Engine blocks are designed to last for the lifetime of your car, so most people have thankfully never experienced a cracked engine block. When a block does fail, it can often be catastrophic as it sometimes results in total engine failure. All is not lost, however, as there are some things that you can do to help minimize your repair bill or maybe even earn yourself a little extra cash.

Stop Driving Immediately

While it is technically possible to drive with a very minimal crack in the engine block, you should not do this! Continuing to drive the vehicle will result in even more damage and add to already hefty repair bills. If the block is cracked, overheating was the likely culprit. If you continue to drive your car with it overheating, you will probably ruin your head gasket and cylinder heads as well.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of a cracked block, then get your car to a mechanic right away. These symptoms include oil or coolant leaks, overheating, loss of engine performance, and smoke coming from the engine. Any of these issues could point to a potential crack in the block, so have it diagnosed by a professional before continuing to drive it.

Attempt a Repair

Cracks in the engine block can be repaired, but know that it is not easy. You will need a good mechanic to attempt this repair. Engine block cracks can be repaired a few different ways depending on whether your block is iron or aluminum and just how bad the crack is. Traditional welding, cold metal stitching, cold metal patches, and block sealants are the most common methods for repairing a crack.

Also, be prepared to pay the price to get this repair performed. A qualified mechanic will usually charge anywhere from $50 to $150 per hour for labor, and this type of job can sometimes take 30 hours or more of work! So, you could be looking at a repair bill over $3,000 to fix this problem.

Sell Your Car

If you don’t have the money to pay for the repair or the mechanic tells you that the car is too far gone, you can always sell your car and make a little money from it. While it might be difficult to find a traditional buyer to purchase a car with a cracked engine block, there are car buyers out there like Auto Wranglers who will buy your vehicle regardless of its condition.

These car buying services will come to you to pick up the vehicle and pay you cash on the spot. You could use the cash you make from the sale as a down payment on a new car that will get you where you need to go. Plus, these services serve almost every city across the country, so there is likely to be one near you.

Conclusion

While a cracked engine block may seem like the end of the world, remember that it doesn’t have to be. There are things you can do to help minimize damage and keep your repair bills to a minimum. If repair efforts fail or you just don’t have the money to fix it, you can always sell the car and use the money you make toward a new one!