Do you need an oil change? I would think not but I thought I'd ask here. My nephew has a 2004 Ford Ranger that the engine locked up. He was out of work for a while so the truck did a lot of sitting. When he got back into the work force he didn't change the oil right away since the mileage wasn't there. These Rangers are usually bulletproof so I thought I would ask here. Thanks!
If a vehicle sits for about six months...
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I think the real issue here is that the engine locked up. Please define locked up and what was done to get it running again.
Is it a sludge beast? Oil level correct? If not I would think something else caused it to lock up.
Any damage due to sitting was done on the first start. Old oil gathers moisture and acids frome use and sitting. 15$ at Malwart or Auto Zone will solve this. You mention a locked up engine. Did this happen after being revived?
Barkleymut, It lost all power on the freeway and had to be towed home. It will be looked at tomorrow morning by our mechanic who we trust to give a better idea of what happened. I had a Camry that did the exact same things and it was the engine. Roadking, the oil level was correct. I should have mentioned in my OP that it was the 4 cyl model with about 90,000 miles on it.
Originally Posted By: andyd
Any damage due to sitting was done on the first start. Old oil gathers moisture and acids frome use and sitting. 15$ at Malwart or Auto Zone will solve this. You mention a locked up engine. Did this happen after being revived?
It has been driven daily for about 3 months after the period that it was sitting.
Any damage due to sitting was done on the first start. Old oil gathers moisture and acids frome use and sitting. 15$ at Malwart or Auto Zone will solve this. You mention a locked up engine. Did this happen after being revived?
It has been driven daily for about 3 months after the period that it was sitting.
I gather from your post that the engine locked up after being returned to service.
The only way that I can think of that the engine would have locked up in storage would be if the rings rusted solidly to the bores and that wouldn't happen in six months nor even six years.
The most common cause of an engine seizing in service would be running it out of oil while driving.
Did that happen?
Not changing the oil didn't cause this failure.
The only way that I can think of that the engine would have locked up in storage would be if the rings rusted solidly to the bores and that wouldn't happen in six months nor even six years.
The most common cause of an engine seizing in service would be running it out of oil while driving.
Did that happen?
Not changing the oil didn't cause this failure.
Originally Posted By: Dan76
Barkleymut, It lost all power on the freeway and had to be towed home. It will be looked at tomorrow morning by our mechanic who we trust to give a better idea of what happened. I had a Camry that did the exact same things and it was the engine. Roadking, the oil level was correct. I should have mentioned in my OP that it was the 4 cyl model with about 90,000 miles on it.
Lost all power on the freeway?This could be any number of things, from a fuel pump to an ignition problem ,head gasket overheat etc. Could even be a faulty fuel gauge and its out of fuel. Does not sound like the op can confirm the engine is actually seized.
Barkleymut, It lost all power on the freeway and had to be towed home. It will be looked at tomorrow morning by our mechanic who we trust to give a better idea of what happened. I had a Camry that did the exact same things and it was the engine. Roadking, the oil level was correct. I should have mentioned in my OP that it was the 4 cyl model with about 90,000 miles on it.
Lost all power on the freeway?This could be any number of things, from a fuel pump to an ignition problem ,head gasket overheat etc. Could even be a faulty fuel gauge and its out of fuel. Does not sound like the op can confirm the engine is actually seized.
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you must have some kind of head gasket issue that would cause it to lock up. That's the only thing I can think of.
Most people would think "locked up" means the engine cannot turn over because of something inside the engine preventing it.
If it just lost power and rolled to the shoulder thats normally called "engine died".
Any engine CEL?
6 months is not anything to worry about for the oil. Change it at normal mileage or 1 year.
But I would add as much hightest gas to the tank as I could before I really floored it. It certainly has lost octane over 6 months of sitting.
If it just lost power and rolled to the shoulder thats normally called "engine died".
Any engine CEL?
6 months is not anything to worry about for the oil. Change it at normal mileage or 1 year.
But I would add as much hightest gas to the tank as I could before I really floored it. It certainly has lost octane over 6 months of sitting.
Originally Posted By: Donald
Most people would think "locked up" means the engine cannot turn over because of something inside the engine preventing it.
If it just lost power and rolled to the shoulder thats normally called "engine died".
Any engine CEL?
6 months is not anything to worry about for the oil. Change it at normal mileage or 1 year.
But I would add as much hightest gas to the tank as I could before I really floored it. It certainly has lost octane over 6 months of sitting.
Yes, it had a CEL as it lost power.
Most people would think "locked up" means the engine cannot turn over because of something inside the engine preventing it.
If it just lost power and rolled to the shoulder thats normally called "engine died".
Any engine CEL?
6 months is not anything to worry about for the oil. Change it at normal mileage or 1 year.
But I would add as much hightest gas to the tank as I could before I really floored it. It certainly has lost octane over 6 months of sitting.
Yes, it had a CEL as it lost power.
Originally Posted By: andyd
Any damage due to sitting was done on the first start. Old oil gathers moisture and acids frome use and sitting. 15$ at Malwart or Auto Zone will solve this. You mention a locked up engine. Did this happen after being revived?
