Hydrolocked Motor?

Posted By: racealittle

Hydrolocked Motor? - 11/07/09 11:20 PM

A friend of mine added cold water too soon to his overheated 2000 Dodge Ram Van 5.9 engine.

I think he developed a crack somewhere. We eventually disassembled the motor in the engine bay to inspect it.

First he drained the water and oil from the crankcase. He did an optomistic oil change. Then he tried to run it. It ran like crap. He drained what was left in the block and rad. Then he removed the spark plugs and used a fixture to suck the water out of the cylinders through the spark plug holes with a shop vac.

The valve covers came off and evidence of water coming through the valve guides of cylinders 5, 2 and 4.

While removing the heads bolts I noticed a few bolts came off rather easily with no sound. We removed the heads and found 4 cylinders completely filled with water.

The fire ring on the head gasket was sucked in on cylinder #3 but it was a dry cylinder.

Cylinders 5, 2, 4, and 6 were really cleaned up well from water being in the cylinder. Cylinder #4 had ean extremely damaged rough ring around the top of the bore, just above the ringland. This damage was about 3/8 to 1/2 high and ran in a band around the cylinder. It was deep and protruding.

I think the motor is scrap.

Any theories of what else could be damaged?

Posted By: CokeBottleKid

Re: Hydrolocked Motor? - 11/08/09 12:35 AM

scrap, probably cracked the heads and the block after the hydrolocking...

Posted By: dartman366

Re: Hydrolocked Motor? - 11/08/09 12:42 AM

Quote:

A friend of mine added cold water too soon to his overheated 2000 Dodge Ram Van 5.9 engine.

I think he developed a crack somewhere. We eventually disassembled the motor in the engine bay to inspect it.

First he drained the water and oil from the crankcase. He did an optomistic oil change. Then he tried to run it. It ran like crap. He drained what was left in the block and rad. Then he removed the spark plugs and used a fixture to suck the water out of the cylinders through the spark plug holes with a shop vac.

The valve covers came off and evidence of water coming through the valve guides of cylinders 5, 2 and 4.

While removing the heads bolts I noticed a few bolts came off rather easily with no sound. We removed the heads and found 4 cylinders completely filled with water.

The fire ring on the head gasket was sucked in on cylinder #3 but it was a dry cylinder.

Cylinders 5, 2, 4, and 6 were really cleaned up well from water being in the cylinder. Cylinder #4 had ean extremely damaged rough ring around the top of the bore, just above the ringland. This damage was about 3/8 to 1/2 high and ran in a band around the cylinder. It was deep and protruding.

I think the motor is scrap.

Any theories of what else could be damaged?

wouldn't it be easier to answer what might still be good?? sound's like you might have a boat anchor to me, sorry to hear that.

Posted By: emarine01

Re: Hydrolocked Motor? - 11/08/09 12:44 AM

The only way to figure out what you have is careful inspection & observation

Posted By: racealittle

Re: Hydrolocked Motor? - 11/08/09 03:16 AM

Quote:

The only way to figure out what you have is careful inspection & observation

That's what I've been doing. I had to listen to his story, and make sense of it. I'm trying to help they guy since he needs the vehicle to work his construction/ home improvement business. He has helped me with my garage and other home related projects. He has even towed me to the track on occasion.

The heads show no outward signs of cracks. We used spot check by magnaflux. We also tried the spot check on that #4 cylinder wall.

It's so hard to get that motor out easy. I still have to check the deck surface of the block with the spot check. The internals of this engine are just cruddy, and coked. The truck worked hard daily. I also know the original owner of the truck and how it was taken care of. I'm surprised how bad this looks.

I'm certain the heads got lifted, but can't see any other signs of cracks other than that messed up #4 cylinder wall. The spot check is kind of useless on that section. At least I'm not sure how to interpret it with the blemished surface. It might hone out, but why if there is a crack in the block? The heads have to be warped, and perhaps the deck as well.

I wonder about bearings, bent rods, etc. The rotating assembly in the short block turns so easy. If the block is cracked I would like to have an idea where and just get on with it.

I know a reload with a good used 5.9 magnum would get him back in business. There is nothing on craigslist or kijiji locally. The worst part is we are working outside like shadetree mechanics with the leaves falling and colder weather coming.

Posted By: Sub95

Re: Hydrolocked Motor? - 11/08/09 03:36 AM

check #4 rod i bet its bent. easy way to do it is to measure it while it's at TDC then compare it to another one at TDC.

Posted By: johnzgarage

Re: Hydrolocked Motor? - 11/08/09 05:59 AM

To be cheap and quick, have the heads p.s.i. checked and surfaced,check for bent or damaged valve train . Throw a new set of head gaskets on and go with it !!! ..AT this point all what you will have into it is oil , gaskets and mill charge on heads. Chances are it will fix the problem.....what do you have to loose.

Posted By: dodgeboy11

Re: Hydrolocked Motor? - 11/08/09 06:02 AM

I'd bet the farm those heads are cracked. They always crack between the intake and exhaust seats. Whether or not that's enough to put that much water in or not, I can't say but I suppose it's possible.
Don't know how much money your buddy is willing to pay, but the shop I work at deals with small mopars quite often and we're very good at them. Shop's number is in my signature if he's interested. Call and talk to Tom. We're not the cheapest though, just to warn you, but the engine will be good as long as it's not screwed up on installation. Dyno tested and all that...