Author Topic: How do I prevent hydrolock in this situation (Read 2404 times)

arcter · « **on:** May 13, 2010, 07:34:46 PM »

Hey guys. So I have a blown HG or something and just noticed coolant in the oil. I'm also assuming that water in the cylinders is why I've a rough start issue for a while now. Anyway, I'm not going to drive the car for a week and a half, and then my mechanic guy is going to come and do the HG stuff. My question is this, and I'm not a mechanic so maybe there's an easy answer: how do I prevent hydrolock if there is a substantial amount of water/coolant in the cylinders after sitting for a week? Any easy way to drain it out?

Also, does it do the car any damage to leave it sitting for a week with coolant in the oil, or should it be fine as long as I drain everything when it's fixed?

ALSO how do I figure out what the cause of my HG failure was? I never noticed my car overheat. I replaced the radiator a month or so ago, and the thermostat and a bunch of gaskets when I did the timing chain.

colin86325 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 13, 2010, 08:49:25 PM »

I doubt you would have much water in the cylinders, but if there were fluid in the cylinders you can remove the spark plugs and then jumper pins 11 and 14 on the diagnostic connector to activate the starter. Make sure the car is not in gear when doing so! You should lay a towel or something across the spark plug holes to reduce the amount of mess in the engine bay as a result of any fluid being expelled.
Jumpering diagnostic pins 11 and 14 operates the starter motor only--not the injectors and not the coils--so you don't have to worry about the injectors spraying or the coils firing.

arcter · « **Reply #2 on:** May 13, 2010, 08:53:50 PM »

Oh okay, so doing that would basically spray the water out? Sounds like a plan, thanks Colin.

colin86325 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 13, 2010, 09:22:26 PM »

You got it.

arcter · « **Reply #4 on:** May 13, 2010, 09:50:29 PM »

By the way guys, are my main bearings doomed? I saw no coolant in the oil on Friday and didn't drive it until Tuesday, and on Tuesday I just went to a local drivethru. But admittedly I didn't check the oil before going to the drivethru. Noticed the coolant in the oil later in the day. By the way, the oil on the dipstick didn't look like chocolate milk, but there were whiteish deposits in the grooves.