Locked-up Engine: How to Unseize and What’s the Cost?

Your car’s longevity relies heavily on regular maintenance, such as, for example, changing your oil after 3000 miles. It can make a huge difference and help you avoid unnecessary repairs. If you cannot do this regularly, it will cause engine problems, with a complete replacement being the only option in most cases. If you don’t do this regular maintenance, in one of the worst-case scenarios, you’ll try to start your car one day, and you’ll find that your motor locked up. This is also called an engine seizure. 

So what is engine seizure? What causes an engine to seize? If you’re asking these questions, it might be too late for you. If you’re googling these questions, your next question is probably can a locked engine be fixed? And how much does it cost? Read to find out how to unseize an engine that has run out of oil.

What Is a Seized Engine? How to Tell an Engine Is Locked Up?

Engine seizure happens when your car won’t start, but electronics like the AC and radio are still working. This means your engine is locked due to overheating or lack of engine oil. Loud clanking sound and white emission smoke are signs before your engine locks up. 

What happens if your car's engine locks up while you're driving? You’ll hear a clanking noise from the engine, and then the vehicle will stop on its own. Engine damage can range from minor to severe, mainly due to the lack of lubrication. Sometimes an engine seizes up due to mechanical failure even if it’s parked and not running.

You may have trouble starting your car or hear knocking sounds while driving. Once you hear this sound, the vehicle will stop moving. If the car hasn’t been used for a while, the piston rings get stuck to the cylinders. So if you attempt to start the car, it won’t move because it has accumulated rust.

You can try to fix a frozen engine. However, fixing a car with a seized engine can be very expensive, costing thousands of dollars. Can a locked engine be fixed? Well, it can, but it’s very expensive. A seized engine repair cost will cost you in the thousands of dollars! If your car isn’t worth more than the cost of the repairs, your best bet is to sell it to a reputable junk car buyer like JunkCarsUs. If you want to get rid of your junk car, you’re in luck because we buy cars with blown engines. 

What Causes an Engine to Seize?

Before you can unlock a motor, you must understand the potential causes. Different things may lead to the engine being locked up. Common causes include:

Reduced amount of oil

If the amount of oil in the engine is insufficient, it causes the engine to overheat. The oil in the motor acts as a layer that separates the piston and cylinder, thus preventing friction and overheating. This will cause the different components to melt, ultimately leading to permanent engine damage. A regular oil change should help you avoid a seized engine.

Water in the engine

A flooded engine contains less air, making it difficult for the pistons to work. This can happen if you drive through a flood or puddles. When a large amount of water enters the cylinders, the motor will be locked up immediately. In this case, a complete engine replacement may be the only option.

Build-up of rust

Rust can accumulate when a car is not used for a long time. Also, when small amounts of water enter the engine, rust may build up over time. This will cause seized motors whenever you try to start the car. Rust can also originate in your fuel tank, which is why you should have it looked at regularly. The same goes for your fuel filter. If you have an older car, you might want to get your fuel tank inspected to make sure no rust is developing in there. If there is, you’ll want to replace it or at least make sure your fuel filter is of high quality. This will do its best to prevent rust from being transported in your gasoline from the fuel tank to the engine. 

Failure of oil to circulate

Oil is a critical component of your engine that maintains its ability to run. If oil isn’t circulating, it can cause the motor to seize. Metal on metal parts need lubrication to run, and if they aren’t lubricated, it’s a good way to cause a seized engine. Oil is as necessary for the proper running of a car as using transmission fluid is necessary for the transmission to work. 

If this happens to your engine, it’s best to get a trusted mechanic to check your oil pump. If it has failed, oil won’t circulate and may be the cause of your seized engine. Luckily, if this hasn’t been going on too long, your engine may be salvageable. Replacing your oil pump and making sure oil is properly circulating is one of the cheaper ways of how to fix a locked-up motor. 

Two ways to recognize an oil pump failure is if you notice your engine overheating or the oil pressure gauge may be reading much lower than it should. 

Damaged parts of the engine

The piston, cylinder, or any other part of an engine can become faulty. If this happens, the car will not start. Although this is the least common cause, it can still cause you trouble, especially when you least expect it. Getting a mechanic to inspect your engine regularly can help you prevent this.

Vapor lock

Vapor lock is a rare cause of the engine seizing up. It occurs when the motor becomes too hot, causing the diesel to be converted to gas. Engines cannot handle this gas.

An indication that this has happened is when the engine starts sputtering and then stops working. It commonly occurs in old cars that have been left in the sun for long periods.

What Are Some Common Seized Engine Symptoms?

What are some seized engine symptoms that you can look out for? Here are a few to focus your attention on:

Loud knocking or cranking sound

A seized engine sounds like something that is cranking against another object. This is one of the first indications that something is wrong. This sound occurs as a result of reduced amounts of oil. So there is friction when the starter hits the flywheel. Over time, the sounds will become louder.

Smoke

When the car fails to start, you may see smoke and fumes. Sometimes you may see fire coming out of the engine. If any of these happen, you can be 100% sure that the motor is locked up.

Oil light on

An engine that is locked will prevent oil from circulating properly. Once this happens, the engine control unit will indicate something is wrong. This, in turn, will activate the engine oil warning light on the dashboard.

Visible piston

When engine seizure occurs, the different components become loose. As you attempt to start the engine, the loose components will lodge into other parts. This makes the piston visible.

