The Differences between Refurbished, Rebuilt, and Remanufactured in Diesel Engines
Refurbish. Rebuild. Remanufacture. You often see these three terms used interchangeably. But is there a difference?
We get a lot of questions on thisthese terms are thrown around so loosely that people aren't sure what they're getting. We're here to help you better understand the difference between them and what you can expect from HHP. Read on to find out more!
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Refurbished
"Refurbished" is a term you'll see used a lot in consumer electronics. It's not really something that we do in the diesel market. Say you buy a TV and a component fails on it under warranty. So you send that TV back.
The manufacturer will then replace that failed component and sell it as a refurbished TV. That's not something you'll typically see with diesel engine parts. It's more likely that you'll see a rebuilt or remanufactured part.
Rebuilt
A rebuilt part is going to be a piece that you take apart, replace pieces that are worn or out of spec, put it back together, and then test it. That's all there really is to a rebuilt product.
Remanufactured
With your remanufactured products, you're going to have all the components replaced, all to new specification. That's more what we're going to have here at HHP.
Say a cylinder head for instance, where they only reuse the casting. You're going to get new valves, guides, springs, keepers, retainers, injector cups, and cam bearings. That's the mark of a remanufactured product, and that's more of what we have to offer.
Fuel Injectors and Cylinder Heads
If you're looking to buy fuel injectors or a cylinder head, you'll probably run into some of these options. Here are some things to think about as you're making your decision:
Fuel Injectors
If you're having a minor issue with your fuel injectors, you might consider purchasing an injector repair kit and rebuilding the injector yourself. It's a little labor intensive, but will likely save you some money. Keep in mind, though, these kits don't usually address major injector failures and the finished product doesn't come with the same guarantees a new or remanned injector might.
In the case of quality remanufactured injectors, they will be cleaned thoroughly, and all major components will be replaced. This can include your actuator assemblies, spill valves, solenoid, NOP springs, washer, shim, screw, and stop, depending on the injector itself.
If you're interested in learning more about injector repair kits and remanned injectors, check out our past blog.
Cylinder Heads
Likewise, you have a couple options when it comes to replacing your cylinder head. You can, of course, buy a new one, or you can look at rebuilding your head or purchasing a remanufactured one.
Rebuilding a head allows you to replace some of the broken or worn components, as well as the possibility of welding any cracks. This option may cost less than purchasing a cylinder head and may work in the short term, but if you want your head to last another million miles, you might be better off purchasing a reman. To find out some of the problems associated with rebuilding a cylinder head, read our post on rebuilt vs. remanufactured heads.
As we've discussed, with a remanufactured head, all the components will be replaced. It might cost more, but you're likely to get significantly more miles out of it. You just want to make sure you're getting one that has actually been remanufactured. The process of remanufacturing a head typically includes casting, machining, pressure testing, cleaning, and installation of new parts.
These three terms are used pretty loosely, which can make it hard to know exactly what you're going to get. You'll have somebody out there who, for instance, may put an injector on the test stand and run it. If it tests within specification, they'll clean it up, put new o-rings on it, and call it a remanufactured part.
Not in our books.
That's still a used injector.
At HHP, we get parts from OEM suppliers that are going to have a great warranty and they're going to have the parts replaced on it to make your components go another million miles!
Looking for new or remanufactured diesel engine parts? We have certified techs on staff to help at 844-304-7688! Or, you can request a quote online!