Popular Buick Engine Codes & Average Prices
Per-code averages from the curated catalog — every listing priced below its typical market reference.
Expert Solutions for Every Buick Model
Our Buick specialists map every code, variant and swap — pick your model for the full breakdown.
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In-Depth Guide — Buying a Buick Engine
REPLACEMENT OPTIONS — USED VS RECONDITIONED VS REMANUFACTURED
Buick is the value wing of the GM family — five models, four shared GM codes — and the replacement decision is unusually straightforward. Used (9mo/6k) is the working answer for the whole range: Encore LE2 (your fitment-checked price), Encore GX L3T (your fitment-checked price), Envista LIH (your fitment-checked price — the cheapest GM-brand engine in the catalog), Envision LSY (your fitment-checked price), and Enclave LGX (your fitment-checked price). Donor depth rides on GM's shared architecture (the same codes power Chevrolet models), and the screening gates are the small-turbo standards: DI carbon, cooling-hardware history, oil discipline. Reconditioned (16mo/12k) earns its place on the Enclave LGX — the three-row family hauler whose keepers justify fresh rings and machined surfaces — and on high-mileage Envisions. Remanufactured (36mo/36k) is rarely necessary in this range: no diesel, no performance V8, no $5k engine — the honest call for a decade-hold Enclave is reconditioned, and reman suits only buyers who want the longest possible ladder on a family vehicle. Decision path: compact turbo daily driver → used; Enclave keeper → reconditioned; longest-ladder preference → reman.
POPULAR BUICK ENGINE CODES & PRICES (real catalog data)
- LIH 1.2L Turbo I3 (Envista) — your fitment-checked price vs your fitment-checked price. The catalog-wide GM floor price; three cylinders, transverse, commuter duty.
- L3T 1.3L Turbo I3 (Encore GX) — your fitment-checked price vs your fitment-checked price. The slightly larger triple; shared with Chevrolet Trailblazer.
- LE2 1.4L Turbo I4 (Encore) — your fitment-checked price vs your fitment-checked price. The legacy Encore four — older architecture, cooling-hardware history matters.
- LSY 2.0L Turbo I4 (Envision) — your fitment-checked price vs your fitment-checked price. The GM 2.0 turbo; shared across Chevrolet Traverse/GMC Acadia class.
- LGX 3.6L V6 (Enclave) — your fitment-checked price vs your fitment-checked price. The family V6 — the only six-cylinder in the Buick range and the code where reconditioned demand concentrates.
BUICK ENGINE TYPES EXPLAINED
Four architectures, all GM-shared. The small turbo triples (LIH 1.2, L3T 1.3) are the Envista/Encore GX commuter engines — direct-injected, transverse, with the standard DI-carbon and oil-discipline profile. The LE2 1.4 turbo four is the older Encore architecture — the generation to VIN-verify carefully, since cooling and turbo-hardware aging dominate its history. The LSY 2.0 turbo four is the GM mid-tier four (Envision) — shared with Chevrolet, deep cross-brand supply. The LGX 3.6 V6 powers the Enclave — chain-driven, non-turbo, with the phaser-rattle and DI-carbon watch items documented on the Chevrolet page too. No V8, no diesel, no hybrid-specific codes in the Buick catalog; the LaCrosse/Regal generations that used older engines are outside this list, which is why legacy-model listings should be VIN-checked before any comparison.
BUICK ENGINE REPLACEMENT COST IN THE USA
components: your fitment-checked price to your fitment-checked price each your fitment-checked price under market.
Labor (typical install, estimate — confirm with sales desk): Envista/Encore/Encore GX (compact crossover, transverse): your fitment-checked price · Envision (midsize SUV): your fitment-checked price · Enclave (three-row SUV, transverse V6): your fitment-checked price.
Worked examples: Envista LIH ≈ your fitment-checked price installed. Encore GX L3T ≈ your fitment-checked price. Enclave LGX ≈ your fitment-checked price. The whole make stays comfortably under your fitment-checked price installed — single-payment checkout (card or ACH/eCheck via Authorize.net), no financing framing. Freight: FREE, insured, 12–16 working days, USA and Canada, lift-gate coordinated.
BUICK FAMILY-SPECIFIC PROBLEMS & SYMPTOMS
LGX 3.6 V6: cold-start cam-phaser rattle on high-mileage units (P0008/P0009-adjacent timing-correlation codes); DI carbon by 70–80k (idle stumble, part-throttle hesitation); both inspectable pre-listing. Bottom-end failures uncommon — the Enclave's LGX is the same engine documented on our Chevrolet Blazer page, with the same screening.
LSY 2.0T: the GM mid-tier four — cooling-hardware plastics and DI carbon are the consumable patterns; oil discipline protects the turbo's feed line.
LE2 1.4T (older Encore): the generation with the most documented history — turbo wastegate actuator rattle, PCV-side oil consumption on neglected units, thermostat aging. Build-date verification is the gate; later LE2s resolved much of it.
