Motor Seized? Next steps?

Post by **IronMike** » 01 Aug 2018, 17:33

'07 XC70 with 185k. Offspring called - stranded near home! Said all dash lights came on while driving and steering went stiff - so engine stopped while driving. Pulled over safe thank goodness.

Fresh battery, starter engages but doesn't turn the engine - or can't? Check the oil and YIKES just a bit on the tip. Add just over 3 quarts and that brings up to the bottom of the hash marks, so looks like it might have only had about 1 quart or so in the sump. Not good! Starter engages, all dash lights dim, trying several times doesn't budge motor though each time the crank moves a tiny bit. Then battery wires start to overheat, so stopped trying. So sad, just polished the headlights and replaces whole suspension. See oil coating on lower rear on passenger side, timing belt is dry.

All hope gone? What would you do for next steps to determine if truly "seized"?
What would an engine swap cost ya think? Worth it on a car with $3k or so book value? Just pondering options...paid $10k for this 2007 in 2013 with 125k on it, doesn't really owe us a dime, been a real workhorse but wife does love it...

ThommyKent · Post by **ThommyKent** » 02 Aug 2018, 01:00

Poor car died from neglect. It`s done. Buy a Prius

Post by **Rattnalle** » 02 Aug 2018, 01:45

ThommyKent wrote: ↑02 Aug 2018, 01:00 Poor car died from neglect. It`s done. Buy a Prius

Sounds like it yeah.

Take the passager wheel off and try turning the engine by hand using a socket on the crank pulley nut. It should turn relatively easy. If it doesn't the engine really is stuck and your only option is replacing it. Probably only worth it if you can do the work yourself.

Post by **IronMike** » 02 Aug 2018, 06:41

Lets not get all judgey, there was oil in the engine 2 days before. Seems like over 2 days it lost over 3 quarts. Haven't even had a chance to get under it since getting it towed home. But I did try to crank it over this morning and it went about 4 (very strained, slowing each one) revolutions with a really nasty tenth of a second SCREEEECH every turn, and then stopped again. Never had a seized motor, would a loud SCREEEECH like that with every turn of the crank be something INTERNAL? Seems odd you'd hear it that loud. Or can main or cam bearings make a noise like that?

Post by **oragex** » 02 Aug 2018, 07:15

If it lost that much oil, perhaps an engine seal has gone - sometimes this is related to a badly clogged PCV system.

Timing belt seems to be well in place? How is the water pump? Some people put aftermarket wp which seems designed to sudden fail after 20-30000 miles or so.

A used engine swap is a decent $3000 but the problem is to get one that had it's PCV replaced in time (no latter than 120k miles)

Post by **IronMike** » 02 Aug 2018, 17:04

Pulled plugs and removed serpentine belt and cranked engine. Same slow turning/straining for about 3 revolutions and then started speeding up. Then the engine started turning normal crank speed and oil light went out! Haven't put things back together yet, will be interesting. Wondering is sluggishness was drag from pistons in cylinders, cams, bearings, all...

Post by **IronMike** » 02 Aug 2018, 17:08

RE: Neglect, you are probably not far off. PCV was serviced late in the game by a dealer but I have a suspicion they only replaced the hose from oil trap/box to valve cover and didn't properly clean the port in the block. See how things go...

Post by **SuperHerman** » 02 Aug 2018, 18:11

What year XC70 are we talking about? The price you paid does not match a 2008 or newer unless you got a screaming deal back in 2013.

That said your engine prognosis is not great if the oil went dry. Scored cylinder walls and/or pistons, ruined rings and damaged bottom bearings. Now if the engine oil light was functioning properly (and was not on during the final event for very long) the lack of oil may not be the issue.

If you get it started and it is not knocking, smoking and making very sad noises check your oil by draining it and oil filter for metal sparkle - signs of ruined motor. After that if it checks out do a compression test - if you have serious damage your numbers will be really low.

Maybe a pulley on the serpentine belt seized or a/c seized and your oil was low.

difflock54 · Post by **difflock54** » 02 Aug 2018, 19:21

Having turned over slowly it clearly was not seized solid.
Now you have managed to turn over the motor with plugs out I'd try adding a teaspoon of oil into each cylinder for good measure.
Then turn it over again,still with plugs out to help getting some lubrication to the upper motor components.
After that and assuming you haven't found any major oil leak, top off the oil to the correct FULL level and then try starting her up.
You may be lucky and it will be ok? but well worth a shot as opposed to just writing the motor off outright at this stage.

Post by **IronMike** » 03 Aug 2018, 06:03

'07, was a good deal since it was a dealer's loaner with higher miles but in decent shape and came with records. Timing belt kit installed just before we bought it. I'm going to do a compression test before I try to fire it up, might change the oil before firing it up as well, or at least the filter. All plugs looked good, we shall see...

SuperHerman wrote: ↑02 Aug 2018, 18:11 What year XC70 are we talking about? The price you paid does not match a 2008 or newer unless you got a screaming deal back in 2013.

That said your engine prognosis is not great if the oil went dry. Scored cylinder walls and/or pistons, ruined rings and damaged bottom bearings. Now if the engine oil light was functioning properly (and was not on during the final event for very long) the lack of oil may not be the issue.

If you get it started and it is not knocking, smoking and making very sad noises check your oil by draining it and oil filter for metal sparkle - signs of ruined motor. After that if it checks out do a compression test - if you have serious damage your numbers will be really low.

Maybe a pulley on the serpentine belt seized or a/c seized and your oil was low.