Freeing a stuck engine
(→Taking a look at the engine) |
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Start by removing the air cleaner. While removing the air cleaner, check for moisture or water puddles in the oil bath or in the bottom of the filter housing. It might be dry ''now'', but look for evidence of there having been standing water in the past. The reason that you are looking for moisture is to determine how much water could be within the engine. If snow is blown into the engine compartment, it will melt and puddle out inside the air cleaner, intake manifold, lifter valley, etc, but not necessarily make its way deep into the engine. If the engine has been flooded by means of overland flooding and rising water, then you could also have an accumulation of silt and dirt within the engine. Dirt and water within the engine is the worst kind of engine lock that you can experience. | Start by removing the air cleaner. While removing the air cleaner, check for moisture or water puddles in the oil bath or in the bottom of the filter housing. It might be dry ''now'', but look for evidence of there having been standing water in the past. The reason that you are looking for moisture is to determine how much water could be within the engine. If snow is blown into the engine compartment, it will melt and puddle out inside the air cleaner, intake manifold, lifter valley, etc, but not necessarily make its way deep into the engine. If the engine has been flooded by means of overland flooding and rising water, then you could also have an accumulation of silt and dirt within the engine. Dirt and water within the engine is the worst kind of engine lock that you can experience. | ||
| − | Pull the dipstick and check for water in the engine oil. If you find water in the oil, | + | Pull the dipstick and check for water in the engine oil. If you find water in the oil, trbny to determine how much there is. Start by removing the oil drain plug from the oil pan and watch what comes out. Water will exit first, followed by whatever oil that may be left. If the engine was flooded excessively, there will be basically no oil left; it will have been pushed out by the rising water. The ratio of water to oil that comes out of the oil pan is an indication of whether the reciprocating assembly was submerged or not. |
Open the radiator cap and check for coolant. If no coolant is present in the upper tank, open the drain tap and check for the presence of antifreeze. You can remove an upper radiator hose housing and check under the thermostat, too. In some cases, you can open an engine block tap or remove a water jacket stud to look for coolant, too. | Open the radiator cap and check for coolant. If no coolant is present in the upper tank, open the drain tap and check for the presence of antifreeze. You can remove an upper radiator hose housing and check under the thermostat, too. In some cases, you can open an engine block tap or remove a water jacket stud to look for coolant, too. | ||
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