You just purchased a New, Used, or Rebuilt Engine to replace the one in your vehicle that failed. There are parts that should be replaced when your new engine is installed. Replacing these parts will greatly improve the longevity of your new engine. If you have replaced any of these parts in the past year or 12,000 miles you can swap them over from your old engine.
1. Replace all Timing Components: These include timing belt, belt tensioner, and idler pulleys. Belts wear out, tensioners lose their tension causing the belt to jump time, and idler pulleys spin on bearings that will eventually seize up causing the belt to jump or break. Failure of any of these parts can ruin your engine.
2. Cooling Components: These include water pump, thermostat, and radiator. Some people are surprised when I tell them to replace the radiator. A radiator has many vertical or horizontal tubes through which coolant flows. Over time the openings in these tubes get smaller and smaller and finally will completely close up. If your radiator has 100,000 miles or more it probably has some restricted or plugged up tubes. Your installer should check all coolant hoses and replace as necessary. You should back flush your heater core. The heater core is part of the cooling system.
3. Miscellaneous Parts: Always replace spark plugs and ignition wires. Replace vacuum hoses. A cracked vacuum hose will let air into the intake causing the a lean fuel mixture, resulting in overheating of the engine. And always replace the PCV Valve. If a PCV Valve is stuck open, oil will be sucked out of the crankcase and into the intake manifold where it enter the combustion chamber and burn. You will see lots of smoke come out of your tailpipe. This has happened several times over the years to engine customers of mine. They were all Subaru engines because we specialize in them.
Replacing these parts does not add to the labor of the installation. You just have to purchase the parts. It will save you a good deal of money and possibly your engine in the long run. Now enjoy you’re new engine!