Car trouble is one of the biggest headaches in the world. Without your vehicle, you cannot go to work, go to the store, or pick up your kids from school. And the worst type of car trouble to have is a locked engine.
The engine is the heart and soul of your vehicle, and if it isn’t running, you are dead in the water!
But what exactly is a locked engine? What are the signs and symptoms? How do you repair it? Can it be prevented? We will answer all of these questions in detail and leave you with the knowledge and confidence to deal with a locked engine.
What Are the Causes and Symptoms of a Locked Engine?
A locked engine sometimes referred to as a seized engine, can happen due to a variety of factors including lack of oil, lack of use, and hydro lock, just to name a few.
Let’s break down the potential causes, signs, and symptoms of a locked engine, as well as the remedies, should you ever experience it.
1. Shortage of Oil or Low Oil
If your engine is the heart of your car, then the oil is its lifeblood. Without it, all of its moving parts will not be able to operate smoothly, if at all. Oil allows free movement of the pistons within the cylinder walls, and it acts as a barrier to prevent overheating, friction, and scrapping of metal against metal. Without this barrier of oil or if there is an inadequate amount your engine will eventually seize up.
When an engine runs too long without adequate oil lubrication, it can lead to severe damage to the rod ends and the crank journals. This can lead to a permanently damaged engine.
So, always make sure to get your oil changed on a regular schedule, according to the manufacturer’s recommendation.
The signs and symptoms of low or no engine oil are:
- knocking sound
- overheated engine
- oil pressure indicator light
- visible oil leak
- burnt oil smell
2. Lack of Oil Flow
Having plenty of oil in your engine is not enough to keep it running smoothly. That oil also needs to be flowing properly. In much the same way your body needs good blood circulation to stay healthy, your car’s engine needs good circulation to keep driving.
One of the main culprits of this issue is a faulty oil pump. The oil pump is responsible for regulating and pumping the proper amount of oil to the engine’s components. If it becomes faulty or damaged, that could mean death for your engine. Clogs caused by dirt and debris can also prevent the oil pump from functioning properly.
The number one way to prevent this from happening is through preventative maintenance. Having your oil and oil filter changed on a regular schedule is crucial to preserving the life of your engine.
The signs and symptoms of a faulty oil pump are:
- tapping sound
- oil pressure indicator light
- high engine temps
3. Overheated Engine
Engines get hot, real hot. Excessive heat in an engine without adequate cooling taking place can cause parts to expand. When these parts expand they will cause excessive friction and can lead to mechanical failure of the engine.
One way to prevent this from happening is to ensure you have the appropriate amount of coolant in your engine. This goes hand in hand with preventative maintenance such as oil changes. When you take your car to a professional oil change service center, they will top off all your fluids, as well as check for any leaks.
The signs and symptoms of an overheated engine are:
- temperature gauge and engine light
- hot and/or steaming hood
- ticking noise
- coolant leaking
- burning smell
4. Hydro lock
When an engine experiences hydro lock, short for hydrostatic lock, it has taken too much water into the engine. Since engines are specifically designed to compress an air/gas mixture, adding water into the equation will cause the moving parts to lock up.
Some of the ways water can get into your engine include being in a severe flood, going through a deep puddle, or having a blown gasket, which causes oil and/or coolant to enter the engine.
A hydro lock can cause severe damage including damage to the bearings, crankcase damage, broken connecting rod, and rust
The signs and symptoms of a hydro-locked engine are:
- knocking and hammering sounds within the engine
- sudden engine failure
5. Vapor Lock
Another cause of a locked engine can be vapor lock. Vapor lock happens when the fuel in your engine turns from a fluid into a gas. This happens when the temperature of the fuel becomes too hot and is converted into a gaseous state, thereby disrupting the fuel pump operation and stalling the engine.
Vapor lock can happen during high ambient temperatures, high altitudes, and excessive engine temperatures. Luckily this is a rare problem that occurs primarily in older vehicles, such as those from the 1940s and 1950s.
The signs and symptoms of vapor lock are:
- stalling
- poor acceleration
- misfiring
6. Lack of Use
This one is pretty straightforward — if your car has been sitting unused for extended periods of time, chances are the engine won’t start. This is caused by corrosion and rust in the piston rings. A tell-tale sign of this is if you try to start the car and the lights come on, but the motor won’t start.
Another factor that can contribute to this is loss of fluids, so check for leaks. It is always a good idea to periodically start your vehicle, take it for a short ride, and do preventative maintenance on a regular basis. The longer it sits unused, the higher the likelihood of a locked engine.
The signs and symptoms of lack of use:
- vehicle has been unused for long periods
- lights come on but the engine won’t start
- possibility of leaked fluids
7. Timing Belt/Chain Breaks
This one isn’t common, but it is still possible.
