What a usable photo set contains
Eight to twelve images per engine, not three. Both sides of the block, the head, the sump, the mounting points, the timing cover and the accessories that are fitted. If the photos are all taken from the same angle in the same light, you are looking at a catalogue, not at your engine.
Every image should be of the specific unit you are buying, identifiable by a serial or tag visible in the frame. That is the difference between evidence and decoration.
Petrol engines: what matters
Compression across all cylinders is the headline number, and it should come with the caveat that a bench test is not a road test. Beyond that: look for coolant staining around the head gasket line, oil residue that suggests a leaking seal, and damage to the mounting lugs that hints at a heavy impact.
Ask what accessories come fitted. Alternator, starter, intake plumbing and sensors have real value, and 'engine only' means very different things to different suppliers.
Diesel engines: three things decide the value
Turbocharger, injectors and cylinder head. A common-rail diesel with a tired turbo or worn injectors can look perfect in photographs and still cost you more to commission than you paid for it.
Ask specifically for turbo shaft play, injector condition and any evidence of overheating on the head. A supplier who grades diesel by the same checklist as petrol is not grading diesel at all.
The grade is a promise — check what backs it
Grades only mean something if they are defined and enforced. Ours: Grade A is complete and tested with main accessories and a 30 to 60 day replacement-or-credit warranty. Grade B runs but may be missing accessories. Grade C is for rebuild, as-is. Core goes by lot to remanufacturers.
Whoever you buy from, get the definitions in writing before payment, and get the per-unit grade in the packing list. If a dispute happens later, that document is the only thing that will settle it.
Questions worth asking before you transfer
Where is the engine physically right now, and can you photograph it today? What is the serial and does it appear in the photos? What exactly is fitted? What is the grade and what does that grade guarantee? What happens if a unit arrives dead, and how is that settled — replacement, credit, or an apology?
The answers matter less than whether they are given plainly. A supplier who answers all five in writing is a supplier you can work with.
Ask for the current list and a price
Tell us your destination country, the codes you need and the container size. We reply within one business day — usually within hours — with photos, the grade split and container-load pricing.
Frequently asked
Can compression be tested on every used engine?
No. Some units cannot be turned safely or lack the accessories to test. Those should be graded lower and priced accordingly — not sold as tested.
Is a video better than photos?
It is a useful addition, not a replacement. A video shows the engine turning; photographs show detail you can zoom into and compare against what arrives.
What if the engines that arrive do not match the photos?
That is what per-unit serials are for. With serials you have a specific claim; without them you have an argument.