Complete engine restoration for automotive, commercial, and fleet vehicles — restoring performance, reliability, and efficiency through structured rebuild procedures and in-house machining support.
Engine Restoration Solutions
Engine overhaul is a structured rebuild process that restores worn or damaged engines to reliable, manufacturer-specification working condition — extending service life and recovering lost performance.
Our workshop provides structured engine overhaul services using professional inspection procedures, precision measuring tools, and in-house machining support. Unlike a simple repair, an overhaul addresses the root cause of engine deterioration — worn bores, damaged crankshafts, tired cylinder heads — rather than masking symptoms temporarily.
Every overhaul is supported directly by our machining department: crankshaft grinding, cylinder head reconditioning, block surface correction, and general machining are all performed on-site — removing the need to split your job across multiple workshops and ensuring consistent quality control throughout the entire rebuild process.
What Engine Overhaul Involves
Complete removal and disassembly of all engine components — block, head, rotating assembly, and ancillaries.
Every internal component measured and assessed against manufacturer specifications using calibrated precision tools.
Crankshaft grinding, cylinder head resurfacing, and block correction performed in our in-house workshop — not sub-contracted.
All worn bearings, seals, gaskets, pistons, rings, and valves replaced with quality components to specification.
Engine reassembled to correct torque specifications with proper clearance settings and oil system inspection before start-up.
Warning Indicators
Recognising these warning signs early can mean the difference between a straightforward overhaul and a complete engine replacement. If your vehicle is displaying any of these symptoms, contact our team for a professional inspection before the problem progresses.
Blue or white smoke from the exhaust indicates oil burning, worn piston rings, or cylinder bore deterioration. This is a primary indicator of internal engine wear requiring investigation.
Noticeable reduction in engine power, poor acceleration, or sluggish performance often points to low compression caused by worn cylinder bores, rings, or valve seat deterioration.
Consuming more than 1 litre of oil per 1,000km is abnormal. Worn valve stem seals, piston rings, or cylinder bores allow oil into the combustion chamber, increasing consumption significantly.
A deep knocking noise from the engine block — particularly at startup or under load — typically indicates worn main bearings, connecting rod bearings, or excessive crankshaft journal clearance.
Recurring overheating — after the cooling system has been checked — may indicate a blown head gasket, cracked cylinder head, or warped block deck surface requiring machining correction.
Compression test results below specification — or significant variance between cylinders — confirms internal wear. Hard starting, rough idling, and fuel inefficiency are direct consequences of low compression.
Important: These symptoms should not be ignored or treated with temporary fixes such as oil additives. Professional inspection and accurate diagnosis is the only reliable way to determine whether a top overhaul, full overhaul, or component replacement is the correct course of action. Book an inspection today →
Service Breakdown
A structured, systematic approach to engine restoration — covering every stage from initial disassembly through to precision machining and final reassembly.
Complete engine removal and systematic disassembly with all components documented, labelled, and prepared for thorough inspection.
Every critical internal component measured against manufacturer specification using calibrated precision tools — no guesswork on clearances.
Where components require precision machining to restore correct dimensions, our on-site workshop handles this directly — not sub-contracted elsewhere.
All components found to be outside specification are replaced with quality parts — ensuring the rebuilt engine performs reliably from the moment it starts.
Engine reassembly carried out methodically to correct torque sequences and manufacturer-specified clearances — the final stage before testing.
Following reassembly, the engine is started, monitored, and run through initial run-in procedures before final checks and vehicle delivery.
Coverage
We service all major engine types across passenger, commercial, and industrial applications — petrol and diesel, naturally aspirated and turbocharged.
Saloons, SUVs, 4x4s, and estate vehicles — petrol and diesel, all major brands and engine configurations.
Tippers, flatbeds, tankers, and heavy-duty trucks — including common platforms: Iveco, MAN, DAF, Volvo, and local equivalents.
