Hydraulic Lock Up

[Blue6000se]

This is just a question about hydraulic lock up in the 3.5L and 3.9l engines. Is it possible that either of these engines can hydraullicaly lock up 22 days later with about 3 extra litres in it? Just a question.

[IsaacHayes]

Not sure what you are asking/mean?

[Blue6000se]

I am asking if it's possible that an engine can hydrolock after 22 days of driving? The engine is a 3.5L or 3.9L V6 out of the Uplanders/Montana SV6, and i am being accused of putting 3 extra litres of oil in it after i did an oil change. I'm positive that i didn't overfill it cuz i always start it up running for a couple seconds, shut it off then check the dipstick. I always check once, twice even three times just to make sure. But knowing my luck i'll get fired because the dealership is just a big f*** up, cuz once something happens management likes to come down on people really hard and makes us pay for any little screw up. But if anybody could define the true meaning of hydrolock it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[bszopi]

I don't think oil has anything to do with hydro-locking. But I could be wrong... Always think of the coolant system, not the oiling system.

[3100 MPFI]

every time I have heard of an engine HYDROLOCKING, it has been that one or more of the CYLINDERS (combustion chamber) has filled up with coolant/water making it so that it can not going into the compression mode.

These engines have 4 strokes. The first DOWN STROKE pulls in AIR/FUEL. The first UP STROKE compresses the air and fuel. When it reaches the top of the FIRST UP STROKE, the spark plug ignites causeing combustion. It then goes into the SECOND DOWN STROKE. After it goes down, then it goes into the SECOND UP STROKE in which the exhaust valve opens up allowing the exhuast gases from the combustion process to be expelled.

When an engine hydrolocks, it fills with fluid and when the engine tries to go into the FIRST UP STROKE to compress air, the fluid in the cylinder does not compress causeing the engine to seize up. If this happens, you can just remove the spark plugs, and allow the fluid to leave the cylinder.

I have only heard of this happening with COOLANT. I guess it COULD happen if the cylinder was to fill up with OIL, but that would be a hell of a leaky valve seal for that to happen.

Also, sorry if I explained that like you were an idiot or something. That is not how I meant to come across, but I figure it might help some people that don't know how these engines work.

[geoffinbc]

The engine wont hydro lock. What will happen is the crank will throw excessive oil around the crank case and obviously onto the cylinder walls. The walls will be so saturated that the oil control ring wont be able to handle it and then excess oil will get into the combustion chamber and cause detonation. Not to mention there would be a lot of foaming of the oil and increased heat. Did the engine "sieze" or did it break a rod or piston?

[Rhedalert]

not to mention it would smoke like a banshee.

[19Cutlass94]

not to mention it would smoke like a banshee.

uncle buck!

[pocket-rocket]

uncle buck!

BANG!

[Canyonero]

Sounds like they were pumping coolant into the oil, hence the high level. Granted, that would be pretty apparent on the stick.

[WrathOfSocrus]

My brother filled up a 3.8 with so much oil that it squirted out the dipstick tube when I pulled the dipstick to check it. It was leaking a quart a day so he figured he would put in a case and be good for a while .

We were working at the same place at the time and I rolled up on my bike to check out the car, so he had obviously driven the beast around like that for a bit. I'm not saying it is impossible, but extremely unlikely to lock up an engine on a car with too much oil in the crankcase.

I personally have only seen an engine lock up like that when driven into a large body of water. Guys with big tires and lift kits thinking they can cross anything going full throttle.

If a motor in a car that hasn't been submerged had hydro locked I would guess either a massive LIM gasket leak or perhaps a head gasket leak from the cylinder to a coolant passage. Doubt it would be the head gasket though.

[pocket-rocket]

My brother filled up a 3.8 with so much oil that it squirted out the dipstick tube when I pulled the dipstick to check it. It was leaking a quart a day so he figured he would put in a case and be good for a while .

We were working at the same place at the time and I rolled up on my bike to check out the car, so he had obviously driven the beast around like that for a bit. I'm not saying it is impossible, but extremely unlikely to lock up an engine on a car with too much oil in the crankcase.

I personally have only seen an engine lock up like that when driven into a large body of water. Guys with big tires and lift kits thinking they can cross anything going full throttle.

If a motor in a car that hasn't been submerged had hydro locked I would guess either a massive LIM gasket leak or perhaps a head gasket leak from the cylinder to a coolant passage. Doubt it would be the head gasket though.

I laughed at what you said about what your brother did, that's funny, lol. I would agree about the submerged thing though. The other way is I heard about a Quad 4 guy that had a new CAI that sucked air from below the bumper after he rebuilt his engine. He ran through a deep mud puddle and got a hole in 1 piston and a bent rod in another cylinder for his efforts.

[Blue6000se]

Well it turns out the guy who told me that the engine hydrolocked was lying it turns out that the head gaskets were leaking and the rear main was leaking so really nothing happened to me, they just asked me if i noticed anything and told them that the leak wasn't bad enough to call it under warranty. They say that if it's sweating it's okay but obviously if it's dripping they'll fix it. So my friend is an asshole for calling me up friday night and telling me that i'm probably getting fired, but everythings okay now.

[pocket-rocket]

You should dump a couple quarts of Dexron in his gas tank. Then when the car starts smoking really bad offer to buy the car for a dirt cheap price after telling him his engine is going to blow. Do that on a Friday so he gets to sweat a while too

[Blue6000se]

I really should but he drives a cavalier with an ecotec so i'll drain some oil and just let it fry! hehehe