Originally Posted By: Donald
It could be a plus is a reman engine or a negative if a junkyard engine that the PO did himself.
Some vehicles like my 2001 Jeep GC 4.0 are likely to need an engine by 100,000 miles due to piston skirt cracking.
Well, it depends on your starting point. If the OEM engine had a rod out the side of the block, even a junk yard motor is better ... Engine is an engine. It does not know or care if it's in one chassis or another ...
What matters is how careful the "swapper" was with the work. MPV engines are a PIA to work on. The V6 will usually have been neglected because it is so hard to get to. If the swapper put new plugs in and gaskets on the back cylinder head before he installed, you will be ahead.
These engines also tend to break exhaust studs (like 6mm, when they should be 8mm, or more). So listen very carefully for exhaust leaks. If you hear "ticking", it may be a manifold with a broken stud ... It's many hundreds of dollars to pull a rear cylinder head and drill out a broken stud, etc.
If the swapper cleaned the "new" engine well, and it's tight and leak free with new plugs and all, I'd consider this an advantage over a neglected OEM motor any day