Failure of the car to start or accelerate

If you try to start your car, and it won’t turn over, you should consider seized motors as the cause. A car that won’t start clearly indicates that something is wrong with the engine. However, it is infrequent for a vehicle to fail to start without the other symptoms, such as a loud cranking sound or fumes coming out of the engine.

Seized Engine Vs. Bad Starter

Often, a seized engine can be confused for a bad starter. It is important to diagnose the problem correctly since the solution for these problems is different. A locked-up starter may also produce the same symptoms as a frozen engine.

Mechanics can differentiate between the two by manually rotating the crankshaft. Doing this helps eliminate the starter as the cause of engine problems. When the crankshaft can be rotated manually, the likely source of the issue is the starter. If the crankshaft cannot be moved, the starter is removed, and another attempt is made.

Luckily, if it’s the starter that’s broken, replacing it is one of the cheaper ways on how to fix a locked-up engine. If it’s not the starter and the crankshaft cannot be moved, it’s almost certain that you have a locked-up engine, and the repair cost will be incredibly high. 

How to Unlock a Seized Engine

Now that you know the causes of a locked engine, you may wonder how to fix a seized engine. A seized engine fix can be possible depending on the cause. The bad news is that it is nearly impossible to free a seized engine due to a lack of oil. If that is the case, releasing a stuck engine may mean that you have to replace different parts and, in worst cases, the entire motor. Lack of oil leads to permanent damage to the elements of an engine. As a last resort, you may have to salvage your car or sell it to a junk car buyer.

If the engine is seizing up because of vapor, you will have to let it cool for some time. This allows the gas to convert back into a liquid. Another option is to splash some water on the fuel pump. If an engine is frozen because of water, you may have to pay for a replacement.

If you have an engine seized from sitting for too long, there may be too much rust. It is difficult to fix this without spending a lot of money. If most parts are rusted, then repairing won’t work. You will have to get a new engine for your car. If you approach a mechanic as soon as you notice problems, you may be able to salvage your engine.

How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Seized Engine?

So, how much does it cost to fix a seized engine? The cost of repairing a frozen motor is very high. How much the mechanic charges depends on the cause. You might be better off selling your car than trying to free up a stuck engine.

If you want to rebuild the engine, it may cost you about $3,000-$5,000. In situations where the only solution is engine replacement, you may spend $5,000-$10,000. In both cases, the engine will be broken down, and damaged parts will be replaced. The worst part is that insurance doesn’t cover these issues.

Fixing a locked engine will cost between $2,500 and $4,000, including parts and labor. This engine repair might range from replacing bearings and seals to major engine block repairs. If the repair cost is too high, you might opt for an engine replacement.

What to Do If the Price for Seized Engine Repair Is Too High

If you’re googling how to unlock an engine, chances are it’s already too late. Your best bet at this point is to sell the car. Otherwise, you will have to spend a lot of cash trying to repair or replace the engine. It is wiser to get extra cash than to have additional expenses. JunkCarsUs is the most trustworthy junk car buyer all across the US, and with our top dollar instant offer, you can turn an unwanted junk car with a seized engine into a pocket full of cash!

At JunkCarsUs, we buy cars with mechanical problems, including catastrophic ones like having a seized motor. We also buy damaged, wrecked, burned, and even totaled cars!

With over 12 years of experience in the junk car buying industry, selling your car to JunkCarsUs is as easy as 1, 2, 3! Let’s take a look.

1. Contact us! Get in touch with us by calling (855) 547-1550 or filling out an online application. Give us the necessary information about your car—the year, the make, the model, the mileage, and the condition of your vehicle—and we’ll give you our top dollar instant offer on the spot. 
2. Accept our offer! JunkCarsUs has the highest price guarantee on every junk car we buy, including yours! This means you know you’ll sleep easy knowing you got the most amount of money for your junk car when you work with us. There are absolutely no hidden fees when you sell us your junk car. And this includes…
3. Free towing. When you give us the location of the car and the best time for us to pick it up, one of our trusted tow truck drivers will show up on time and safely tow the vehicle from your property. Not without giving you a fistful of cash first, though! And if you’re in a rush to get rid of your junk car, we even offer same-day services in most cases!

It really is that easy! And if you’re wondering about paperwork, we have that covered, too. Our knowledgeable customer service representatives know exactly what information to put where. So when you give us the details over the phone to get your offer, we’ll take that same information and fill out all the necessary forms. That means all you have to do is sign on the dot, and paperwork is done!

So don’t waste your time or money trying to fix your seized engine car; chances are it’s already too late, and it will cost thousands of dollars to fix. Give us a call at (855) 547-1550 or fill out an online application to turn that repair bill into cash in your hand.  

Is There a Way to Prevent a Car Engine from Seizing Up?

The good news is that you can prevent an engine from seizing. This is way cheaper than trying to unfreeze a motor that won’t start. It all boils down to carrying regular maintenance on your vehicle. The key is to change your oil regularly. That is because no oil in the engine is the leading cause for an engine to be locked. 

Avoid driving through puddles as this will cause water damage to your engine. Try to lock your engine if there is a flood so that water doesn’t enter it. Another way to prevent engine seizure is by not leaving the car in the sun for long periods. Also, try to use your vehicle as much as possible to prevent rust from accumulating within the engine. 

In any case, stay attentive to what is happening to your vehicle. Listen for strange sounds or smoke coming out of the engine. Once you notice any problem, call mechanics right away. Fixing the problem early on can save you a lot of money. If it is too late to prevent a seized engine, you can sell your car for cash to JunkCarsUs!

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