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Comment by anonu | Hacker News Reader

Sometimes I wish I had an apprenticeship in a car garage so I could learn all this cool esoterica. Eventually, this type of information will be relegated to the back of the library as combustion-engines in cars get phased out and electric motors take over...

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This type of information is already largely relegated to the back of the library. I don't know a mechanic that has re-built a modern engine at this level. Reliability is so high and failure modes are probably generally more catastrophic (someone didn't change the oil) and warrant an entire engine replacement.

Plus, I'm curious if the economics work out at all anymore. Mechanic billed at $100/hour. How many hours does it take to rebuild anything to the piston level, versus the cost of a new (or used) replacement engine just dropped in place. I suspect they favor a replacement engine.

Exactly, car engine rebuilds are for hobbyists and mechanics working on very expensive or rare engines. But you are more likely to find a diesel mechanic rebuilding a 18-wheeler's engine.

> I don't know a mechanic that has re-built a modern engine at this level.

I do. Worked for my father and grandfather in my teens and early 20s. Water-we’ll drilling, so lots of gas and Diesel engines, as well as pump work, including high voltage AC and DC motors.

At the time, I thought it was “normal”. Little did I know.

You can start tinkering with your own car. Id you tell me what brand/model you own Ill gladly help you around it.

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