Is a Remanufactured 371HP Engine a Good Choice for a Used HOWO Truck in Africa?

For many African buyers, a remanufactured 371HP engine provides a practical middle option between an ordinary repaired engine and a completely new replacement engine. In the configuration supplied by Qingdao Alston Motors, the finished engine is approximately 95% new by component condition: the qualified original engine block or main housing is inspected and reconditioned, while virtually all major internal working and wear-related components are replaced with new parts.

Compared with installing a completely new engine, this option can typically save about USD 1,000–1,500 per truck while providing a much more predictable mechanical condition than a conventionally repaired used engine. For many refurbished HOWO trucks used in African construction, transport and selected mining applications, that balance between purchase cost and reliability is increasingly important.

1. What Is a Remanufactured 371HP Engine?

A remanufactured 371HP engine is much more than an old engine that has been repaired, cleaned and repainted.

The process begins by dismantling the engine and evaluating the condition of the main structure and reusable core. A qualified engine block or main housing can be retained after inspection, cleaning and reconditioning, while worn working components are removed.

For the remanufactured 371HP engines selected by Alston Motors, the final configuration is generally considered approximately 95% new by component condition.

Depending on the individual engine and required specification, replacement work may involve components such as:

• cylinder liners

• pistons and piston rings

• main and connecting-rod bearings

• valves and related valve-train components

• seals and gaskets

• oil-system components

• cooling-system components

• fuel-system components requiring replacement

• other internal wear parts identified during dismantling

The important distinction is that the retained engine block does not automatically make the engine equivalent to a normal repaired engine. What matters is which components remain, which are replaced and how the completed engine performs after assembly.

For overseas buyers, this information should be clear before the truck is approved for shipment.

2. How Is a Remanufactured Engine Different From an Ordinary Refurbished Engine?

The main difference is the depth of replacement work and the predictability of the finished mechanical condition.

An ordinary repaired or refurbished used engine may still be suitable for buyers with a limited budget. However, the repair process commonly focuses on correcting existing faults and replacing components that are already damaged or excessively worn.

Serviceable original internal parts may continue to be used.

A remanufactured engine follows a more comprehensive component-replacement approach.

This distinction is particularly important when purchasing trucks internationally.

Once a truck has arrived in Africa, replacing major engine components can involve downtime, local parts sourcing and additional labor costs. Paying for a better-defined engine condition before shipment can therefore be more valuable than simply choosing the lowest FOB price.

Buyers comparing suppliers should also review the supplier's HOWO truck refurbishment process rather than judging the vehicle only from finished photographs.

3. Why Can It Save USD 1,000–1,500 Compared With a New Engine?

A remanufactured engine reduces cost mainly because a qualified original structural core can still be reused instead of purchasing an entirely new engine assembly.

The engine block or main housing is a substantial structural component. If inspection confirms that it remains suitable for reconditioning and continued service, replacing it solely to obtain a completely new engine may not always provide the best value for a refurbished truck.

This creates three realistic purchasing levels:

repaired used engine → remanufactured engine → new engine

For the configurations supplied by Alston Motors, choosing the remanufactured 371HP option can typically reduce the engine-related truck price by approximately USD 1,000–1,500 compared with fitting a new replacement engine.

The exact difference can vary according to engine source, parts cost, specification and purchasing conditions.

For one truck, the saving may appear relatively modest.

For a fleet order, however, the difference becomes more significant.

That money can instead be allocated to tires, brakes, hydraulic components, spare parts, shipping or other refurbishment items that directly affect fleet operation.

4. What Does a Real Remanufactured 371HP Engine Look Like?

Actual workshop video is one of the most useful ways for overseas buyers to understand what they are purchasing.

The following video shows a remanufactured 371HP engine prepared for a refurbished used HOWO truck:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CMYjgaViU0

Remanufactured 371HP engine prepared for installation in a refurbished used HOWO truck. The qualified original engine block is inspected and reconditioned, while most internal working and wear-related components are replaced with new parts.

The video is useful evidence, but appearance alone should never determine engine quality.

Buyers should combine workshop photos and videos with refurbishment records, operating tests and final truck inspection results.

5. Why Is the 371HP Engine Still Practical for African Truck Operations?

371HP remains a practical power level for many established HOWO applications because it combines usable heavy-duty performance with familiar maintenance requirements.

The engine can be found in many HOWO trucks used for:

• construction material transport

• earthmoving and dump operations

• general road haulage

• semi-trailer transport

• water transportation

• fuel transportation

• quarry support work

• selected mining operations

The highest available horsepower is not automatically the best choice.

A truck specification should instead match payload, road gradient, operating speed, daily working hours, trailer weight, temperature and maintenance capability.

