A car engine stand is what a mechanic uses to hold the internal combustion engine in one fixed place as they make repairs to it. Since a car engine weighs between 300 and 600 pounds, a stand is needed to hold it up in the air so that the mechanic can access any part of it. If the mechanic were to attempt to move the engine independently, it would be disastrous for the mechanic and the engine.
The design of a car engine stand consists of a heavy-duty cantilever type structure. It is a beam with adjustable mounting arms. You attach the arms to the car engine and then use a lever to raise the beam and hoist the engine into midair. A good car engine stand will let you rotate the engine at any 360-degree angle. That way, it is easy for the mechanic to access any engine component that needs to be repaired or replaced.
Are you a professional or DIY auto mechanic? If so, then a rotating car engine stand is a wise investment to make. Just remember that when you go shopping for a rotating car engine stand, look for a stand with the proper weight capacity for your engine. If you don’t know how much your engine weighs, look it up in the owner’s manual of your car.
Our Best Picks
Below are the top 5 best rotating car engine stands. One of these stands should be what you need to hoist your car engine without any problems.
1) Performance Tool W41025 1/2 Ton (1,000 lbs.)
Performance Tool is one of the top brands of car engine stands on the market. It can do everything you need it to do, such as rotate 360 degrees and easily mount the engine onto its swivel casters. Its tubular steel construction ensures the engine stand can withstand the heavy weight of the car engine.
There are six different locking positions available so that the engine can stay in one place without any problems. Then you can rotate the head 360 degrees to access whichever part of the engine that you want. From there, you can make your repairs.
The weight capacity is 1,000 pounds (or half a ton), which should be more than enough weight capacity to accommodate the average car engine. Unless you have a diesel engine for a truck or something, you shouldn’t have any issues with this car engine stand’s weight capacity.
2) BIG RED T26801 Torin Steel Rotating Engine Stand
The BIG RED Torin Steel Rotating Engine Stand is made of heavy-duty steel, ensuring the stand will last for a long time. It even offers more stability than your average car engine stand because of its extra-wide base. The mounting head includes four adjustable arms that can rotate your engine at any 360-degree angle that you wish. And because of its extra-large size, this car engine stand can hoist foreign engine blocks and domestic engine blocks. This is perfect for anyone who drives a foreign imported vehicle or collects luxury vehicles and likes to perform engine work on them.
The engine weight capacity is 1,500 pounds. If you need to repair the engine of an SUV or light truck, the BIG RED should be able to handle it just fine. There is also a powder-coated finish to prevent rust in case the engine stand gets wet. The manufacturer offers a one-year warranty on every purchase.
3) K&L Supply MC25 Metric Engine Stand 37-9352
The K&L Supply MC25 Metric Engine Stand can be adjusted to different heights and widths, making it compatible with several different engine types. Whether you have a four-cylinder or six-cylinder engine, this engine stand is perfect for your needs. It also lets you rotate the engine to any 360-degree angle. That gives you easy access to any of the components on the engine.
The people who purchase the K&L Supply MC25 usually need to perform transmission work, pan removal, or starter clutch repairs. However, there are many other services you can perform on your car or engine as well.
4) OTC Engine Stand, Steel, Hydraulic, 1000 lb.
The OTC Engine Stand is built for both automobile maintenance and truck maintenance. It is an OTC engine stand made in China, so it pretty much has universal compatibility with standard car engine sizes. Its weight capacity is 1,000 pounds, which is more than enough capacity for standard car engines.
Do not assume that it is a less quality engine stand because it was made in China. The OTC Engine Stand is made of steel and uses hydraulics to lift the car engines. Both of which give the stand both longevity and durability in its operations. This engine stand could last you for several years as long as you store it in a cool, dry place. It is also a lot cheaper than comparable name brand models with the same weight capacity, so that is another plus.
5) OTC 1735B 2000 lb. Capacity, Heavy-Duty, Motor-Rotor Twin Post Repair Stand
The OTC Motor-Rotor Twin Post Repair Stand is one of the strongest engine repair stands on the market today. It is a heavy-duty stand that comes from China and has a weight capacity of 2,000 pounds.
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Due to this massive amount of weight it can hold, the car engine stand features a twin-post design with adjustable arms for added stability. Most people would never need to lift an engine that is 2,000 pounds unless they’re working on heavy-duty vehicles like trucks or buses. If you work on those kinds of engines and don’t mind shelling out over one thousand dollars to purchase the best engine stand on the market, you will want to invest in this OTC 1735B motor-rotor twin post-repair stand. It will allow you to work on a variety of different vehicles without having to switch stands ever again.
Tips to Choosing the Best Rotating Car Engine Stand
Choosing the best rotating car engine stand might not be the easiest task in the world. A car engine stand is a useful piece of equipment that every car mechanic is familiar with. This equipment is used to hold the engine in a fixed place. That way, the mechanic can make the repairs that they need to make to the engine. As we mention above, a car engine is pretty heavy. That is why you will need a stand to hold up that engine in the air. That way, a mechanic can have access to any part of the car engine.
You need to buy the best car engine stand in the market. That way, you can repair your car without any problem at all. However, choosing the best one can be quite challenging, especially if you know nothing about car engine stands. You do not have to worry about that anymore because we have some useful tips for you. Here are some of the things that you need to consider before you get yourself a car engine stand.
Legs and Balance
First of all, you need to consider the car engine stand legs and balance. Because a car engine can be pretty heavy, you want a car engine stand that can take that weight. This also means that you need an engine stand with firm legs. You need to buy a car engine stand with high-quality materials. Other than that, you also have to make sure that the car engine stand is balanced. That way, you will not have to deal with any accidents.
Folding Stands
Another great tip that we want to give you is to consider getting a folding car engine stand. This is the perfect alternative that you can get if you want to be able to save a lot of space in your garage. You will be able to easily store this kind of car engine stand when you are not using it.
Weight Capacity
The next thing that you want to consider is the weight capacity of the rotating car engine stand. If you want to determine the weight capacity that you need in a car engine stand, then you need to determine what you are going to use it for. Of course, the more weight than it can carry, the better your car engine stand will be. That way, you will be able to lift any kind of car engine that you can think of.
Caster Size
Next, you also want to consider the caster size. You might think that the caster is not something that you should fret about. However, a bigger caster will help you tremendously when you are using your rotating car engine stand on uneven floors. That is why you might want to think about getting a car engine stand with bigger casters.
Durability
Lastly, you have to consider the durability of your car engine stand. Durability is one of the most important things that you need to consider in any kind of equipment that you are trying to buy. If you want your car engine stand to have a long life, then you need to make sure that it is durable.
There are so many ways for you to be able to check the durability of the car engine stand that you are trying to buy. First of all, you might want to look at its material. You have to make sure that the rotating car engine stand that you are trying to buy is made out of solid materials. Other than that, you can also check the product reviews. And that is how you choose the best rotating car engine stand in the market.
