What’s the Difference Between Refurbished and Rebuilt Carburetors?

Many vehicles made before the ’90s were equipped with carburetor engines that mixed fuel with air before they entered the engine’s cylinders. However, as many vehicles made during that era have aged, their carburetors could have developed issues like rust. When a vehicle’s carburetor develops issues, it needs to be serviced. Sometimes, the carburetors need to be replaced. When this is the case, vehicle owners can either pick a new carburetor or a carburetor that has been refurbished or rebuilt.

A new carburetor is unused. But what are refurbished or rebuilt carburetors? Why should you consider these options and what are their main differences? Do they offer similar performance at a more affordable price? We’ll answer these questions in this article.

What Is a Refurbished Carburetor?

A refurbished carburetor means that the wear prone components were replaced. Plus, they’ve typically been cleaned and thoroughly inspected to ensure that there aren’t any lingering issues. The only drawback to a refurbished carburetor is that only problematic parts or parts that have excessive wear are replaced. This means that some parts inside a refurbished carburetor won’t wear out at the same rate. There might come a time when the other parts inside it might need replacing soon.

The wear prone parts of a carburetor that wear are the components that touch each other or have moving parts, like the shafts, the accelerator pump, the choke mechanisms, and external linkage. The accelerator pump, needle and seat, and the float are usually replaced by default during carburetor rebuilds.

Most refurbished carburetors were carburetors that couldn’t meet a vehicle or owner’s needs, hence they were returned to the shop after only a short period of use. The main advantage of refurbished carburetors is that they’re generally cheaper than a rebuilt or new carburetor. That said, some vehicle owners might still be uncomfortable using a carburetor from another person’s vehicle.

What Is a Rebuilt Carburetor?

A rebuilt carburetor is very similar to a refurbished carburetor. They’re both used carburetors, but the process of refurbishing a rebuilt carburetor is much more intricate.

Hence, rebuilt carburetors are in much closer condition to new carburetors than refurbished carburetors. Rebuilt carburetors are also tested to ensure that they’ll be able to meet OE specifications.

Pro Tips are nuggets of information direct from ASE-certified automobile technicians working with CarParts.com, which may include unique, personal insights based on their years of experience working in the automotive industry. These can help you make more informed decisions about your car.

Pro Tip: Older mechanics will know how to rebuild carburetors, and in most cases it’s very simple. Many DIY folks do their own carb rebuilding. But you have to access a carburetor rebuild kit, and these are getting more difficult to find.

Several companies offer carburetor rebuild services to make old malfunctioning carburetors like new again. Owners can secure their vehicle’s carburetors in a container and ship them to the company for servicing. Meanwhile, some companies also sell ready-made rebuilt carburetors.

Which Should You Choose?

If you’re looking to restore a vehicle and want the components under the hood to look new, then going for a rebuilt carburetor might be a good idea. Carburetors are generally left uncleaned under the hood for many decades.

Carburetors are mostly built of aluminum alloys, so there isn’t much rust involved. Jets and other parts will be brass, and external brackets and choke plates are usually steel, but the throttle plate may be steel or brass.

Carburetors are mostly built of aluminum alloys, so there isn’t much rust involved. Jets and other parts will be brass, and external brackets and choke plates are usually steel, but the throttle plate may be steel or brass.

–Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician

Opting for a refurbished carburetor is a more cost-effective solution that might have some downsides. A refurbished carburetor that hasn’t been extensively serviced might end up requiring repairs down the line. Hence, it might not be a cost-effective long-term solution.

On the other hand, rebuilt carburetors are generally more comparable to a brand-new carburetor rather than a used one, perhaps even in terms of reliability. Overall, as pre-1990s era vehicles continue to age, you’ll eventually need to deal with your vehicle’s carburetor issue. Several factors come into play when faced with the decision of whether to choose a new, refurbished, or rebuilt carburetor. Ultimately, the choice between refurbished and rebuilt carburetors depends on factors such as budget constraints and the desired longevity and performance of the vehicle’s carburetor system.

Where to Get a New Carburetor for Your Vehicle

While refurbished and rebuilt carburetors are very valid repair parts, you might also prefer to purchase a brand new replacement instead. A brand new part gives you full peace of mind, and you don’t need to worry about where your carburetor has been before or how it was treated. There are additional benefits if you order your replacement carburetor from CarParts.com as well.

We at CarParts.com value customer experience both on and off our site. Some of our customer-centered offerings include our lifetime replacement and price-match guarantees. Buy your new carburetor from us and you can return it at the end of its life for a refund. We’ll also meet or beat online competitor prices. Reach out to our friendly and helpful customer service team and they’ll be happy to tell you how it all works.

Buy a carburetor with no prior history to worry about. Purchase a new Carburetor at CarParts.com.