Chevy Tahoe Engine Replacement Cost

As with any other vehicle, a Chevy Tahoe will suffer damage in time and it will need to be repaired. One of the most important components that may fail and need to be replaced is the engine. In this article, we are going to talk about how much you would have to put aside to replace the engine of your Chevy Tahoe.

How Much Chevy Tahoe Engine Replacement Cost?

Before going through the amount of money you are going to spend in order to replace your Chevy Tahoe engine you have to understand the price of the engine itself. This is a very complex piece of equipment and is the most important piece of the car.

You might also like our articles on the cost of an engine swap, engine reboring, or engine splash shield replacement.

There are many options you can choose from when it comes to Chevy Tahoe’s motor, so the prices are variable.

The cost of the Chevy Tahoe engine replacement starts at a few hundred dollars for a used engine which may need some work and can go up to more than $7,100 for a high-performance motor.

The cost of the engine will be influenced by a few factors such as its condition, the manufacturer, the place you buy it from, and its specifications. Depending on the condition, the engine can be remanufactured, new, rebuilt, or used.

It may be a little confusing and hard to understand the differences between these types of engines, but they are very different when it comes to the final cost.

In general, people opt for a remanufactured engine. This motor is not brand new, but it is “like new”. A remanufactured motor is assembled in a factory setting using factory-specific equipment and parts.

The whole motor is disassembled, cleaned, fixed, and reassembled with brand new parts. In general, this is the most expensive option, but it comes with the best warranty and is also the most reliable. It is calibrated and assembled just as the original motor was when the car was first manufactured.

Actually, you are not getting a new engine if you take your Chevy Tahoe to a garage and the mechanics there will take apart the engine and rebuild it with a special kit or use new components and parts. In this situation, the mechanic is rebuilding your current motor by replacing the worn-out or damaged components with new, working parts.

You also have the possibility to go for a used engine. This engine is from a similar car, so you will know for sure that it will be compatible with your Chevy Tahoe.

Compared to the remanufactured engines, the used engines are cheaper. Though, these don’t come with the same level of warranty coverage. Also, you don’t know exactly how the car was cared for and what type of undiscovered issues you may have to deal with in the future.

You have the possibility to buy a used engine from a private seller on eBay or from an online retailer specializing in used car components. Another option, though risky when it comes to getting good-quality car parts, is to visit a salvage yard or a junkyard.

It may be a little hard to find a new engine for your Chevy Tahoe. You will have to buy it directly from the factory, and usually, these are still remanufactured using parts from the current equipment.

If you will buy a really “new” engine for your Chevy Tahoe, you should expect to pay much more without many, if any extra advantages over a good quality remanufactured motor.

In the table below you will find the average prices for replacing a Chevy Tahoe engine at different retailers.

The price of the engine is not influenced only by its condition, but also by whether it is a block, short, long, or complete unit. The complete engine is the most expensive choice as this comes with all the necessary pieces to install the engine and make the car work properly.

A cheaper version would be the long block engine, the comes with most of the needed parts, but you still have to buy some components separately.

The cheapest choice would be the short block engine, which is just the essential base to start working from. For this type of engine, you will have to buy many components separately and so the cost will go up considerably.

The labor costs for Chevy Tahoe engine replacement

The replacement of a Chevy Tahoe engine is a pretty time-consuming and complex job, which means that the labor involved will be quite expensive.

You should plan on spending anywhere between $1,000 and $3,400 just for the labor, depending on the car shop you choose to go to.

In general, the experienced auto shops will need anywhere between 14 and 18 hours to replace a Chevy Tahoe’s engine. Obviously, the number of hours may be lower or higher depending on how many people are working at this job at the same time, how skilled they are, and if any other problems will pop up with the car.

The labor cost per hour is influenced by your geographical location and the specific car shop. Anyway, you should expect to pay anywhere between $80 and $160 per hour in labor expenses.

In the table below you will find the estimated labor costs for Chevy Tahoe engine replacement.

DIY Costs for Chevy Tahoe Engine Replacement

It is not recommended to try to replace an engine alone if you don’t have experience in working with cars. However, you may save thousands of dollars by going the DYI route if you have some skill in working with vehicles or you know someone who can help you with this job.

So, if you decide to replace the engine yourself you will have to budget for the engine itself and the tools needed, in case you don’t have them already.

Depending on the condition of the engine you buy, you will have to spend anywhere between $3,200 and $4,500.

This cost may be even lower if you choose a used engine for example, but a high-performance engine is more reliable even though it will cost more.

In case you have to buy a lot of equipment and tools, you must be prepared to see a considerable increase in the total cost. However, you may save a lot of money if you will rent the specialized equipment and tools from a hardware store.

Conclusion

The majority of the people will never replace their car’s engine, but there are situations when this job is absolutely necessary. It would be a better idea to replace the engine instead of buying a new car if you want to save some money.

You should expect to spend anywhere between $2,600 and $3,700 just for the engine itself, and another $1,300 to $2,200 for the labor to replace a Chevy Tahoe engine. However, the final cost will depend on your geographical location, the type of engine, the car shop you choose, and the type of car you have.

As the final cost is highly influenced by the labor cost, it is recommended to look for at least three price offers and choose the one that works the best for you. Moreover, there are shops that offer discounts to students, AAA members, senior citizens, first responders, or military service members.

However, you should not take into consideration the price alone when making a decision as the engine replacement is a complex job and the cheapest option is not always the best. Ask for recommendations and look online at the shop’s reviews.

Finally, make sure you ask about the type of warranty that the shop offers for the workmanship and the parts. It is a good sign when a service offers guarantees for its work. Even though you will have to pay a little bit more, it may be worth the price in the long run.