For example, a construction contractor operating a 6x4 dump truck on moderate hauling routes may gain little practical benefit from paying for substantially higher horsepower if 371HP already meets the working requirement.

Local familiarity also matters. An engine specification commonly understood by drivers, mechanics and spare-parts suppliers can reduce maintenance complexity over the truck's working life.

For this reason, buyers selecting used HOWO trucks for African operations should evaluate the complete truck specification rather than comparing horsepower alone.

6. How Should a Remanufactured Engine Be Checked Before Shipment?

A remanufactured engine should be approved according to measurable operating condition, not the percentage of new parts alone.

After installation, the engine needs to operate together with the cooling system, gearbox, clutch, electrical system and drivetrain.

For refurbished HOWO trucks inspected by Alston Motors, practical engine-related reference checks include:

Temperature behavior should also be observed during operation. An engine that starts easily but develops overheating, unstable pressure or abnormal smoke should not be approved simply because new internal components have been installed.

The complete truck should therefore undergo final operational verification through the supplier's used HOWO truck inspection and refurbishment workshop before export.

7. Can a Remanufactured 371HP Engine Normally Be Used for One to Two Years?

Under normal operating conditions with correct maintenance, a professionally prepared remanufactured 371HP engine can reasonably provide one to two years of practical service without requiring major engine work, but service life cannot be guaranteed by time alone.

Actual engine life depends on operating conditions.

A tractor travelling mainly on paved intercity roads may experience much lower mechanical stress than a dump truck working ten or twelve hours per day on steep mining roads.

Important factors include:

• daily operating hours

• payload and overloading

• road conditions

• ambient temperature

• fuel cleanliness

• engine-oil quality

• oil-change intervals

• air-filter maintenance

• cooling-system condition

• driver operation

• preventive maintenance

For that reason, Alston Motors does not recommend treating “one to two years” as a fixed lifespan or unconditional guarantee.

A better purchasing question is:

Has the engine been remanufactured properly, tested before shipment and matched to the truck's intended working conditions?

A good engine combined with poor maintenance can fail early. A properly remanufactured engine supported by correct maintenance can deliver substantially more predictable service.

8. When Is a Remanufactured Engine Better Than a New Engine?

A remanufactured engine is usually most attractive when the buyer wants stronger mechanical confidence without increasing the refurbished truck price to the level required for a new engine.

It is especially worth considering for:

• fleet buyers purchasing several trucks

• construction contractors controlling capital expenditure

• transport companies requiring predictable engine condition

• buyers working far from major service centers

• customers who want stronger internal replacement standards than a normal repaired engine

• buyers who prefer to allocate part of their budget to tires, brakes, hydraulic systems or spare parts

A new engine can still be the better option when the buyer specifically requires a completely new power unit, expects exceptionally intensive working hours or places maximum engine lifecycle above initial cost.

The remanufactured engine is therefore not intended to replace every new-engine order.

Its advantage is value balance.

For many refurbished trucks, spending an additional amount above the cost of an ordinary repaired engine—but approximately USD 1,000–1,500 less than a new engine—can be a rational middle-ground specification.

9. What Should Buyers Confirm Before Ordering a Remanufactured 371HP Engine?

Buyers should never accept the word “remanufactured” without asking what was actually retained, replaced and tested.

Before confirming a truck, request clear answers to the following questions:

1. Is the engine repaired, rebuilt or remanufactured?

2. Which original structural components are retained?

3. Which internal components are replaced with new parts?

4. Was the engine block inspected before reuse?

5. Can workshop-stage photos or videos be provided?

6. Can the completed engine be started before shipment?

7. Are compression and oil-pressure results available?

8. Has the engine been checked after installation in the truck?

9. Can the finished truck be road-tested before shipment?

Buyers should also request used HOWO truck refurbishment records showing the condition before work, work performed and final operational verification where available.

At Qingdao Alston Motors, the remanufactured 371HP engine option is positioned between a conventional repaired used engine and a completely new replacement engine. The qualified original engine block or main housing is reconditioned, while virtually all major internal working and wear-related components are replaced with new parts, resulting in a configuration that is approximately 95% new by component condition.

For many African construction and transport buyers, the principal benefit is straightforward:

A remanufactured 371HP engine can provide a more predictable mechanical condition than an ordinary repaired engine while typically costing about USD 1,000–1,500 less than a completely new replacement engine.

The final purchasing decision should still be based on the truck's application, operating intensity, inspection results, maintenance capability and available budget.

For an overseas buyer, transparency remains the most important standard: know what was retained, know what was replaced and verify how the completed engine performs before the truck leaves China.

Written by: Bruce Li
Reviewed by: Alston Motors Export & Technical Team
Company: Qingdao Alston Motors Co., Ltd