How Do I Get Oil Out Of The Cylinders?

[Dee 33]

Hey guys.

A while back my car flipped and landed on it's roof. I couldn't get it started so thought it must have seized up but a mechanic told me that if the car was left upside for a while that there's a chance the cylinders could have filled with oil causing hydraulic lock preventing the engine from being able to turn over.

I managed to get down to the spark plugs this morning and pulled them out and lo and behold, the plugs are covered in oil so it looks like the mechanic was right and my engine isn't seized up which is a good thing.

At this point, I'm kinda stuck as to where to go from here. Would the spark plugs be ok if I just washed them with some degreaser? They're the NGK Iridium ones and they're pretty new and appear to be in good condition. Also, how the hell am I meant to get the oil out of the cylinders? Can I try cranking the engine over and the oil will come out the spark plugs and I clean it from there? Should I manually rotate the engine (push the car while in gear) rather than cranking it to be safe? Will a little oil be ok and burn off as long as I get rid of the bulk?

Any help would be great. I really want to get it running so I can sell the wreck as a working item.

Cheers, Drew.

[djr81]

Would the spark plugs be ok if I just washed them with some degreaser? They're the NGK Iridium ones and they're pretty new and appear to be in good condition.

Should be ok, yes.

Also, how the hell am I meant to get the oil out of the cylinders? Can I try cranking the engine over and the oil will come out the spark plugs and I clean it from there? Should I manually rotate the engine (push the car while in gear) rather than cranking it to be safe?

Pull the plugs & rotate the motor by hand. This will get most of the oil out. Then get a pipette or similar for the rest.

Will a little oil be ok and burn off as long as I get rid of the bulk?

A little, yes.

Make sure you check the sump for pick up & bearing metal. If it was running belly up there is a fair chance you have starved the bottom end of oil & the motor won't be long for this world....

[Guilt-Toy]

i would try putting some petrol in the cyl and put a rag over the spark plug hole and turn the engine over with the key to try and spit all the oil out of the cyl into the rag...

cleaning the plugs should be ok.. clean them in petrol

btw hydrolic lock can break conrods.. seen it happen before.

[Dee 33]

Thanks for the help fellas.

However, I can't see how to rotate the engine by hand. Am I just meant to force one of the many round cogs on the front of the engine? There are several there and I can't see an easy way to spin one of them.

As for checking for screwed bearings, good idea. The engine was running for about a minute or so upside before it conked out, I'm hoping due to running out of petrol with an upside down tank and not because it rooted itself.

Cheers.

[SECURITY]

yep. pull ALL the spark plugs out and crank it, make sure you disconnect the injector loom so you dont get any more liquid into there. when you're sure its all cleaned out then plug the injector loom back in.

a suggestion to getting the oil out, ive never tried it but it kinda popped into my head as i was typing..

grab one of those kitchen detergents with the removable lids, shove the feed into the bore and pump it into a bottle.

goodluck

[kyle785]

i would take all the plugs out wind it over and let it spit the oil out but just be aware when you start the eng there will be a bit of smoke coming out the back untill all the oil is burnt and as said clean the plug in some petrol and they will be fine

[DVS JEZ]

if you need to turn the motor over by hand then on the biggest of the pulleys(crank pulley) there will be a bolt, think its 1 1/4 inch and a breaker bar from under the car and turn it clock wise. make sure you check the dipstick to see if there is still oil in the sump before you start it, disconnect the crank angle sensor which is found on the top front of motor near top of fan,

good luck

[sinistaGTR]

or if you know how...pull the head off

[Godzilla32]

lol i think thats a bit over kill, there is plenty you can do before taking it to that step.

Take out all the plugs and get a rag to cover all the plug holes then after disconnecting the ignitor crank it over till it most of the oil spits out of the plug holes into the rags. Might be an idea to get a booster battery as the battery will go flat after awhile of cranking. After you got most of the oil out make sure you got a sump full of oil and put the plugs back in and try to start it. Dont forget to connect the ignitor again.

Good luck.

[StockyMcStock]

if it ran for 1 minute upside down, you will have bearing damage for sure. even if it was idling for 60 seconds, you would lose all oil pressure after 5 seconds and the rest would be destroying the bearings.

try everything listed above, but don't be surprised if it has bottom end noise or very quickly develops it. it may already be totally rooted.

[dead32]

p.s i wouldnt pump petrol down the bore...

[markimak]

ok someone prob beat me to it im not gonna read all the post but this is what i would do.

unplug ur fuel pump..

disconnect ur ignitor.

crank it over.

just keep cranking.. it will work.

then drain oil

new filter

new plugs

connect pump

crank car for a bit

connect ignitor

and crank somemore.

should start.

[Richmond98]

Dont be too stressed when ya get it going if if blows a shit load of smoke. But yeah it should clear up quickly though.