With new car prices climbing year after year, more and more dollar-concious car and truck owners have grabbed on to what has long been a smart idea: replacing a worn out engine with a fresh one.

Initial savings can be tremendous, since a "recycled engine costs only about 10% of the cost of a new car. And your savings will continue, since an engine from a quality-dedicated shop should give you tens of thousands of miles of carefree driving.

Yes, it can. Many vehicle owners don't realize that a renewed engine is assembled to perform as well-or even better- than the original engine.

Most important, all components that go into a renewed engine are either new or machined to the precise standards and specifications of the new car manufacturer.

Also, engine builders typically install upgraded components to eliminate known problems- like overheating and oil leaks- that may exist in the design of the original engine. Oil flow may be improved. So a rebuilt engine may easily exceed your expectations in performance, economy and trouble-free operation.

A renewed engine is the only way to go.

When you choose a remanufactured engine you can kiss your old engine and it's nagging problems goodbye. In exchange you get a "like new" engine that has been completely remanufactured from the block up. In addition to using many new components, the block, crankshaft, and other durable parts are cleaned and re-machined to builders specifications

If your present vehicle is in good shape except for an ailing engine, replacing your engine is probably your best bet. It doesn't matter how old or worn-out your engine is. You can exchange a poorly running oil-gulping engine for a carefully remanufactured engine that will deliver "new car" performance.