Frozen Engine

[Jim@sea]

A few years ago I came across an engine where the starter motor just would not turn the engine over, obviously the battery was checked but OK, the starter was checked but OK, you then think that the engine had seized, but I had heard it running, you check the antifreeze, OK. What had happened was that the engine oil in the sump had frozen. So if your engine does not start dont jump to conclusions, pull the dipstick.

 

[coliholic]

That must have been a tad chilly 'cos the freezing point of Mobile 1 Engine Oil (15W30) is -55 C. Last thing I'd be thinking of in those temps is going boating.

 

[Jim@sea]

This was a vehicle which was parked at my garage for a body repair and was parked outside for at least a month before we could get round to it and the chances are that the engine oil had probably not been changed for a couple of years and was the cheap stuff. As regards Mobile Engine Oil, This is supposed to be the best of the best, a friend who has connections to the military says that the US Army uses Mobile engine oil in the Arctic Circle so I am trying to get some.

 

[Seajet]

I heard a lot of vehicles in Arctic type places had plug-in electric sump heaters for overnight...also some piston engined aircraft drain the hot oil after landing, then refill it warmed up the next day ( probably worth some big red writing on the check-list ! )

 

[PetiteFleur]

I heard a lot of vehicles in Arctic type places had plug-in electric sump heaters for overnight...also some piston engined aircraft drain the hot oil after landing, then refill it warmed up the next day ( probably worth some big red writing on the check-list ! )

When my sister was living in Winnipeg, Canada her car was fitted with a sump heater as standard - used in the winter even though the car was garaged.

 

[mont]

FWIW
RE: Using 'new' style oils.
There was an article a couple of years back in, I think, pbo about using 'modern' high detergent oils in engines.
The basics were :-
that some pretty modern engines are actually designed for pretty basic 'old' type oils. There were serious warnings that these 'modern' high detergent engine oils can end up wrecking some seemingly 'modern' engines.
You / your 'engineer' might think your doing the best you can for the engine but actually heading for an early major failure.

Best very carefully use the detailed specified grade was the recommend unless ££££'s.