Engine oil has additives to neutralize acid combusiton products as you already know. Unless the oil was run way past any reasonable service life, TBN would have been sufficient to neutralize any acids formed, and they are only formed in a running engine.
TBN isn't degraded nor TAN increased in an engine that isn't running.
Any moisture is evaporated out of the oil in the first drive of any decent length.
On cars that I've stored winters, I just run the thing into the garage after a good drive, put it on a battery tender and leave it alone until spring. This will typically mean that by the time I change the oil, it'll have only 3K on it.
In the spring, I'll return the car to service and change the oil after maybe 200-300 miles.
Never had a problem in doing this.
I don't think that the OP's engine problems are related to the oil.
Any damage due to sitting was done on the first start. Old oil gathers moisture and acids frome use and sitting. 15$ at Malwart or Auto Zone will solve this. You mention a locked up engine. Did this happen after being revived?
Engine oil has additives to neutralize acid combusiton products as you already know. Unless the oil was run way past any reasonable service life, TBN would have been sufficient to neutralize any acids formed, and they are only formed in a running engine.
TBN isn't degraded nor TAN increased in an engine that isn't running.
Any moisture is evaporated out of the oil in the first drive of any decent length.
On cars that I've stored winters, I just run the thing into the garage after a good drive, put it on a battery tender and leave it alone until spring. This will typically mean that by the time I change the oil, it'll have only 3K on it.
In the spring, I'll return the car to service and change the oil after maybe 200-300 miles.
Never had a problem in doing this.
I don't think that the OP's engine problems are related to the oil.
Originally Posted By: spasm3
Originally Posted By: Dan76
Barkleymut, It lost all power on the freeway and had to be towed home. It will be looked at tomorrow morning by our mechanic who we trust to give a better idea of what happened. I had a Camry that did the exact same things and it was the engine. Roadking, the oil level was correct. I should have mentioned in my OP that it was the 4 cyl model with about 90,000 miles on it.
Lost all power on the freeway?This could be any number of things, from a fuel pump to an ignition problem ,head gasket overheat etc. Could even be a faulty fuel gauge and its out of fuel. Does not sound like the op can confirm the engine is actually seized.
I know it's not out off fuel as it has just been fueled up. Fuel pump is something I had not thought of, hopefully that will be it.
Originally Posted By: Dan76
Barkleymut, It lost all power on the freeway and had to be towed home. It will be looked at tomorrow morning by our mechanic who we trust to give a better idea of what happened. I had a Camry that did the exact same things and it was the engine. Roadking, the oil level was correct. I should have mentioned in my OP that it was the 4 cyl model with about 90,000 miles on it.
Lost all power on the freeway?This could be any number of things, from a fuel pump to an ignition problem ,head gasket overheat etc. Could even be a faulty fuel gauge and its out of fuel. Does not sound like the op can confirm the engine is actually seized.
I know it's not out off fuel as it has just been fueled up. Fuel pump is something I had not thought of, hopefully that will be it.
The problem is not likely oil related...
The moisture/acid buildup while setting is mostly hogwash, yet it's something that continues to perpetuate here on BITOG... Any moisture would be boiled off first time the engine is up to temp, and unless it was already past due for a change, the TBN will neutralize any of the imaginary acids that have built up...
I have summer toys that won't get changed but every two or three years and have no issues...
The moisture/acid buildup while setting is mostly hogwash, yet it's something that continues to perpetuate here on BITOG... Any moisture would be boiled off first time the engine is up to temp, and unless it was already past due for a change, the TBN will neutralize any of the imaginary acids that have built up...
I have summer toys that won't get changed but every two or three years and have no issues...
Originally Posted By: Dan76
Originally Posted By: spasm3
Originally Posted By: Dan76
Barkleymut, It lost all power on the freeway and had to be towed home. It will be looked at tomorrow morning by our mechanic who we trust to give a better idea of what happened. I had a Camry that did the exact same things and it was the engine. Roadking, the oil level was correct. I should have mentioned in my OP that it was the 4 cyl model with about 90,000 miles on it.
Lost all power on the freeway?This could be any number of things, from a fuel pump to an ignition problem ,head gasket overheat etc. Could even be a faulty fuel gauge and its out of fuel. Does not sound like the op can confirm the engine is actually seized.
I know it's not out off fuel as it has just been fueled up. Fuel pump is something I had not thought of, hopefully that will be it.
Let us know what you find out.
Originally Posted By: spasm3
Originally Posted By: Dan76
Barkleymut, It lost all power on the freeway and had to be towed home. It will be looked at tomorrow morning by our mechanic who we trust to give a better idea of what happened. I had a Camry that did the exact same things and it was the engine. Roadking, the oil level was correct. I should have mentioned in my OP that it was the 4 cyl model with about 90,000 miles on it.
Lost all power on the freeway?This could be any number of things, from a fuel pump to an ignition problem ,head gasket overheat etc. Could even be a faulty fuel gauge and its out of fuel. Does not sound like the op can confirm the engine is actually seized.
I know it's not out off fuel as it has just been fueled up. Fuel pump is something I had not thought of, hopefully that will be it.
Let us know what you find out.
We have a whole fleet of these 4 cylinder Rangers at my work. If it just completely died going down the freeway, it's almost a sure bet that the timing belt broke.
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