LIH/L3T triples: young, mild-duty architectures — DI carbon arrives on short-trip duty; cooling plastics the only other watch item. Accident history outweighs mechanical history.
Cross-brand note: Buick's codes are GM-shared, so donor depth draws from the Chevrolet/GMC pool — a supply advantage most value brands don't have.
BUYING GUIDE — ORDERING YOUR BUICK ENGINE
Step 1: VIN at /get-price/ — Buick trims (Avenir, Essence, Sport Touring) don't change the engine, but model-year changes do (Encore LE2 vs Encore GX L3T are different trucks in spirit), so the VIN pins the code. Step 2: live tier comparison — GM-shared depth means Buick stock is rarely empty; Enclave reconditioned supply rotates, confirm before booking. Step 3: tier warranty applies automatically (9mo/6k · 16mo/12k · 36mo/36k, whichever first). Step 4: single-payment Authorize.net checkout (card or ACH/eCheck) or phone at +1 (662) 452-4928. FREE insured freight from, 12–16 working days, USA and Canada — Canadians pay USD, duties via your broker.
Buick — Live Market Listings (reference)
Used-condition market reference listings — your direct price and per-listing savings come from the curated catalog above.
Meet Your Buick Engine Specialists
A dedicated desk for Buick fitment, QC sign-off and warranty handling — 27 specialists across 9 departments stand behind every order.
VIN cross-match and swap guidance for every Buick code.
Compression, leak-down and bench QC with documented sign-off.
9/16/36-month ladder claims handled in-house, 48-hour decisions.
What USA Drivers Say
Real feedback from garage owners and daily drivers we have supplied.
Shop Buick engines by model
24 Buick applications — each model page lists the conditions, odometer bands and prices we publish.
Model page shows verified prices where we publish them; "quote" marks applications priced on request by the fitment desk.
Quick answer
Buick replacement engines — what you need to know first
Replacement engines for the Buick are matched by engine code from your VIN, not by model year alone. We supply used (9-month warranty), reconditioned (16-month) and remanufactured (36-month) options, freighted by liftgate in 12–16 working days, with the warranty starting at delivery. The exact price for your variation is shown on screen after a short fitment check.
- Match by code, not by year — the same Buick model year can use more than one engine unit.
- Condition sets the warranty — 9, 16 and 36 months for used, reconditioned and remanufactured.
- Odometer band sets the price — 30–60K, 60–90K and 90–120K mile bands.
Which Buick engine do you actually have?
Start with the VIN. On most US vehicles the 8th character identifies the engine code, and it is the only reliable way to tell two same-displacement variants apart. Confirm your code with the free NHTSA VIN decoder or the code stamped on the engine block, then send it to us so the fitment desk can match the exact unit.
| Fitment check | What we confirm |
|---|---|
| Engine code | Confirmed from your VIN before dispatch |
| Displacement / configuration | Matched to your build specification |
| VIN position to check | 8th character identifies the engine code on most US vehicles |
| What we need from you | VIN (preferred) or year + make + model + engine size |
| Fuel and drivetrain | Confirmed at the fitment stage — 2WD/4WD/AWD changes the unit that fits |
| Interchange check | We confirm the exact unit against your engine code, not just the model year |
Used, reconditioned or remanufactured for a Buick — what is the difference?
All three are legitimate routes; the difference is how much of the engine has been renewed and how long the warranty runs. Match the condition to how long you intend to keep the vehicle, then check discount eligibility by phone (the extra discount is applied on the call, not on the screen).
| Condition | What it is | Warranty | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Used (tested) | Original used engine from a donor vehicle, odometer band stated on the quote | 9 months / 6,000 miles | Budget repairs where the vehicle still has years left |
| Reconditioned | Stripped and rebuilt with new wear components to a documented specification | 16 months / 12,000 miles | Balancing cost against longer service life |
| Remanufactured | Rebuilt to manufacturer-level tolerances with the full wear set replaced | 36 months / 36,000 miles | Long-term keepers, work trucks and fleet vehicles |
Related supply pages: used engines · reconditioned engines · remanufactured engines · transmissions.
Should you repair or replace a Buick engine?
Diagnose before you commit. Compression and leak-down results, oil pressure, oil consumption and overheating history tell you whether the fault is internal or an external component — sensors, cooling or fuel delivery faults do not need an engine at all. Where machining and parts approach the cost of a tested replacement, swapping the unit is usually the better use of the money, particularly on high-mileage engines.
- Repair makes sense when the fault is external, the block is healthy and the vehicle is low-mileage.
- Replacement makes sense when compression is down on multiple cylinders, oil consumption is heavy, or the engine has overheated or seized.
- Decide with numbers — repair estimate versus delivered engine price, plus how many more years you expect from the vehicle.
How we verify Buick engine fitment and condition
Our fitment desk confirms the engine code against your VIN before dispatch, documents the inspection of the unit, and states the warranty term in writing on your quote. We publish prices per condition and odometer band and release your exact figure on screen after the fitment check.
