By Jeff Van West

It’s just a sad fact that a wear item could have a replacement price tag up to a third of the value of your aircraft. That’s the way it is with engines, yet most owners accept this and worry more about surviving the engine-change experience with a reliable motor that will last rather than finding the cheapest solution.

But the best path to getting that reliable motor isn’t clear cut. Should you do a field overhaul or get an engine from the factory? Is it worth shipping the engine cross-country for that overhaul or is a local shop just fine? Does it matter who does the engine installation itself? …