Hydrolock damage
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 115
Likes: 1
From: Ohio
Hydrolock damage Long story short, I believe my engine is toast. Car has been parked outside for couple months. Started yesterday, burbled for a few seconds. Then an audible bang! Shut engine off but probably too late. Pulled spark plugs and engine rolls over fine. Pulled throttle body off and water poured out. Well, I ordered a borescope for my phone this morning, hopefully block can be salvaged. Posting this to warn anyone parking they're car outside in the weather to pull the throttle body and look for water BEFORE starting the engine. Thanks for reading!
If the cylinder was full of water enough to cause hydrolock, it would have come out when you pulled the spark plug. And it would not have turned over and started. What does the oil look like?
A little bit of water in the cylinder would allow it to turn over and start without hydrolock. But it would run pretty rough until it cleared and dried out.
Where did the water pour out of?
A little bit of water in the cylinder would allow it to turn over and start without hydrolock. But it would run pretty rough until it cleared and dried out.
Where did the water pour out of?
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 115
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From: Ohio
Hello, Thanks for the reply. It started, burbled and I shut it off. Intake was full of water behind the throttle body. When I pulled throttle body it ran out. After removing water and sparkplugs and fuse for injectors, I rolled engine over with the starter and a quick splash of water came out of #8 cylinder. Engine is sitting right now with plugs out so I can use bore scope.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 115
Likes: 1
From: Ohio
Plan is to drain oil and pull heads if scope shows me busted piston. From there I will probably check for bent pushrods. But connecting rod isn't out of the question either. I should have known better than what I did, so live and learn. Hopefully this post will spare someone else some grief!
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My guess is water was sitting on the intake manifold from rain or washing the car. One or more the intake manifold gaskets leaked and allowed water to enter.
Sorry to hear about you car's problem. Hopefully minimal damage.
When I pulled my 99TA's LS6 intake the gaskets looked bad after 15 years on the car. There was a lot of evidence of an oil & water goo on the bottom of the intake from dirt, oil and water sitting. The hoods on 4th Gen's allow water to get on top of the motor
I think after ~ 15 years replacing the intake manifold gaskets for any 4th gen that's been outside exposed water is a good idea.
Sorry to hear about you car's problem. Hopefully minimal damage.
When I pulled my 99TA's LS6 intake the gaskets looked bad after 15 years on the car. There was a lot of evidence of an oil & water goo on the bottom of the intake from dirt, oil and water sitting. The hoods on 4th Gen's allow water to get on top of the motor
I think after ~ 15 years replacing the intake manifold gaskets for any 4th gen that's been outside exposed water is a good idea.
I agree with the person who said intake manifold gaskets were done for and allowed water into the intake/cylinder heads. I just replaced a short block on an '02 Camaro that broke a rod. It wasn't water that caused the broken rod, but when I went to take the intake off, we found water in the intake and in the 3 rear most cylinders, the ones under the cowl. That '02 Camaro had 70k miles and was stored outdoors for the last 4 months.
The issue is most certainly old intake manifold gaskets allowing water to enter from running off of the cowl. 16+ year old gaskets, can't blame them.
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Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Monroe,NY
I hydrolocked my 5.3 with fuel from a leaking injector. Stopped motor with a bang but i got lucky. Happened a year ago been driving ever since with no problems. I thought for sure i was done. Good luck.
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Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 115
Likes: 1
From: Ohio
Thanks everyone for the responses. Car had been parked for at least 3 months out in Ohio weather, rain, snow, etc. It was at a friends property while I was dealing with some health issues. My understanding was the car was supposed to be in an out building but he never moved it inside like we had planned. Fast forward to last weekend, his girlfriend complained about grass growing up around the car and wouldn't stop bitching till it got moved. So a battery was installed and engine cranked over. I assume responsibility for whatever damage is done, when rushing **** happens. I wont be able to work on it except on Sundays because of work schedule. But, as soon as I know more I will post up. Kinda disheartening to lose the original engine, but that's all part of the car culture.
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Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Monroe,NY
I was working on my car and i kept turning the key off and on cycling the fuel pump off and on at the same time not realizing at the time i had a leaking injector. When i was done i went to start motor and it turned over and then stopped dead.
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I had a old GTA that the computer went belly up, it was pulsing the injectors with just the key on. It filled all the cylinders with fuel. Shoulda heard that when I started it after replacing the computer. Scared the bejesus outta me! Didn't break anything either plus the crankcase was full of fuel. Its crazy what can happen FAST to a engine, gotta really be thinkin all the time. I honestly only had the key on for a short time and didn't think it could fill the cylinders that quickly, Boy was I wrong. Lucky that engine was used a abused and loose as hell. Fuel shot down past the rings into the crankcase. Lucky those old starters were not reduction either so when it turned over it turns very slow. Sounded like the loudest diesel you ever heard but like I said it didn't break, those old SBC engines were tough!
Last edited by RockinWs6; May 18, 2018 at 05:17 PM.