Hydrolocked engine

Discussion in 'Technical' started by Peter Black, Feb 9, 2011.

  1. Peter Black

    Peter Black Active Member

    Quick question, is it possible to hydrolock an engine and not destroy it? If so how would you check if this has happened or the engine is dead?

    Thanks.
     
  2. Chrispy

    Chrispy Pretentious Upstart

    If it's not dead already it probably won't be far. Hydrolocking bends conrods.

    Andy had a rod out the block a few months after hydrolocking his new motor years ago.

    If you are buying to rebuild then it may be ok, I would get new rods, and carefully inspect the crank.
     
  3. Peter Black

    Peter Black Active Member

    So there's no possibility that the water stopping the piston compressing stalled the engine before a rod bent?




     
  4. Madcow

    Madcow Active Member

    i dont like the chances. all that pressure has to go somewhere.
     
  5. Peter Black

    Peter Black Active Member

    Yeah, I figure it's unlikely, though probably having low compression before it drank the water may have helped. Just trying to work out if it's possible at all and how to go about checking sort of pulling it to bits and looking for bent rods.
     
  6. AndyMac

    AndyMac Better than you

    odds aren't great...I hydro-locked mine at 500rpm (i had idle problems and my mate attached the washer hose to the plenum in an effort to find a vac leak) and bent a rod...that rod exited the general engine vicinity a few months after.

    It was only a minor bend, compression test results came up fine, ran great, good power, but it was only a matter of time.

    In hindsight, hydro-locking a motor isn't great...
     
  7. Peter Black

    Peter Black Active Member

    Well the odds are that this one was driven through a puddle so I'm guessing the odds are indeed very poor.

    Oh well, I guess I'll keep an eye out for a cheap second hand engine and have a go at rebuilding this one.

    It will be a fun project!

     
  8. kickerzx

    kickerzx Member

    I recently had two cases at work where the engines had... well.. nothydrolocked pr say, but oil-locked themselfs. Wont go into detail on how it happend, however i tore one of these engines to little pieces and examined it and it actually survived. On the otherone one of the cons had broken in half. With pieces of it slushing around in the oilpan and all.
    I can only assume the first one had this happening while at very low revs and/or whith the clutch pedal engaged.

    This was NOT VG engines though but tiny Opel/Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 engines.
     
  9. rollin

    rollin First 9

    only way you can get away with it is if is during cranking, it can stop the motor without bending a rod.
     
  10. Peter Black

    Peter Black Active Member

    And I'm assuming the only way I can find out if this is the case is by pulling the engine to bits and seeing what's broken?

    The starter motor is grinding terribly and not turning the engine at all even with all the spark plugs out to relieve the compression if that gives you any clues.
     
  11. dieseldave

    dieseldave Well-Known Member

    Peter don't use the starter. Pull the radiator and turn the motor over by hand using the crank pully bolt (27mm socket). That way when you "bar_it_over" you canl feel for any binding or inconsistencies in the rotation.
    However, noting what you have described. I suspect that the engine is what we term in the navy as the FFF.
     
  12. Peter Black

    Peter Black Active Member

    I think you are most likely right. I've been on the look out for a crappy engine to try to learn something about engine building anyway so I guess this is probably it.
     
  13. rollin

    rollin First 9

    the clue is that its completely rooted. sorry pete
     
  14. Peter Black

    Peter Black Active Member

    Heh, why am I not surprised?

    Oh well, easy come, easy go.

    Rebuildable or beyond any kind of saving?
     
  15. rollin

    rollin First 9

    heads might be ok, but the rest will probably be scrap
     
  16. Peter Black

    Peter Black Active Member

    Better than nothing, might have a go at porting them some time.

    Thanks guys.
     
  17. Blipman

    Blipman Beer hooves totally work

    Bugger, if it's not turning over even with the plugs out that's not sounding promising. Let's put your other starter motor on it and crank just to rule that out, also hand cranking it's not a bad idea as well. I've also got a compression tester lying around, if a rod's bent compression will still read lower even if the rings are sealing.

    Ben
     
  18. Chrispy

    Chrispy Pretentious Upstart

    Is the timing belt OK?
     
  19. MoulaZX

    MoulaZX #TEAMROB

    ???

    MoulaZX
     
  20. CHILI

    CHILI Indestructable Target

    F@#ked, Fingered & Forgotten?:eek::p;)
     

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