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Thread: Seized/stuck engine - advice and products please?

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    Bodger

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    Seized/stuck engine - advice and products please?

    Hi Guys, Im looking for a little advice please. Ive purchased a Mk2 Escort project, its an original 1600 sport, South African Import. After speaking to the previous owner, the engine has been stood a "While" out of the car. He bolted the engine back in for the import and now its with me.

    Ive tried to turn the engine by the crank and its not moving, is there a product you have used that I can drop down the plug hole onto the piston to leave to soak and give it another turn. Or shall I just strip the engine down and start fresh to avoid any damage?

    Products Ive looked at to try and free the engine are:

    Standard 10w 40 oil, Marvel Mystery Oil, Automatic trans oil, wd40, diesel, and kerosene?

    Im really interested to see what you guys think or if there are any old school ways of doing this?

    T.I.A
    Martin.

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    Spanner Monkey

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    Re: Seized/stuck engine - advice and products please?

    have you checked the timing is correct and there is no piston to valve issues

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    Bodger

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    Re: Seized/stuck engine - advice and products please?

    Thanks for the reply, the engine is in pretty a bare state, sold as a non runner so guessing the timing would be off anyway as its been stood out of the car?

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    Mechanic

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    Re: Seized/stuck engine - advice and products please?

    I've used gear oil in the past but if the timing checks out ok, I would take the head off it unless you know someone with a borescope. It might give you a better idea of what's going on
    Keep her lit

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    Bodger

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    Re: Seized/stuck engine - advice and products please?

    Thanks for the reply, yeah my plan for the weekend is to strip the top, then maybe soak the pistons with a little oil for a week? Its just what oil to use? Really tempted to use the Mystery oil but every site I read it's used on American Barn finds.

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    World Champion Decade Plus User alladdin's Avatar

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    Seized/stuck engine - advice and products please?

    For the price of a gasket set I would strip it for peace of mind. Wd or easol might free it but if bores have rust it may ruin a saveable bore ?


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    Re: Seized/stuck engine - advice and products please?

    Yeah I was thinking that, also peace of mind knowing what Im working with, could you remove traces of wd or easol with new oil change and an engine flush? My main aim is to get it running then start again from there.

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    World Champion Decade Plus User alladdin's Avatar

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    Seized/stuck engine - advice and products please?

    Yes but if there's rust in bores light enough to clean out and hone yourself then freeing it up and starting it will grind it into rings and bores. I would take off head n sump to check bored and big ends. If they are ok then good chance the rest will be


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    Bodger

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    Re: Seized/stuck engine - advice and products please?

    Thanks for your advice alladdin, very much appreciated!! Ill strip the top and sump and start fresh, Its always tempting to just put a battery on as its been a while since Ive done this!!

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    Re: Seized/stuck engine - advice and products please?

    Quote Originally Posted by Turboman View Post
    have you checked the timing is correct and there is no piston to valve issues
    If its seized then there isn't much scope for checking that!

    I'd be tempted to fill the top end and the crankcase with diesel so crank is immersed and let it sit for a week then just try and move the crank - if it moves 1/2" or so then its unlikely to have rusted bores so may be salvagable BUT DO NOT try and turn over on a starter if cases are full of diesel - you'll bend the rods!

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    Bodger

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    Re: Seized/stuck engine - advice and products please?

    Thanks Katana, Ive read about filling the bores with Diesel and leaving it to soak, there seems to be mixed opinion on using it. Is it something you have done before with results? I believe it can damage seals etc on petrol engins?

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    Re: Seized/stuck engine - advice and products please?

    Dunno what seals it'll liable to damage - its only a 'thicker' oil as is petrol. Done the soakage thing with smaller engines - just easier to handle.

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    Re: Seized/stuck engine - advice and products please?

    I think Ill try an oil first then if no luck give Diesel a go, Ive even read this afternoon people used to use Coke...Lol.

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    Re: Seized/stuck engine - advice and products please?

    If you have filled the bores with Kerosene or Paraffin then there's not much more you can do. The two are very penetrating and it normally searches its way through.
    I had the same problem with a Cosworth engine that had been stood idle for years. Even with the head removed and Paraffin soaking the bores the crank would n't move. I finally resorted to cleaning the corrosion out of the bores with a large sanding drum in the drill.
    On removal of the pistons the bores appeared to be very heavily pitted and were unsuitable to be used without a rebore.
    You might be lucky to get it free or you might not. I am afraid you might have to be prepared for a full strip down of the engine.

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    Bodger

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    Re: Seized/stuck engine - advice and products please?

    Great thanks for your help, have you used this before? I’ve stripped the top of the engine tonight and exposed the top of the bores, I’ve added some 10w 40 until weekend. I’ll buy some paraffin and give that a shot if the oils no use, thanks again for your advice!!

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    Racer Decade Plus User Forest_rallying's Avatar

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    Re: Seized/stuck engine - advice and products please?

    Yes Kerosene has worked for me. I think you'll be very lucky if 10w 40 will be searching enough to free the pistons. You need to get a socket and bar on the front pulley bolt to see if you can get any movement in the crankshaft.

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    Racer Decade Plus User wildo105e's Avatar

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    Re: Seized/stuck engine - advice and products please?

    I had a seized cross flow when i finally got the pistons out in bits I was surprised to see the cause. I was expecting rusty rings but it seemed the pistons had corroded and the expansion of the corrosion jammed them solid like an interference fit. It happens a lot on bike seat posts aswell. No amount of oil would have shifted them. A lump hammer an chisel was needed to relieve the pressure. funny the bores were left fine.

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    Bodger

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    Re: Seized/stuck engine - advice and products please?

    Thanks, appreciate all the advice, Ill try kerosene/parrafin this weekend, its had nearly a week with the oil by then so maybe get a little movement.

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    Re: Seized/stuck engine - advice and products please?

    Thanks wildo105e, thats an interesting one, I do remember a lit of my BMX's used to do that, the last thing I want to do is damage the block so will go for a full stripdown first, thanks for your reply!!

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    Racer Decade Plus User wildo105e's Avatar

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    Seized/stuck engine - advice and products please?

    If do have to break the piston a small cold chisel and punch a hole in the centre of crown worked the best to start the process it seems to relieve the pressure. You want to try and avoid damage to the bores. Pistons are more readily available than blocks 👍

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    Bodger

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    Re: Seized/stuck engine - advice and products please?

    Thanks wildo, want to avoid this as much as I can, Im happy to soak it for weeks if I need, the blocks not in a bad way so hoping its because its been stood. Im even tempted to wait for a frosty night and try it then...

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    World Champion Decade Plus User alladdin's Avatar

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    Re: Seized/stuck engine - advice and products please?

    if the bores look ok with head off you can probably save it. soak in diesel , put a power bar on crank bolt and tap ( thump) piston down in same direction with a lump of wood /hammer. 2 people make it easier !

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    Bodger

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    Re: Seized/stuck engine - advice and products please?

    Thanks alladdin, the bores look good other than one or two small signs of pitting but I expect that for the age of the car, Ive had it soaking since Monday night in 10w 40 as thats all I had to hand, My plan tomorrow is to use parrafin for another week then keep giving it a try on the crank. Thanks again for your advice, Ill update on monday to let you know how I get on.

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    World Champion Decade Plus User alladdin's Avatar

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    Seized/stuck engine - advice and products please?

    A good tap will do the job better that just a push / turn


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    Bodger

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    Re: Seized/stuck engine - advice and products please?

    Great will give that a try also, put a bit of pressure on the crank and give it a tap. Really appreciate your help!!

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