possible hydrolock... help please.. | Ford Explorer Forums

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possible hydrolock... help please..

quiksilverdh

Well-Known Member
Joined
April 14, 2004
Messages
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City, State
Vernon, NJ
Year, Model & Trim Level
95 xlt - 62 IHC Scout
After using the search to find some info Im still coming up rather confused... So heres the story.

Last night after ripping through some puddles, my engine decided to die right in the middle of one... Would not start back up or even turn. We towed it back to my friend's house and let it sit over night, hoping it would dry out by morning... The air intake box was drenched, as well as the throttle boddy. I took the oil cap off and noticed lots of condensation in there as well... These signs are not very good...

Do I have any hope for salvaging this engine? should I drain all the oil/water and fill it with clean oil?

As of now it wont turn... When the key is turned it makes one quick starting noise and freezes.

Any input is greatly appreciated... Thank you.
-Marc
 



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sounds like its hydrolocked

go get a new one.
 






assuming you didn't bend/break something (which is a big assumption) you need to get any water out of the cylinders before it will turn over. Remove the spark plugs and turn it over by hand. Then you can see if the starter will turn it over.
 






Jefe said:
assuming you didn't bend/break something (which is a big assumption) you need to get any water out of the cylinders before it will turn over. Remove the spark plugs and turn it over by hand. Then you can see if the starter will turn it over.

I dont mean to sound stupid, but where do I turn it over by hand? I need a torque wrench for that right?

Accesing the plugs would be easiest through the wheel wells right?

thanks jefe
 






I can turn mine over by hand on the crankshaft pulley, i just did it last night on the eddie baur, which has been sitting for a year. Using your weight for this helps.

For the plugs, if the 95 is anything like the 94 under the hood, on mine i just approach from inside the engine compartment, i use an extra long socket extension and near the A/C thing i just use the socket wrench with no extension, barely fits but you can get to it this way. Again i have no idea if the 95 is the same.
 






should be a 18mm socket if I remember correcty, and a breaker bar, not a torque wrench.
Take all 6 plugs out, make sure its in N and turn it over several times.
You need to change the oil......and will again soon.
If you got water in your trans, t case and diffs you will need to change those fluids too.

You said ithe starter would not turn it over, this is actually a good sign, meaning if you hydro locked it, cranking it over with the starter is when you break stuff, so if it didnt move you MIGHT be allright.

Lesson kids, if it stalls in water, DO not try to re-start, get towed out of there then follow the proceedure.
Water does not condense like air, water above the piston = no compress = broken rod, etc etc if you crank it over.
 






I wish I could help you. I'm currently going through the same problem. Look at my thread on this subject too. Working together I'm sure we can figure this out.
 






When Virginia had their little flood awhile back, we got a lot of vehicles in for water damage. I, personally, saw 4 hydrolocked engines that year. Just like everyone else is saying; turn it over by hand/wrench by turning the crank shaft over. You will need to take out the plugs and allow for the water to hopefully push out of the plug holes. Don't be nervous when water spirts out the top - for your case, this is a good sign. With the way you've described your problems (i.e. wet air filter, throttle body) you are looking at a new engine (or remanufactured). Before you just replace the engine - like 410 said - you will need to look in your differentials, t-case and trans for water. Water is not really a vehicles friend. Good luck! I recommend JASPER as a engine remanufacturing company.

-Drew
 






wish me luck, I'm headed over to my friend's house where the explorer is ...attempting to revive it.

Thanks again for all the help...
 






You guys freakin rock... Without the help of this website, I probably would have bought a new engine by now... after what appeared to be about a gallon of water (slight exxageration), and 3 oil changes (probably another one before I actually drive it again), My engine appears to be running just fine!! Thanks so much for the help once again, and this certainly is giving me a reason to support this site even more by becoming elite.. Which I will be doing in a couple days :)

1 last question though... My power steering appears to be messed up... its very jerky... Would this be air or water in the lines? what should I do to remedy the problem?

:) thanks again!
 






I'm very glad for you. I'm still trying to figure out if mine is worth saving. I hope it is.

I also will becoming an elite. Maybe tonight after I get done working.
 






quiksilverdh said:
You guys freakin rock... Without the help of this website, I probably would have bought a new engine by now... after what appeared to be about a gallon of water (slight exxageration), and 3 oil changes (probably another one before I actually drive it again), My engine appears to be running just fine!! Thanks so much for the help once again, and this certainly is giving me a reason to support this site even more by becoming elite.. Which I will be doing in a couple days :)

1 last question though... My power steering appears to be messed up... its very jerky... Would this be air or water in the lines? what should I do to remedy the problem?

:) thanks again!

Glad it worked out. More than likely you have water in your power steering rack or even air. Since you hydro'd the motor, I would highly suggest replacing all fluids including brakes, power steering, coolant, etc. Definately the differential & transmission & transfer case if you haven't extended the breathers higher than where the water was up to..

Now its time to give back to the forum, ever consider becoming elite? Think how much the site saved you if you had to replace the motor. :eek:
 






Blee1099 said:
Glad it worked out. More than likely you have water in your power steering rack or even air. Since you hydro'd the motor, I would highly suggest replacing all fluids including brakes, power steering, coolant, etc. Definately the differential & transmission & transfer case if you haven't extended the breathers higher than where the water was up to..

Now its time to give back to the forum, ever consider becoming elite? Think how much the site saved you if you had to replace the motor. :eek:

I hope you were just joking about that! perhaps you scanned my message a little quick...

Originally Posted by quiksilverdh
.............My engine appears to be running just fine!! Thanks so much for the help once again, and this certainly is giving me a reason to support this site even more by becoming elite.. Which I will be doing in a couple days.....

;) :thumbsup:
 






quiksilverdh said:
I hope you were just joking about that! perhaps you scanned my message a little quick...

Originally Posted by quiksilverdh
.............My engine appears to be running just fine!! Thanks so much for the help once again, and this certainly is giving me a reason to support this site even more by becoming elite.. Which I will be doing in a couple days.....

;) :thumbsup:

Sorry but its Thursday night and I've been drinking like Jamest.. In other words, I'm sh!tfaced. :D
 






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