Skid Steer Engine Replacement Cost: Bobcat, Cat, John Deere, Case, and More

A seized or blown engine is the most expensive repair a skid steer owner can face. The job is labor-intensive, parts are not cheap, and the bill can exceed the machine's value on an older unit. Here is what the repair should cost, what drives the price up or down, and how to decide if it makes sense before you commit.

What the Job Involves

Skid steer engine jobs fall into a few categories, and the category determines most of the cost.

A top-end overhaul replaces rings, bearings, the head gasket, and does a valve job while the engine stays in the machine. This works when the block and crankshaft are in good shape and the failure was heat-related rather than mechanical. It is the cheaper path when it applies.

A reman long block swap pulls the engine and drops in a remanufactured unit. This is the most common approach when the failure is severe: a spun bearing, a cracked block, or a scored cylinder that cannot be bored to spec. The shop pulls the engine, transfers accessories (turbo if equipped, injectors, alternator, belt drives), and installs the reman unit.

A new OEM engine is an option but rarely the practical one. New engines cost two to three times what a quality reman long block costs and rarely make sense unless the machine has very low hours and exceptional condition everywhere else.

Labor on skid steers runs 17 to 42 hours depending on engine access, how much has to come apart to get the engine out, and whether the shop finds collateral damage once they are inside. On most skid steers, engine access is tight. The cab often has to tilt or come off. The hydraulic system usually has to be drained and the main pump disconnected before the engine will come out. That adds hours that do not go away on a fast job.

Repair Cost by Model

Shop rates for skid steer engine work typically run $115 to $175 per hour depending on region and dealer vs. independent shop.

Model	Labor Hours	Parts Cost	Total Estimate
Bobcat S450 / S510	17-38 hrs	$3,600-$11,500	$5,750-$18,200
Bobcat S550 / S570 / S595	17-40 hrs	$3,600-$12,500	$5,750-$19,500
Bobcat S630 / S650	18-42 hrs	$3,600-$13,200	$5,750-$20,550
Bobcat S740 / S770 / S850	20-42 hrs	$4,200-$13,200	$6,500-$20,550
Caterpillar 226D3 / 232D3 / 236D3	17-38 hrs	$3,600-$12,000	$5,750-$18,650
Caterpillar 242D3 / 246D3 / 262D3	18-42 hrs	$3,600-$13,200	$5,750-$20,550
John Deere 320G	18-40 hrs	$3,600-$13,200	$5,750-$20,550
John Deere 332G	20-42 hrs	$3,600-$13,200	$5,750-$20,550
Case SV300B / SV340B	18-42 hrs	$3,600-$13,200	$5,750-$20,550
Kubota SSV65 / SSV75	17-38 hrs	$3,600-$12,000	$5,750-$18,650

Parts ranges reflect quality aftermarket and remanufactured long block options. OEM new engines typically cost 100 to 200 percent more. Estimates assume shop rates of $115 to $175 per hour. Additional labor applies if significant collateral damage is found (scored cylinders, cracked block, turbo failure).

Bobcat S650: Detailed Breakdown

The Bobcat S650 is one of the most common skid steers on the market, so a more specific look is useful. It uses a Bobcat-branded (Doosan) D24 diesel engine making 74 horsepower.

Repair Option	Parts Cost	Labor	Total
Top-end overhaul (rings, head, valves)	$1,800-$3,500	17-26 hrs	$3,760-$8,050
Reman long block (quality aftermarket)	$3,600-$7,500	24-38 hrs	$6,360-$14,150
Reman long block plus turbo replacement	$4,500-$9,500	26-42 hrs	$7,490-$16,850
OEM new engine	$9,000-$13,200	24-38 hrs	$11,760-$19,850

Based on shop rates of $115 to $130 per hour for independent shops. Dealer rates run higher. Turbo replacement is separate from the engine itself and is commonly needed when the engine failure was oil-related.

What Causes Skid Steer Engine Failures

Most skid steer engine failures come down to a few common causes.

• Low oil or oil starvation from a leak that went unnoticed. Hydraulic systems that run the engine hard all day accelerate wear when oil level drops.
• Overheating from a clogged cooler, failed thermostat, or low coolant. Skid steers work in dusty environments and the cooler packs with debris. Most manufacturers recommend cleaning the cooler every 50 hours in dirty conditions.
• Coolant in the oil from a blown head gasket or cracked head. If the oil looks milky or the coolant is low without an obvious external leak, this is the first place to check.
• Fuel system issues on older Tier 3 machines causing running rich and washing the cylinder walls.
• Turbocharger failure sending oil into the intake and then into the combustion chamber.

Before approving a full engine replacement, ask the shop whether a top-end overhaul addresses the failure. A cracked head and worn rings from overheating often respond to a head job and ring replacement without touching the lower end. The question is whether the block checked out and the crank bearings are still in spec. If the bearing surfaces are good, a top-end job can save $3,000 to $6,000 compared to a long block swap.

Does the Repair Make Sense on Your Machine?

A $7,000 engine job on a 2020 Bobcat S650 worth $42,000-$55,000 is straightforward math. The repair is less than 20 percent of the machine's value and a good skid steer with a fresh engine has years of work left.

The calculation changes on an older machine. A $14,000 reman long block swap on a 2010 Bobcat S650 worth $16,000-$22,000 is close to the machine's value. At that point you are funding the repair for someone else's benefit if you sell it, or betting the frame and hydraulics hold up for another few thousand hours. Neither is obviously wrong, but you need to know the number before you decide.

Run a free valuation on your skid steer at EquipBook. Trade-in, private party, and dealer retail values for Bobcat, Caterpillar, John Deere, Case, and Kubota in under 60 seconds. Get that number first, then decide if the engine repair pencils out.

Skid Steer Engine Repair Cost Pages by Model

Detailed cost pages for specific machines, including labor hours and parts ranges from real repair data:

• Bobcat S650 engine rebuild cost
• Bobcat S770 engine rebuild cost
• Bobcat S595 engine rebuild cost
• Caterpillar 262D3 engine rebuild cost
• John Deere 332G engine rebuild cost

Get a Repair Cost Estimate Before You Approve the Job

EquipBook's free repair cost estimator covers engine jobs across skid steers and most common heavy equipment. Enter your machine, describe what happened, and get a parts and labor range you can compare against any shop quote before you approve the work.