Western Members CA, AZ, NV, UT, CO, NM, HI

Motor Got Hydrolocked!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-03-2010, 09:16 AM
  #1  
10 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
C5natie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SoCal
Posts: 659
Received 4 Likes on 2 Posts

Default Motor Got Hydrolocked!

Sorry this is a long read but boy was it a scary Friday night! My motor got hydrolocked but I was able to save it. Here how it happenend first, I installed a water/meth injection kit on it two weeks ago. In this kit instead of a electrical solenoid valve I used a check valve. Thing is this was a temporary check valve since it was off a chemical pump and was made of pvc and used a spring and ball system. Seems like the seat the ball rested against got messed up or deformed and the ball didnt seal well. So, overnight it seems the water that was in the windshield washer resovoir leaked into the intake since the intake is in a lower spot. Not knowing this I went to start the car Friday night and it turned over once before stopping violently. I was like wtf? I turned the key one more time and all the lights woud go out (from starter not being able to turn). I popped my hood to see what happened and when all looked fine at first I got the a bad feeling so I checked the windshield washer fluid tank and it was empty. Holy crap my heart sank. I took the intake off and I put my hand in through the throttle body and it was full of water. I unplugged the coils, took out the fuel pump fuse, removed all the spark plugs and turned the engine...it spat out a bunch of water. I removed the throttle body and looked inside and it was holding a good half gallon of water. I stuck rags in the intake and dried up all the water. I cranked the motor over a couple more times to make sure all water was out. After that I started to put everything back together and pray I hadnt broken any parts or bent a rod. When I went to start her up she came back to life purring like if nothing happened. What a relief! No noises, no vibrations and no blow-by. The motor has less than 10,000mi and is a forged bottom end so it looks like the starter didnt have enough force to bend or break anything so Im lucky it happened at startup instead of while running. I did an oil change to be safe a drove her around yesterday, so far so good. Scared the living crap out of me though. I saw my wife telling me we didnt have anymore money for the car, LOL. NOOO!

BTW, thnx to Z28rare (Carlos) for lending me a hand... and the McDonalds.

Last edited by C5natie; 05-03-2010 at 11:15 AM.
Old 05-03-2010, 09:47 AM
  #2  
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (8)
 
lowerthanyou00's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Riverside
Posts: 316
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

Very lucky man keep her purring strong haha
Old 05-03-2010, 11:14 AM
  #3  
10 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
C5natie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SoCal
Posts: 659
Received 4 Likes on 2 Posts

Default

Yeah I learned my lesson. I ordered a real check valve with a brass body and stainless internals and now overnight I close the main ball valve between the tank and pump just to be safe.
Old 05-03-2010, 11:28 AM
  #4  
Teching In
 
RitcheyRch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Wow, you lucked out. Go buy a lottery ticket.
Old 05-03-2010, 11:32 AM
  #5  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (36)
 
ss.slp.ls1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 8,188
Received 26 Likes on 24 Posts

Default

It's funny...it's always something like a $20 part that will ruin a $20,000 engine. You lucked out man!
Old 05-03-2010, 11:53 AM
  #6  
10 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
C5natie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SoCal
Posts: 659
Received 4 Likes on 2 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by ss.slp.ls1
It's funny...it's always something like a $20 part that will ruin a $20,000 engine. You lucked out man!
Actually the valve was $10, with two push-to-lock fittings it came out to $14.
Old 05-03-2010, 12:55 PM
  #7  
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (21)
 
LS1Adam84's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Franklin, TN
Posts: 510
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

Damn Nate dude way to push that luck man. I am damn glad you got it fixed your vette is in my top three favorites.
Old 05-03-2010, 02:20 PM
  #8  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (15)
 
BigDaddyBry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Ridgecrest, CA
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

The real question is.... are you going to delete this thread when you sell the car.
Old 05-03-2010, 02:56 PM
  #9  
10 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
C5natie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SoCal
Posts: 659
Received 4 Likes on 2 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by BigDaddyBry
The real question is.... are you going to delete this thread when you sell the car.
I'll just advertise is as "motor had a full interior cleaning and tune-up. Full motor flush. Ready to go."
Old 05-03-2010, 03:03 PM
  #10  
10 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
C5natie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SoCal
Posts: 659
Received 4 Likes on 2 Posts

Default

For anyone looking at a similar application, get the good stuff the first time!


http://www.mcmaster.com/#7768k51/=6xk7re
7768K51
Brass Spring-Loaded Piston Check Valve 1/8" NPT Fem X 1/8" NPT Fem, Fluoroelastomer Seat
Old 05-03-2010, 03:09 PM
  #11  
10 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
C5natie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SoCal
Posts: 659
Received 4 Likes on 2 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by LS1Adam84
Damn Nate dude way to push that luck man. I am damn glad you got it fixed your vette is in my top three favorites.
Thnx man. It was a hell of a scare.
Old 05-04-2010, 12:08 AM
  #12  
12 Second Club
iTrader: (28)
 
ZexGX's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: under a JEGS hat
Posts: 2,793
Received 14 Likes on 9 Posts

Default

Check to make sure the bolt holes for the starter do not have any micro cracks in that area. I have read about cases when a motor is hydrolocked the corner of the block where the starter attaches to cracks and falls off. The tab broke on my friends car out here in 29 Palms and he tried various fixes. Congrats on getting it cleared out and running again!
Old 05-04-2010, 03:06 AM
  #13  
TECH Addict
iTrader: (46)
 
Sommer86's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Back in Burbank, CA
Posts: 2,249
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

WOW, close call! Glad it worked out in the end.
Old 05-04-2010, 08:12 AM
  #14  
10 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
C5natie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SoCal
Posts: 659
Received 4 Likes on 2 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by ZexGX
Check to make sure the bolt holes for the starter do not have any micro cracks in that area. I have read about cases when a motor is hydrolocked the corner of the block where the starter attaches to cracks and falls off. The tab broke on my friends car out here in 29 Palms and he tried various fixes. Congrats on getting it cleared out and running again!
Thnx, I'll probably look at the flexplate too. So far all seems good.
Old 05-04-2010, 10:31 AM
  #15  
On The Tree
iTrader: (11)
 
93Z28rare's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: LAC
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Don't forget. Miguel lent a hand as well.
Old 05-04-2010, 10:38 AM
  #16  
10 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
C5natie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SoCal
Posts: 659
Received 4 Likes on 2 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by 93Z28rare
Don't forget. Miguel lent a hand as well.
I didnt, he's just not on the forum but thnx to Miguel as well.
Old 05-04-2010, 02:54 PM
  #17  
On The Tree
iTrader: (11)
 
93Z28rare's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: LAC
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Cool.
Old 05-08-2010, 03:38 AM
  #18  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (15)
 
BigDaddyBry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Ridgecrest, CA
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

Originally Posted by C5natie
I'll just advertise is as "motor had a full interior cleaning and tune-up. Full motor flush. Ready to go."
That's a good one.



Quick Reply: Motor Got Hydrolocked!



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:47 PM.