The timing belt is responsible for opening and closing the engine’s valve at exactly the right time to allow for the combustion process to take place. Needless to say, if the timing belt or chain goes out, your engine will seize.
Some cars use a metal timing chain in place of a traditional rubber timing belt. One key difference is that a timing chain is usually rated to last indefinitely, while the lifespan of a timing belt is anywhere from 60,000 to 100,000 miles.
Whether it is a traditional timing belt or a metal chain, the principle is the same.
The signs and symptoms of a bad timing belt/chain are:
- ticking noises
- oil leaks
- misfires
8. Carbon Deposits and Buildup
Going back to the heart and blood analogy, if the engine is the heart and oil is the lifeblood of an engine, then think of a carbon deposit as an artery blockage. What happens if your heart has a blocked artery? A heart attack!
Your car’s engine is no different. Carbon is a sludge/soot-like buildup that is a nasty byproduct of combustion. It normally forms around intake valves, injector nozzles, pistons, and combustion chambers. Anywhere oil can seep into and burn, carbon buildup can form.
It can lead not only to decreased gas mileage and higher oil usage but can build up so thick that the pistons cannot pump properly and give out. This excessive buildup over a long period of time can become too much for integral engine parts to handle and could lead to a locked engine.
Using quality gasoline and getting regular oil changes are two ways you can help prevent excessive carbon buildup in your engine.
The signs and symptoms of excessive carbon buildup are:
- misfires
- rough idle
- black exhaust during acceleration
- engine light
- hard engine starts
How Do You Fix a Locked Engine?
To recap: anytime you hear unusual sounds coming from your engine like ticking or hammering, see excessive oil and fluid leaks, or see engine and temp gauges going off, you know that a locked engine can be a possibility. However, the key here is to pay close attention to the signs and symptoms.
It is very rare to have an engine just seize up on you out of the blue. There will almost always be indicators leading up to the locked engine. Listen to what your car is telling you!
Now that we have a good understanding of the root causes, as well as the signs and symptoms of a blocked engine, let’s see what can be done to fix it.
DIY Method
If you are mechanically inclined, and/or don’t have the money to fork over for a professional mechanic, you can attempt to remedy the situation yourself. Keep in mind, depending upon the cause of the locked engine, there may not be much that you can do yourself.
If you have a friend or family member who is a mechanic, doing it with their assistance may be a viable option.
First, the engine has to be cooled down. This is especially important if the engine is seized due to a vapor lock. You can then attempt to disassemble the engine yourself, but this is incredibly difficult and will require specialized parts and tools, not to mention the know-how.
Even if you are able to successfully dismantle your engine, you still have to further diagnose it and make the proper repairs.
Assuming you have done all of that correctly, you will then need to reassemble the engine, test it, and watch for any signs that it may seize again. As you can see, this is no simple task.
Take It to a Mechanic
Your safest bet would be to take your vehicle to a certified mechanic. Unfortunately, this can be very expensive, with the average cost of a rebuild going from $2,500 to $5,000, and a replacement ranging from $4,000 to $8,000.
Make sure to use a reliable mechanic and get fair and reasonable quotes.
Depending upon the age of your vehicle, you may end up spending more on the rebuild of the engine than the car is actually worth!
And just know, insurance normally doesn’t cover a locked engine, and if you are not within the warrantied timeframe, you are not looking too good.
Prevent It From Happening In the First Place!
The best way to deal with a locked engine is to keep it from happening in the first place. It is much easier, and cheaper, to keep your vehicle running smoothly by giving it a little regular love.
Regular Oil Changes and Tune-ups
Taking your car to a reputable oil change and lube service is crucial to keep your engine running well. Not only will they change the oil, but they will refill all your essential fluids, check for any leaks, and replace your oil and air filters, too.
Make sure they are using the proper oil for your vehicle by checking the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Regular oil is good for up to 3,000 miles, and synthetic oil is usually good for around 7,500-10,000 miles, with blended oil falling somewhere in between. Just make sure it is being done at the appropriate intervals for the type of oil you are using.
A tune-up is a little more in-depth and involves checking hoses, belts, spark plugs, etc., to ensure everything is functioning properly.
Listen Up!
Don’t underestimate the power of attention. Always pay close attention to the noises your car makes. You know what sounds normal and what doesn’t. If something doesn’t sound right or feels off, take it to a mechanic.
The same goes for indicator lights and temperature gauges.
Conclusion
As you can see, having a locked engine is a huge headache. Luckily that headache is largely avoidable. Preventative maintenance is critical to keeping you from having to pay thousands and thousands of dollars for a repair shop to rebuild your engine. Or, even worse, having to buy a new engine completely.
And remember, listen to what your car is telling you! If something doesn’t sound right, it probably isn’t.
Drive safe!