Hydro locked 3.8

[JunctionRubi]

I hit a mud puddle with some standing water yesterday and jeep almost instantly died. The puddle was about foot to foot and half deep but iam afraid i was going to fast and sucked up water. After most the day geeting it out and towed home i pulled the plugs and tryied to crank it over and nothing. The air filter was soaked and cant get it to turn over with a breaker bar on the crank bolt. I did blow water out of the cylinders with a compressor and drian the oil. Any advice would be helpful.

 

[WJCO]

If it won't turn over with a bar, something inside is messed up. Most common thing is a bent rod. Will it not even turn with plugs removed?

 

[JunctionRubi]

If it won't turn over with a bar, something inside is messed up. Most common thing is a bent rod. Will it not even turn with plugs removed?

No i have tried to the point iam worried i will break the bolt off

 

[desertdude59]

Yeah your engine sounds messed up. Sounds like it is more than hydro locked.

 

[OverlanderJK]

That’s not a puddle either.

 

[pvkj454]

One bent rod on my buggy LS engine completely locked it like that. It was oil instead of water but same results. I could have easily replaced the rod and piston for that cylinder because it didn't damage the crank.

 

[JT@623]

As they say in Ebonics you be fucked .
If it don’t turn with the plugs out it’s more than hydro locked

 

[JunctionRubi]

Thanks for the input. Looking into a reman long block.

 

[desertdude59]

Thanks for the input. Looking into a reman long block.

Pull the old pan if you can and take a peek.

 

[JunctionRubi]

 

[WJCO]

View attachment 385109

Are you going to attempt to repair it or just swap the engine?

 

[jeeeep]

View attachment 385109

that'll do it.

 

[Cousin Clyde]

Wow, that’s very bent.

Can someone help me out with the “how” on this one? What am I missing here…

 

[WJCO]

Wow, that’s very bent.

Can someone help me out with the “how” on this one? What am I missing here…

Liquid cannot be compressed. If liquid enters a cylinder, something will give. Usually it's the rod.

 

[Sharkey]

Pistons aren

Liquid cannot be compressed. If liquid enters a cylinder, something will give. Usually it's the rod.

Yep, water doesn’t really like getting squeezed.

 

[JunctionRubi]

I think the best thing for me to do is have a shop install a reman motor. I dont have the space,tools or experience to tackle it.

 

[OverlanderJK]

I think the best thing for me to do is have a shop install a reman motor. I dont have the space,tools or experience to tackle it.

I had never done a motor swap either. Did it in three or four weekends by myself in the garage on a 3.6. 3.8 is way easier. You can do it yourself.

 

[JunctionRubi]

Have not been active on here for while so quick recap. I pulled to motor and found that the crank hit and broke one piston and was embedded into another, and that is what was locking it up. Saved up money and ordered a remain long block that took a month to get here. I have everything ready for this weekend’s installation.

 

[JunctionRubi]

So far

 

[WJCO]

Thanks for reporting back. Glad to see you're tackling it. You'll save some $ and learn in the process.