# How to get an engine unseized?...

Posted by RosenKen (93 SE 5spd) on September 15, 2002 at 12:39:59:

OT: It's on my '84 Celica which has been sitting for 6-7 months untouched. I would have prepped it for sitting that long but I never figured it would, and now it has bitten me! I would have started it every week but the tranny has been out.

Anyway I go to put a new clutch in and replace the tranny today. Oops, I have no idea where the clutch bolts are, so must buy new ones (no biggie). So I decided to try to turn the engine while I had some free time... no budge! I thought maybe the water pump or something seized so I tried to turn every engine pulley separately, they all turned a bit and are good.

I tried an open-end wrech and my long breaker bar to turn the engine but all it did was tighten the crank bolt... I didn't want to strip it so I stopped. I removed all spark plugs and tried again... no luck. Took off the valve cover and tried to turn the cam, it would turn just a bit back and forth from the slack in the tensioner... so that is fine. Put a spoonful of oil down the cylinders and replaced the spark plugs.

The engine ran just fine when I parked it 6-7 months ago and everything looks good on it. I can't imagine it's a terminal problem here, just a small bit of rust around the rings keeping the engine from turning.

I was eventually going to replace the head gasket and head bolts sooner or later (I've reused the head bolts so many times they MUST be warped... think a slightly unstable idle is due to that). I guess I'll take the head off tomorrow and hit each piston with a hammer and block of wood. Sound good? The engine was rebuilt by me 3 years ago and has about 30,000 miles on it. It's a Toyota 22RE- VERY tough but very torquey, but only 112hp about. :(

Good news- while I was working on the car two guys came over and started asking me a bunch of questions about it and wondering if they could buy it! HA! Then they told me my Maxima was real sweet too. Don't get that too often in Michigan!

Also, the local Toyota dealer- Metro Toyota- apparantly is a big internet wholesale parts seller, so I can get my parts locally for about 30-40% off. Good a Toyota clutch disc, pressure plate, throwout bearing and pilot bushing, plus the rear main oil seal for $160... not bad!

Replys:

- My dad got a tractor at an auction that had frozen up and he... awsm66 (93SE) 18:09:12 9/15/2002 (5)
  - Yeah I put a bit of oil down all spark plug holes... we'll see tomorrow if it helps n/m RosenKen (93 SE 5spd) 18:23:21 9/15/2002 (4)
    - Might want to try a bit of penetrating oil in there too.. sometimes works better than oil for that kinda stuff. nm Matt (93SE) 19:26:18 9/15/2002 (3)
      - I've been searching the web, and if guys can get motors unstuck that have been flooded (think rain flooding, not gas flooding)< I think I can unstick this one. Some guys even recommend Coca-cola down the spark plug holes :) n/m RosenKen (93 SE 5spd) 19:34:01 9/15/2002 (2)
        - I suggest Jolt Cola... all the extra caffeine is good for +10hp! n/m mentat (93se 5spd) 11:06:45 9/16/2002 (0)
        - Yup.. there's quite a bit of acid in Coca Cola. It'll dissolve rust. I recommend penetrating oil first though. nm Matt (93SE) 21:01:38 9/15/2002 (0)
- Futz! I don't want to deal with another engine rebuild, I'll see if I can get the pistons unseized with a hammer.... if not, parting it out then scrapyard! :( n/m RosenKen (93 SE 5spd) 14:24:04 9/15/2002 (1)
  - *Sobs* Don't part it out!!!! Uncle Pete (89 SE) 17:26:06 9/15/2002 (0)
- I'd start shopping for a new engine... Uncle Pete (89 SE) 13:11:51 9/15/2002 (0)
- you got a clutch and an oil seal for 160? Thats a rip off. your engine is dead man. n/m Dave (91 SE) 13:00:22 9/15/2002 (1)
  - It's Toyota OEM stuff... and the price before the discount was $240, now THAT's a ripoff n/m RosenKen (93 SE 5spd) 13:03:01 9/15/2002 (0)

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: OT: It's on my '84 Celica which has been sitting for 6-7 months untouched. I would have prepped it for sitting that long but I never figured it would, and now it has bitten me! I would have started it every week but the tranny has been out. : Anyway I go to put a new clutch in and replace the tranny today. Oops, I have no idea where the clutch bolts are, so must buy new ones (no biggie). So I decided to try to turn the engine while I had some free time... no budge! I thought maybe the water pump or something seized so I tried to turn every engine pulley separately, they all turned a bit and are good. : I tried an open-end wrech and my long breaker bar to turn the engine but all it did was tighten the crank bolt... I didn't want to strip it so I stopped. I removed all spark plugs and tried again... no luck. Took off the valve cover and tried to turn the cam, it would turn just a bit back and forth from the slack in the tensioner... so that is fine. Put a spoonful of oil down the cylinders and replaced the spark plugs. : The engine ran just fine when I parked it 6-7 months ago and everything looks good on it. I can't imagine it's a terminal problem here, just a small bit of rust around the rings keeping the engine from turning. : I was eventually going to replace the head gasket and head bolts sooner or later (I've reused the head bolts so many times they MUST be warped... think a slightly unstable idle is due to that). I guess I'll take the head off tomorrow and hit each piston with a hammer and block of wood. Sound good? The engine was rebuilt by me 3 years ago and has about 30,000 miles on it. It's a Toyota 22RE- VERY tough but very torquey, but only 112hp about. :( : Good news- while I was working on the car two guys came over and started asking me a bunch of questions about it and wondering if they could buy it! HA! Then they told me my Maxima was real sweet too. Don't get that too often in Michigan! : Also, the local Toyota dealer- Metro Toyota- apparantly is a big internet wholesale parts seller, so I can get my parts locally for about 30-40% off. Good a Toyota clutch disc, pressure plate, throwout bearing and pilot bushing, plus the rear main oil seal for $160... not bad!