image shows the specialized equipment needed to remove an engine from a vehicle. A lift table is required to drop the entire engine cradle/subframe from the body.
assembly on all late-model vehicles comes out from the bottom of the vehicle, not up through the hood. This requires specialized jacks to lower the engine cradle and sub-frame. So, the total disconnection and removal steps can take 4 to 6 hours, depending on the vehicle and how accessible the engine is.
Once the engine cradle is out of the vehicle, the technician must separate the engine from the transmission and mount it on an engine stand to remove the accessory components.
With average shop rates ranging from $125 to as high as $190, the six-hour removal labor can run from $750 to as much as $1,140
2) Swapping Components from the old to the new engine
The technician must remove these components from the old engine and install them on the new long-block engine: Starter, alternator, AC compressor, Ignition components, Belt tensioner, Power steering pump, Oil pan, missions pump (if equipped), engine wiring harness, all engine sensors, intake manifold, throttle body, and valve covers.
3) Installing the New Engine
Once the old engine is out, the new or rebuilt engine must be mated to the transmission and carefully aligned and installed. This involves reattaching all the components and ensuring that everything is correctly torqued and secured.
4 )Testing and Calibration
After installation, the engine must be tested and tuned to ensure it’s functioning correctly. This may include running diagnostics, checking for leaks, and ensuring the engine control unit (ECU) is properly programmed.
Given this level of complexity, it’s easy to see why the cost to replace an engine includes so much labor.
Examples of the labor cost to replace an engine
2017 Ford F150 4WD with the 3.5L engine: 14.9 hours
2017 Ford Fusion with the 2.7L Turbo Engine: 16.4 hours
2017 Chevrolet Equinox WD with the 3.6L Engine: 10 hours
2017 Audi A4 Sedan with the 2.0L Turbo Engine
2017 Mercedes C300 Coupe with the 2.0L Engine: 21.9 hours
2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 3.6L Engine: 12.2 hours
Who Buys The Engine?
You may think you’re saving money by buying the engine yourself and paying the shop to do the installation. But there are huge risks in doing this.
• You don’t know which supplies are reputable. Reputable repair shops work with established suppliers who specialize in used engines. These suppliers are likelier to stand behind their products and ensure they meet quality standards.
• You don’t know the right questions to ask. For example, you own a 2017 Audi A4 Sedan with a 2.0L Turbo Engine. Is yours the CYMC or the DBPA variant? Choose the wrong engine, and it won’t work on your computer.
• The engine warranty usually doesn’t cover the shop’s labor in the event of a warranty claim. If the engine you buy doesn’t work or fails within the warranty period, the labor to remove and replace is on your dime. As you can see above, the labor can easily cost you $1,500 to $4,000.
Take Aways From This Article
Replacing an engine is a major investment, but ensuring it’s done correctly is essential for the longevity and performance of your vehicle. Trust me, cutting corners on labor is not the place to save a few bucks. The expertise and time required for this job are worth every penny to ensure your car runs smoothly for years to come.
©, 2025 Rick Muscoplat
Posted on by Rick Muscoplat