Engine seized... should I take an oil sample?

[Texan4Life]

My dad has a 1988 oldsmobile cutlass ciera and on the way home it went rattle, rattle, clank, BANG, engine seized.

It was about 6 months ago and had been sitting since. I had some time off was thinking of dropping the oil pan to see what happened.

Out of curiosity should I take an oil sample? if so, what is the best way to take a even/accurate sample in this situation?

 

[SLCraig]

I really wouldn't bother with a sample if it were me, but I would take the pan off or whatever and try to see what happened. Curiosity would win over me on that one.

 

[lexus114]

what motor is in it? the 2.5 4 cyl.,or 3.8,2.8,3.1 V-6?

 

[Texan4Life]

Originally Posted By: lexus114
what motor is in it? the 2.5 4 cyl.,or 3.8,2.8,3.1 V-6?


Edit: 2.8L v6

 

[daman]

Originally Posted By: Texan4Life
it went rattle, rattle, clank, BANG,

Sounds like a bearing then rod went south.

 

[The_Jeff]

What would it prove?

If a rod let go the chunks would be too big to measure.

However if, say, the timing chain guides wore down to metal, you'd get an over the top result.

Either way, the car's a chicken coop until you get it repowered, except you're out a few more bucks for the UOA.

 

[Loobed]

Originally Posted By: Texan4Life


Out of curiosity should I take an oil sample? if so, what is the best way to take a even/accurate sample in this situation?


It would be like giving a blood test to a dead person. You could find out something useful, but you can't save the engine. The only thing I can think of that a used oil analysis might be good for is to find coolant in your oil, but if you will be rebuilding the entire motor, it wouldn't matter, and you should be able to see brown goo in your oil if a coolant leak caused the problem.

 

[aquariuscsm]

What kind`ve oil and filter were you using when it happened?

 

[Texan4Life]

Originally Posted By: Loobed
Originally Posted By: Texan4Life


Out of curiosity should I take an oil sample? if so, what is the best way to take a even/accurate sample in this situation?


It would be like giving a blood test to a dead person. You could find out something useful, but you can't save the engine. The only thing I can think of that a used oil analysis might be good for is to find coolant in your oil, but if you will be rebuilding the entire motor, it wouldn't matter, and you should be able to see brown goo in your oil if a coolant leak caused the problem.


LOL, true. Just wondering was a catastrophic failure looks like on paper...

When I pulled the dipstick today, I wiped it into my hand and it had about 5 metallic bits. I never have sent in a sample with visible metal bits before. lol.

Quote:
What kind`ve oil and filter were you using when it happened?


It had Super Tech Full Synthetic 5w30 with an new old stock (about 14 yrs IIRC) Group 7 oil filter.

It was about 6k into the OCI.

This was before I took over family OCIs. And the engine had a diet of SuperTech Full Synthetic, and it usually went 8-12k miles per OCI.

It used oil, There were a few instances that the reminder to add oil was when going around a corner the oil pressure light would come on.

 

[dparm]

I have a feeling the sample will be too contaminated to be worthwhile.

 

[demarpaint]

I wouldn't waste the money, but if you do, don't mention the engine blew.

 

[hooligan24]

break a timing chain? have you tried turning the motor manualy?