Diesel engines have been around since the 1920s, but they have been experiencing a resurgence in recent years due to an increase in fuel prices and a decrease in the cost of diesel engines. The increased popularity has also led to a rise in the number of diesel engine manufacturers available.

However, before you buy a diesel engine there are some things to consider. You should make sure that your vehicle will be able to handle the heavier load of a diesel engine before you purchase one. Diesel engines also require more maintenance, so it is important for you to find out who will do the maintenance on your car's engine before purchasing one.

If you are planning to buy a used diesel engine from your nearest junkyard for your vehicle there are various aspects you should consider first, when it comes to purchasing a diesel engine, there are many things that you need to consider before making the purchase. You need to carefully weigh out your options and make sure that you are getting the best deal for your money.

Some things to consider when buying a diesel engine are:

·      If it starts and Runs

The first thing to check before buying a second-hand diesel engine is to check if it starts and runs properly. Make sure the engine pulls cleanly with no hesitation and without any loud banging and vibrating sound. If it is making noises or has trouble starting, we would advise you to leave that engine and look for an engine which is in better condition and starts without any problems.

·      Check Blowby tube

The blowby tube was invented by Walter Percy Chrysler, who founded Chrysler Corporation, in 1924. A blowby tube is a device that prevents loss of engine power and lubricating oil due to pressure and heat build-up. The device features two tubes: one with compressed air blowing into it at a predetermined rate, and another with a valve on the bottom of it blocking off the flow of air from the first tube at a predetermined rate. You need to check the blowby tube for any smoke to make sure that the engine is in good condition, if there is fume or smoke coming out of it, it's better to avoid buying that engine.

·      Check fill cap

One can also check the fill cap for any smoke and fume. The gas fill cap is also called the fuel filler cap. The fill cap is a simple but significant element that is found on most diesel engines be it a car engine or a truck engine. The main purpose of a fill cap is to avoid dirt and debris inflowing the gas tank. It also works as a seal for the fuel tank.

·      Listen for sound and noises

Another thing to keep in mind before buying a second-hand diesel engine is to make sure that it is not making any loud sounds. This is what you need to do, start the engine and keep it running for some time, try to observe if it is making any rattling, banging or vibration noises. If your engine is running smoothly without any sounds, it is good to go, but if it is making noise of any kind, it is more likely that the engine has bad bearings, a damaged muffler, or a worn-out torque converter.

·      Valve cover

A valve cover gasket seals the valve cover to the highest section of the engine cylinder head. The gasket prevents diesel from leaking out as it travels around the camshafts, rockers, and valves. Mary's tiny spark plug ports are sealed by the valve cover gasket. After some time, the gasket becomes fragile and will crack due to exposure to grime, rubble, heat, and other elements, when this happens, the gasket can lose its integrity and will leak, possibly causing superficial problems with leaking oil or reduced engine performance. So, it is crucial to check valve cover and check for any build-up, dirt, or slime while buying a used diesel engine if you don’t want to waste your money.

·      Check for oil runs

Oil leak in diesel engines is pretty common and cannot be avoided, but you need to check for any oil runs or oil leakage in the engine. If you see any straight clear streak or oil run traces, which is a sign of a steady run please avoid buying that engine it could be a result of some major issues like a cracked timing cover.

·      Check Turbo for shaft play

And lastly, pull out your intake hose and check the turbo by pulling it up and down to check there is no shaft play in it. You can stick your hand in the turbo. Try moving the fin round, in and out, or up and down, and check if it moves. If it moves a lot, you got issues, if it doesn’t move a lot, you got no problems and you can move ahead with the engine you have selected.

If you keep all these points in mind before buying a second-hand diesel engine, we guarantee you, that you will never go wrong and you will definitely find a good engine without wasting extra money and your precious time in the process.