Corporate fleet cars, LCVs, and minibuses — programme serviced in rotation to minimise total fleet downtime.
All diesel configurations — naturally aspirated, turbocharged, and common rail direct injection — from light to heavy-duty.
Industrial diesel generator engines — Perkins, Cummins, Lister, Volvo Penta, and other major genset engine platforms.
How We Work
A structured six-stage process from initial inspection through to final testing — ensuring nothing is missed and every engine leaves our workshop correctly.
Compression testing, oil analysis, and mechanical assessment to confirm overhaul requirement and define the correct scope of work before any engine is removed.
Engine removed from the vehicle using proper lifting equipment. Full disassembly carried out systematically with all components logged and arranged for inspection.
Every measurable component inspected and recorded against OEM specifications. Worn, cracked, or out-of-specification parts identified and replacement sourcing confirmed before proceeding.
All machining work carried out in our on-site workshop — crankshaft grinding, cylinder head resurfacing, block correction. Quality parts sourced and fitted to specification.
Engine assembled to manufacturer torque sequences and clearance specifications. All critical measurements verified before final assembly. Oil system primed ready for start-up.
Engine started, monitored, and run through initial procedures. Oil pressure, temperature, and leak checks confirmed. Vehicle returned to client with completed job report.
Engineering Standards
Every engine overhaul we perform is guided by strict dimensional standards and professional assembly procedures — not approximation or guesswork.
We use calibrated measuring instruments at every critical stage: micrometers for journal and bore measurement, feeler gauges for ring gap and clearance checking, and torque wrenches set to manufacturer specification throughout assembly.
This disciplined approach is what separates a properly rebuilt engine that performs reliably for years — from a poorly executed overhaul that fails prematurely.
Project Example
A logistics company operating a 15-truck fleet referred one of their DAF XF105 prime movers to our workshop following progressive performance decline and significant oil consumption over a 12-month period.
Engine removed and fully disassembled. Compression leakdown confirmed worn rings and cylinder bore ovality on three cylinders. Crankshaft measured 0.25mm undersize on main journals. Cylinder head deck found warped 0.18mm — beyond head gasket tolerance.
Crankshaft reground to 0.25mm undersize with new main and big-end bearings specified accordingly. Cylinder head resurfaced to restore flatness within 0.03mm. Valve seats recut and new stem seals fitted throughout.
New piston ring sets fitted to all cylinders. Full gasket set and main bearing set installed. Engine assembled to DAF torque specification using calibrated equipment. Timing set and oil system primed before initial start.
Engine started and monitored. Oil pressure confirmed within specification. Post-overhaul compression test — all cylinders within 5% of each other. Zero oil consumption during run-in. Vehicle returned to fleet duties.
Engine performing to full specification. Oil consumption eliminated. Vehicle returned to fleet service after 8 working days. Client subsequently enrolled all 15 vehicles in our fleet maintenance programme.
The AutoBore Advantage
Our team has direct hands-on experience across petrol and diesel engine rebuilds — from small 4-cylinder passenger car engines through to large 6 and 8-cylinder commercial truck powerplants.
Crankshaft grinding, cylinder head reconditioning, and surface machining are all performed in our own workshop — not sub-contracted. One team, one quality standard, full accountability.
Every engine overhaul follows the same documented inspection, machining, and assembly procedure — not a variable approach depending on who is in the workshop that day.
Fleet operators benefit from programme management — vehicles booked in rotation, turnaround tracked, and job reports issued per vehicle to support fleet maintenance records.
We provide an honest timeline at assessment stage and communicate any changes immediately. We understand that every day your vehicle is off the road has a cost — and we take that seriously.
On request, we provide written inspection findings and completed job reports — valuable documentation for fleet records, warranty claims, and resale purposes.
Engine Issues?
Whether it's smoke, power loss, knocking, or excessive oil use — don't delay. Book an inspection and let our engineers diagnose the problem correctly before it worsens.