What are the symptoms of a seized engine?
2 Answers
Engine seizure symptoms include abnormal engine noise, lack of power, noticeable exhaust emissions, stalling at idle, etc. A seized engine can be repaired by boring the cylinder and replacing the piston. The relevant information about engine seizure is as follows: Causes of engine seizure: The causes of engine seizure include poor cylinder lubrication, insufficient break-in, cooling issues, abnormal piston ring operation, use of low-quality fuel, and incorrect repair or assembly. Solutions for engine seizure: If detected early, it can be repaired at a maintenance shop by simply boring the cylinder and installing oversized pistons. If the cylinder wall scratches are too deep or the piston components are severely worn, repair may not be feasible, and a major overhaul with replacement of new components is necessary. In severe cases, the entire cylinder block may need to be replaced.
This is a common sight in repair shops. The most obvious symptom of a scored engine is that it consumes oil extremely quickly. You might have just topped up the oil, but after driving a thousand kilometers or so, the dipstick can't detect any oil left. The engine noise also becomes abnormal, especially during cold starts when you can hear hollow clunking sounds from the cylinder block. After warming up, it turns into metallic grinding noises, like filing iron with a rasp. The performance is downright pitiful—when climbing a hill, even with the accelerator pedal floored, the RPM won't rise, and the exhaust pipe puffs out blue smoke. Last week, an old Passat was towed in. The owner said the engine suddenly started jerking like an asthma attack when overtaking on the highway. Upon disassembly, we found deep grooves scored into the cylinder walls. Remember, if you smell burnt oil or see blue oil dripping from the exhaust pipe, shut off the engine immediately and call a tow truck. Driving any further could mean needing a whole new engine!
