How quick could engine seize without oil?
Discussion
Got an awful feeling about this.Changed the oil in my old Jaguar 420.Started it up fine but luckily it normally stalls quite quickly first couple of times you try to start it(runs for about 6 seconds),third time it usually starts.This time the third time i tried the starter made a horrendous noise,like it was grating against the flywheel!Had a look down the engine and couldn't believe it,huge puddle of new oil on the deck,instantly i remembered there was one circlip from the pump to the sump i hadn't tightened(interrupted by phone call)Anyway,my heart sank as i thought with this starter noise,and oil on the deck my first thought was it had seized and starter obviously couldn't turn the engine/flywheel.
Thought about knocking the starter motor incase it had jammed,whole starter body moved!!!Common problem starters coming loose on old cars but it had slackened in about 10 times of starting the car!!.Anyway i'm now hoping the starter tightened up the car will turn over,but,what are the chances it could have seized with the oil getting pumped on the deck,in that approximate 12 seconds of idling time??It's an automatic,i thought if i stuck it in drive with engine off,rocked the car the pulleys would move but no??I can rock the car back and forward a little in the limited space in my garage,but i really thought pulleys would move with the rocking?
Thought about knocking the starter motor incase it had jammed,whole starter body moved!!!Common problem starters coming loose on old cars but it had slackened in about 10 times of starting the car!!.Anyway i'm now hoping the starter tightened up the car will turn over,but,what are the chances it could have seized with the oil getting pumped on the deck,in that approximate 12 seconds of idling time??It's an automatic,i thought if i stuck it in drive with engine off,rocked the car the pulleys would move but no??I can rock the car back and forward a little in the limited space in my garage,but i really thought pulleys would move with the rocking?
Very slim chance it'll of seized
When I was an apprentice, a few times (I'm sorry to admit), I forgot to put oil in and started cars, I even know one guy who did about 2 miles with no oil in - the oil light came on and he instantly turned it off after remembering! A fill of oil, and all was well
I'd go with the loose starter tbh, from the symptoms you've described
When I was an apprentice, a few times (I'm sorry to admit), I forgot to put oil in and started cars, I even know one guy who did about 2 miles with no oil in - the oil light came on and he instantly turned it off after remembering! A fill of oil, and all was well
I'd go with the loose starter tbh, from the symptoms you've described
I doubt 12 seconds of idling would have killed it - there would be a film of oil on the bearings that should have provided a little protection, and presumably not all of the oil is on the driveway.
to make certain, pull the sparkplugs (so you don't have to fight the compression) and then try to turn it by hand.
to make certain, pull the sparkplugs (so you don't have to fight the compression) and then try to turn it by hand.
I have owned many classic cars over the years. I doubt you will have seized the engine given the short runs after starting. Fill it up make sure everything is ok and try again. If the starter has dislocates relocate it and see if the car turns over. Items do unfit themselves on classics but this much movement this quickly suggests to me the starter was never really correctly fitted.
If the car runs ok breath a sigh of relief. Make a mental note to check and recheck connections in future. All to easy to not refit sump plugs etc with potentially disastrous results. I do hope it turns out OK.
If the car runs ok breath a sigh of relief. Make a mental note to check and recheck connections in future. All to easy to not refit sump plugs etc with potentially disastrous results. I do hope it turns out OK.
A little oil goes a long long way.
It would be some pump to dump all your oil in 12 secs, so I reckon there would still have been plenty in the sump. So long as you had a couple of litres left and given the car wasn't moving or revving highly then I recon the pickups would see plenty of oil and the engine will never know that some spilled out.
I'd just tighten the starter and turn the key.
It would be some pump to dump all your oil in 12 secs, so I reckon there would still have been plenty in the sump. So long as you had a couple of litres left and given the car wasn't moving or revving highly then I recon the pickups would see plenty of oil and the engine will never know that some spilled out.
I'd just tighten the starter and turn the key.
As others have posted there's very little chance that you will have done any significant damage and I'm sure it won't be seized.
On an old Ford V4 the oil pump drive shaft failed and I drove it a further 8 miles with the oil pressure reading zero before it seized and we coasted into a pub car park
Apart from a new oil pump drive all that was needed was a set of big end and main bearings.
On an old Ford V4 the oil pump drive shaft failed and I drove it a further 8 miles with the oil pressure reading zero before it seized and we coasted into a pub car park
Apart from a new oil pump drive all that was needed was a set of big end and main bearings.
As a kid I used to work in the local scrap yard.... we would drain an engine of oil, put a brick on the throttle pedal and start the engine up....
you will be amazed how long they run for, even at full revs!
on a side note, we also used to take the air filter off... start the engine with a brick on the throttle, or jamb it open, and when it was going full chat, throw a bucket of water over the engine!
I have seen cylinder heads hit the underside of the bonnet!
you will be amazed how long they run for, even at full revs!
on a side note, we also used to take the air filter off... start the engine with a brick on the throttle, or jamb it open, and when it was going full chat, throw a bucket of water over the engine!
I have seen cylinder heads hit the underside of the bonnet!
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