Unseized a $300 XFi Engine :) - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

92Metro · 12-19-2010, 11:36 PM

Check this out!!!???????????
So now what do I do??? I just bought this '94 XFi for $300 bucks, she said the engine seized (it was seized, wouldn't turn over), I guess she ran it low on water from what I could gather- and I thought when buying it, easy "bottom end fix" I'll pay that, for an XFi, right?

Well I started looking on youtube, and how some people have gotten seized engine moving again. I kept watching different videos and thought, what the heck it's worth a try for sure...

So I bought a can of "PB Blaster" one that I saw used. I pulled the plugs, and shot the cylinders full of this penetrating oil. I then let it sit for a while (15 minutes) put the car in 4th gear, and started rocking it back and forth really easy... and what do you know, it came free!!!

So what do you guys think I should do next, top the coolant off, change the oil, jump the battery and fire this baby up???

And help or advice would be great, awesome huh...

Thanks,

MorphDaCivic · 12-20-2010, 01:59 AM

Great news! Congrats on your $300 find. I would definately do a pressure test on the coolant system to make sure it does not have a blown head gasket. Or just pull the head and replace the gasket. They are usually the first to go when overheated.

vacationtime247 · 12-20-2010, 02:49 AM

Top off the antifreeze, check for spark at all the cylinders and replace the spark plugs, check the oil to make sure it's black and not milky, check to make sure the fuel pump kicks on and you have good fuel pressure, make sure the battery has a good charge. Try and start it. Let us know how it goes! Great find btw.
A vehicle needs 3 things in order to run. Fuel, ignition and compression. Check in that order.
VT247

JasonG · 12-20-2010, 05:52 PM

We've done similar to a few cars.
Yeah top off the fluids and have at it !
In a day or two change the oil and filter as there will be some small metal grindings if it was seized bad.

Of course check for a blown head gasket, but it may be just fine. If the 2nd batch of oil isn't milky and the coolant stays at level, drive her till she dies !

Oh, since you paid $300, go crazy on the aero mods. Who cares how it looks

kamesama980 · 12-22-2010, 12:04 PM

Remember to crank the engine a couple times with the plugs removed and ignition and fuel disabled. that way you blow out the remaining PB blaster.

You might want to do a compression check to make sure it's actually going to run...course you might need to drive it a few hundred miles to get everything loosened back up and sealing right depending on how long it's been seized.

gascort · 12-22-2010, 04:13 PM

Congrats!
Once you're sure she runs, add it to the EM garage!

Boreas · 12-24-2010, 08:05 AM

I saw your question about hones in the compression test thread. Did you decide to rebuild your engine?

92Metro · 12-24-2010, 10:36 AM

Engine was cold of course (not running) and I couldn't get a reading off any of the cylinders with check the compression...? You crank it over, the #3 spurts fuel and air at you as it should with no plug. But nothing like that, out of #1 and #2 cylinders- just a piston going up and down, not a pop or anything when cranking it over. My next thing is checking the timing is on or correct- what do you guys think?

Also if it got hot enough to stop the engine, if the valves are gone, do they commonly stick open or not seat, when they're toasted. Cam is turning, and the belt is still on, I checked that already.

comptiger5000 · 12-24-2010, 12:17 PM

A burned valve will close, but not seal.

kamesama980 · 12-25-2010, 06:02 PM

could also be bad pistons/rings if they're hot enough to stick to the cylinders. Either bits welded to each other (rings to piston or bits of AL from piston in the rings) or just scuffed to the point they won't seal. Depends on how bad it overheated and whether it stalled while driving and seized later or seized while driving.

Valves usually don't seize open but if they did, the cam will force them open, after which they might stick that way. That's easy to check though: just pop the valve cover off and see if they follow the cam lobe.

If you want to asses the engine's condition before starting it, you'll need a real compression tester and leakdown tester, even cheap homemade ones. if you don't want to go to the trouble just fill it up with some water and fire it up. once you get it running you can drain some and add anti-freeze.