What we do not claim: we do not publish manufacturer power or torque figures as our own data, we do not guarantee stock until the unit is confirmed, and we do not present prices as final before the fitment check. Where a specification needs an official figure, we point you to the manufacturer or NHTSA resources so you can verify it independently.
Verify independently: NHTSA VIN decoder · NHTSA safety recalls · EPA fuel economy data · Buick official site.
Buick — FAQ (10 questions)
What engines fits a Buick?
Fitment is confirmed by engine code, not by model year alone. Send your VIN and we match the exact unit before anything ships.
How much does a Buick engine replacement cost?
Your price depends on condition (used, reconditioned or remanufactured) and the odometer band of the unit. We release the exact figure on screen after a short fitment check — and you can call to check whether you qualify for additional discount.
Used vs reconditioned vs remanufactured — which should I choose for a Buick?
Used is the lowest-cost route with a 9-month warranty. Reconditioned is rebuilt with new wear components and carries 16 months. Remanufactured is rebuilt to manufacturer-level tolerances with the full wear set replaced and carries 36 months. Choose by how long you intend to keep the vehicle.
Will a Buick engine from another vehicle fit mine?
Only if the engine code, fuel system, ancillaries and drivetrain match your build. The same displacement can appear in several configurations, so we verify the code rather than assuming compatibility from the model name.
How do I find my engine code?
On most US vehicles the 8th character of the 17-digit VIN identifies the engine code. You can confirm it with the free NHTSA VIN decoder, and the code is also stamped on the engine itself.
How long does delivery take?
Freight is palletized, tracked and liftgate-capable, typically 12–16 working days. Commercial dock delivery and residential liftgate delivery are both supported and quoted up front.
What does the warranty cover?
Parts are covered for the stated term nationwide. Labor coverage applies only where it is written on your quote — most used-engine warranties are parts-only, while remanufactured tiers can include labor. Your written quote is the controlling document.
What happens if the unit arrives damaged or defective?
Report it with photos within 48 hours of delivery and we decide in-house — replacement or refund path depending on stock. Freight damage is documented with the driver at the door.
How does the core return work?
Where your quote includes core return, pickup of your old engine is prepaid and arranged within 30 days: same block, complete and drained, back on the same pallet.
Do you supply Buick engines for both automatic and manual vehicles?
Yes. Engine supply is independent of transmission type, and we also supply used, reconditioned and remanufactured transmissions. Tell us the drivetrain at the fitment stage so the ancillaries match.
Real quotes in minutes — the same inventory, the same prices, on the phone.
Frequently asked questions about Buick Engine Price & Transmission Price
What does delivery cost?
Freight is free and insured on every order, USA-wide, with lift-gate coordination available.
How long does delivery take?
Most orders ship in 12-16 working days.
What warranty do I get?
Warranty is 9/16/36 months by tier: 9 months or 6,000 miles on used, 16 months or 12,000 miles on reconditioned, and 36 months or 36,000 miles on remanufactured units.
Can I finance a replacement?
Financing is available on an order total of $5,000 or more, split into 2 installments, if you qualify.
Is a tested used engine better than a junkyard core?
The primary reason buyers choose a tested used engine over a junkyard core is verified condition: our units are compression-tested and warranty-backed.
| Option | Cost | Warranty | Testing | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tested OEM used (A2Z) | Below dealer | 9 months / 6,000 mi | Compression + run test | Good, verified |
| Remanufactured (A2Z) | Middle | 36 months / 36,000 mi | Built to specification | Highest |
| Junkyard core | Lowest | Often none | Rarely tested | Variable |
How do I confirm the engine fits my vehicle?
Match the engine code on the block to your VIN range — the code, not the model name, decides whether the unit physically fits.
| Engine variant | Year range | Compatible models | VIN check | Typical pairing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L I4 | 2010-2017 | Mid-size sedans and SUVs | VIN position 8 | 6-speed automatic |
| 2.0L Turbo I4 | 2013-2020 | Compact and mid-size platforms | VIN position 8 | 8-speed automatic |
| 3.5L V6 | 2011-2017 | Large sedans and minivans | VIN position 8 | 6-speed automatic |
| 5.0L V8 | 2011-2017 | Full-size trucks | VIN position 8 | 6/10-speed automatic |
How does ordering work?
Ordering takes four steps: enter your vehicle, confirm your details, compare your nine prices, and we verify fitment before dispatch.
- Enter your vehicle: make, model and condition preference.
- Confirm your contact details and review the summary.
- Compare nine price options across three warranty tiers.
- A fitment specialist confirms the engine code, then the unit ships free and insured.
What do the engine terms mean?
A used engine is a tested original unit that has not been rebuilt.
A OEM engine is the original-equipment unit built by the manufacturer for that platform. A long block is a complete assembly (block, head, internal components) shipped without bolt-on accessories. A reconditioned engine has its worn service parts replaced and is re-tested, and a remanufactured engine is stripped to the block and rebuilt to specification. A VIN is the 17-character vehicle identifier used to confirm the exact engine code that fits your vehicle.