How to fix hydrostatic lock

[smokeythecat]

I was reading up on hydrostatic lock and I came across this way of possibly fixing it yourself if the RPMs weren't too high when it happened. But I think there might be something amiss in these instructions.

This involves removing the spark plugs, starting the engine, and then revving it while it’s in park. You should notice water spewing out of one or more cylinders. You should also replace the spark plugs with new ones. Though, in an emergency situation, you should be able to just dry yours off.

Either they meant one at a time or someone was not paying attention. Even so, have any of you ever tried this?

https://autochimps.com/hydrolocked-engine/

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[zrickety]

I was reading up on hydrostatic lock and I came across this way of possibly fixing it yourself if the RPMs weren't too high when it happened. But I think there might be something amiss in these instructions.



Either they meant one at a time or someone was not paying attention. Even so, have any of you ever tried this?

https://autochimps.com/hydrolocked-engine/

I did this once to a Honda...it put a hole in the block and bent rods. You can't pull one plug at a time if you have water in there, you pull them all. But you can't 'rev' it, you would just be turning it over with the starter and crossing your fingers.

 

[Jim1964]

Obviously written by someone with limited understanding.

I’ve hydro’d a few. And participated in recovering a few more. And yes, you’ll pull ALL the plugs. Gotta check the crankcase too. I’ve seen engines dry out and drive home; I’ve seen them destroyed with bent rods.

Older engines recovered pretty well. Newer ones I anticipate lots of electronic problems.

 

[300K06TJ]

I hydro-locked my Wrangler (4.0l) with about 240,000 miles on it. I pulled all the plugs, hand turned the engine, sprayed WD-40 in the cylinders, replaced the spark plugs, and started it the next day. I blew a couple of gallons of muddy water out of my exhaust system, but it started! It took a few days for all the 'Christmas Lights' to turn off in my dash, but it now has over 315,000 miles. Still my daily driver. I got very lucky, but the process worked.

 

[BetOnBlack]

Yep, pull all the plugs and run the starter to let the engine "pump" the water out.
Long time ago with a rice burner with aftermarket intake had a truck coming the other way got a huge puddle water and sent a tidal wave at me and locked the engine up. Luckily pulling the plugs, cranking out over a few times, new plugs and it started up.

Don't ever try to crank an engine with water in it without a way for the water to escape during compression. Because water doesn't compress.

 

[AlgUSF]

I did this once to a Honda...it put a hole in the block and bent rods. You can't pull one plug at a time if you have water in there, you pull them all. But you can't 'rev' it, you would just be turning it over with the starter and crossing your fingers.

My brother did the same thing with a 1998 Civic when he pulled water into the CAI without a bypass valve. Blew the engine sky high. If the engine stalls from water, tow it home and methodically diagnose it. Your engine is basically a finely tuned air pump, not a water pump.

 

[AcesandEights]

...
Either they meant one at a time or someone was not paying attention. Even so, have any of you ever tried this?

https://autochimps.com/hydrolocked-engine/

No, they meant all of them at a time.

 

[mwilk012]

We’ve had a few of these lately. This one was totaled by insurance immediately, because the interior is very damp and smelly now. The engine survived, and it runs now. It’s probably still going to the scrapyard, poor thing.

 

[smokeythecat]

No, they meant all of them at a time.

And the "rev your engine?"

 

[Dyolfknip74]

And the "rev your engine?"

How do you rev the engine when there are no spark plugs installed?

 

[Shibadog]

Back in WW2 my Dad was in China with the 14th AF. They were moving on a convey and came to a river that the bridge had been bombed out. The locals had built a bamboo pedestrian bridge across the river. The big deuce and a half’s could ford the river but it was too deep for the captains Jeep. His driver tried the bamboo bridge but the Jeep fell off it into about five feet of water and totally submerged. They winched it out and the mechanic pulled the plugs turned the engine over. He then drained the oil and drained the diff’s and transmission and gas tank. They refilled all the fluids, cleaned out the distributor and replaced the generator. By the time the convoy had all crossed the river they got the Jeep running-rough, but running. After a bit it smoothed out and it was still running when Dad left China two years later.

 

[AcesandEights]

How do you rev the engine when there are no spark plugs installed?

You don't, but you turn it over with the starter or by hand.

 

[smokeythecat]

How do you rev the engine when there are no spark plugs installed?

Yes. Precisely.

 

[Dyolfknip74]

You don't, but you turn it over with the starter or by hand.

Lol. Yes, I realize that. It was the "revving" part that threw me off

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