TL;DR: Engine repairs are expensive—often $3,500 to $9,000 or more. When those costs exceed what your car is actually worth, your vehicle may be considered a total loss. Knowing the signs of irreparable engine damage, and how insurers do the math, can help you make a smarter financial decision.

Key Takeaways:

• Engine rebuilds typically cost $3,500–$6,000; remanufactured engines run $5,000–$9,000 (Kelley Blue Book)
• A car is totaled when repair costs exceed its actual cash value (ACV)
• Ohio uses a Total Loss Formula—not a fixed percentage—to determine when a vehicle is a write-off
• If your car isn’t worth repairing, selling it for its scrap value is often the smarter move

Table of Contents:

1. Main Causes of Engine Failure
2. Signs Your Engine Is Beyond Repair
3. Repair vs. Replace: Evaluating the Financials
4. When to Call It Quits on Your Vehicle
5. FAQ
6. Quick Recap
7. Sell Your Totaled Vehicle in Cincinnati

Main Causes of Engine Failure

Engine failure rarely happens without warning. Most breakdowns come down to a handful of preventable problems.

Oil starvation is the leading culprit. Without adequate lubrication, metal components grind against each other, generating intense friction and heat. Left unchecked, this leads to a seized engine—one that locks up completely and can no longer turn over.

Overheating is a close second. When coolant levels drop or the cooling system fails, engine temperatures spike. The result? Warped cylinder heads, blown head gaskets, and in severe cases, cracked engine blocks.

Hydrolock occurs when water or excess fuel enters the combustion chamber. Because liquids can’t compress, the pistons stop suddenly—often bending connecting rods or cracking the block entirely.

Other causes include:

• Rod knock — a deep knocking sound caused by worn crankshaft bearings; often a death sentence for the engine
• Timing chain or belt failure — snapping while the engine runs can destroy valves and pistons instantly
• Detonation (engine knock) — repeated misfires that erode internal components over time

Signs Your Engine Is Beyond Repair

Some engine problems are fixable. Others signal the end of the road. Here’s how to tell the difference.

Hard signs of catastrophic failure:

• No crank at all — the engine won’t turn over, suggesting full seizure
• Loud knocking or metallic banging — rod knock or bearing failure means internal damage is already severe
• White or blue smoke from the exhaust — indicates coolant or oil burning inside the combustion chamber
• Engine locked solid — if you can’t turn the engine by hand at the crankshaft, it’s likely seized beyond practical repair

Softer warning signs that can escalate:

• Persistent overheating despite coolant top-ups
• Oil pressure warning light that won’t go off
• Significant loss of power under load
• Milky or frothy oil (a sign of coolant mixing with engine oil)

A professional diagnosis matters here. A blown head gasket might be repairable for $1,000–$2,000. A spun bearing or cracked block, on the other hand, almost always means the engine needs full replacement.

Repair vs. Replace: Evaluating the Financials

Once you know the extent of the damage, the math comes into focus. According to Kelley Blue Book, here’s what engine repair or replacement typically costs:

Option	Estimated Cost
Professional engine rebuild	$3,500–$6,000
Remanufactured engine (parts + labor)	$5,000–$9,000+
New OEM engine (dealership)	~$8,000 average, up to $20,000+ for high-output engines

These figures don’t include additional repairs that often surface once a mechanic gets inside—gaskets, mounts, hoses, or sensors that need replacing while the engine is already out.

Now compare those costs to your car’s actual cash value (ACV). The ACV is what your vehicle was worth just before the damage occurred, factoring in depreciation, mileage, and condition. You can get a quick estimate using Kelley Blue Book’s valuation tool.

The rule of thumb: If your repair bill approaches or exceeds your car’s ACV, it’s generally not worth fixing.

When to Call It Quits on Your Vehicle

This is where things get practical. Insurers use specific formulas to decide when a damaged car becomes a total loss—and it’s worth understanding how they think.

According to Kelley Blue Book, insurance companies total a car when repair costs exceed the vehicle’s book value at the time of the incident. Ohio doesn’t use a fixed percentage threshold. Instead, it relies on a Total Loss Formula (TLF):

If: Repair Cost > Fair Market Value − Salvage Value → Total Loss

Here’s an example: Say your car has a fair market value of $8,000, and a salvage yard would pay $2,500 for it. That gives you a threshold of $5,500. If the engine repair estimate comes in at $6,200, Ohio insurers would consider the vehicle totaled.

Under Ohio law (ORC §4505.103), a salvage certificate of title can be issued for vehicles that are inoperable, impossible to restore for highway operation, and valued under the legal threshold. Once issued, the title is marked “FOR DESTRUCTION”—meaning the vehicle can only be used for parts or scrap.

Ask yourself these questions before committing to a repair:

• Is the repair estimate more than 50% of the car’s current market value?
• Is the vehicle older with high mileage, meaning it will continue to depreciate?
• Are there other mechanical issues beyond the engine?
• Would the repair cost more than what you’d recover if you sold the car afterward?

If you answered yes to most of these, walking away is usually the wiser financial move.

FAQ

Can a seized engine be repaired?

Sometimes. If the seizure was brief—caused by short-term oil starvation before the driver shut the engine off—a mechanic may be able to free it and replace damaged components. But a fully locked engine with bent rods or scored cylinder walls typically requires a full replacement.

Does engine failure automatically make a car a total loss?

Not automatically. It depends on the repair cost relative to the vehicle’s actual cash value. A $4,000 engine rebuild on a car worth $12,000 might make financial sense. The same repair on a car worth $4,500 almost certainly doesn’t.

What happens to a car after it’s declared a total loss in Ohio?

The insurance company takes possession and issues a salvage title. The vehicle is then sold to a salvage dealer or scrapper. You can negotiate to keep the vehicle, but you’ll receive a reduced payout and will need to have the car repaired and inspected before it can be legally driven again.

Can I sell a car with engine failure?

Yes. Salvage buyers, junk car services, and cash-for-cars companies will purchase non-running vehicles. You won’t get top dollar, but you also won’t have to pay for a repair that doesn’t make financial sense.

What’s the difference between a rebuilt and a remanufactured engine?

A rebuilt engine has worn or broken parts replaced, but uses the original block. A remanufactured engine is fully disassembled and restored to original factory specifications with new components throughout. Remanufactured engines cost more but typically come with better warranties and longer lifespans.

Quick Recap:

• Engine failure is usually caused by oil starvation, overheating, hydrolock, or rod knock
• Hard signs of irreparable damage include a seized engine, persistent knocking, and white/blue exhaust smoke
• Engine rebuilds cost $3,500–$6,000; remanufactured engines run $5,000–$9,000+
• Ohio uses the Total Loss Formula (repair cost > FMV − salvage value) to declare a total loss
• If repair costs exceed your car’s actual value, selling or scrapping is often the smarter financial choice

Don’t Let a Dead Engine Drain Your Wallet

Engine failure is stressful enough without the added burden of making the wrong financial call. Once the numbers don’t add up, holding onto a non-running vehicle only costs you more time and money.

If you’re in Cincinnati, Ohio, and your engine has called it quits, we’ll take it off your hands—fast. We pay cash on the spot for totaled, non-running, and salvage-title vehicles, and we offer free towing straight from your driveway. No repairs needed, no hassle, no waiting. Get a free cash offer today.

Call Now to Get Started

Related Post: When Engine Work Costs More Than Your Ride: A Guide for Owners of Older Cars