So I take apart engines that are like 30-60% and only get 2-3 parts. Then I go over to my vehicle and click repair but it only gets ONE PERCENT per engine part. I've stripped several engines now and the same results. I always get 1:1 on parts to percent repaired. Seeing at my engine at like 40% right now that means I've probably need to strip about 20-30 cars just to repair mine to full.

WTH is engine repair so pathetic? I'm starting to understand why on MP servers every single car has 0% engine as those players with cars keep to strip down a whole worlds worth just to keep them running.

But even in my single player I feel like I have to strip every car in a town just to get engine part I need for repairs. Meanwhile I got like stacks of extra tires, doors, windshields, and etc. Thought none of that matters if the engine is shot.

The amount repaired is based on your Mechanics skill. At mechanics 10 a standard type car gets its engine repaired by 4% and a Heavy-Duty and Sports is repaired by 3% per engine part.

It honestly sounds like your mechanics skill is still low.

If you keep your hood intact your engine shouldn't take damage. You could bring some things to keep it repaired if you have the metalworking skill necessary or keep a hood in a seat. I try to avoid hitting things as much as possible but if the engine starts to degrade too much I usually just abandon the car and switch to something else at the first opportunity. Not worth the effort expended to find engine parts imo. Maybe someday we'll be able to swap engines or something lol

Because the game just isn't balanced and finished.
There is a mod that helps though but it doesn't work in SP afaik.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2704881099

best advice is to keep the hood repaired before the engine takes any damage. metal sheets are essential for road trips

Yeah repairing cars is so inefficient even with lv 10 mechanic which is very hard to grind, until dev consider rebalance things out we can only rely on mods.

You can also clear roads for smooth driving to reduce chance of car crashing but it took so much time unless you play MP with friends.