Guest Posted February 9, 2000 Share Posted February 9, 2000 I read in the Nov/Dec 99 issue of Antique Automobile how a guy found an old sprint car and after discovering the engine to be seized, he poured Marvel Mystery Oil in the cylinders and down the carb. 5 minutes later, he says, the engine was free and fired.<P>Is this an advisable way to free a seized engine?? My '40 Chrysler hasn't turned over since 1979 or 1980. I don't yet know whether it is seized but of course I suspect it probably is. If I find it seized can I try this without fear of causing more damage? I would love to hear this old engine run again.<P>Cheers, 3MP<P>------------------<BR>aka Bry in Virginia<BR>40 Chrysler Royal Coupe, 4.0L I6 M3 <I>(restoration project)</I><BR>70 Dodge Charger, 5.2L V8 A3 <I>(hot rod project)</I><BR>74 Dodge 100 Adventurer, 5.2L V8 A3 <I>(works for a living)</I><P><BR> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hal Davis (MODEL A HAL) Posted February 9, 2000 Share Posted February 9, 2000 I have heard something more along the lines of 5 days vs. 5 min., but other than that, sounds reasonable. It's not gonna cure all the damage that time has caused, but I don't think it will cause any additional problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest boettger Posted February 10, 2000 Share Posted February 10, 2000 3MP, I've also heard about Marvel Mystery oil being used to unstick a siezed engine. <BR> <BR>If I had a siezed engine I would not be tempted to just pour some magic elixer in the jugs and turn.<P>I would first pull the pan to be sure that there is not something broken, then pull some bearing caps down to have a look at the bearing surfaces. Oil up every bearing surface that you can get to at that point. <P>If all seems OK there, I would pull the head or heads to hava a look.<P>Once the head or heads are off I would liberally douse the areas between the pistons and cylinder walls with a good penetrating oil like PB Blaster. Let sit a while, maybe a few days then try to turn. Once it starts to turn, liberally soak the piston tops with a light oil. Now maybe the Marvel Mystery oil. And manually turn the engine through a few cycles. <BR>I would be suspect of any pistons and rings that have been stuck in a bore for any length of time. Iron oxide is a powerful thing.<BR>Of course your mileage and success may vary.<BR>There have been many reports of just pouring something in the sparkplug hole to disolve the rust then just starting the engine. <BR>Well not in my collector car engine!<P>------------------<BR>Steve Boettger<BR>'30 DeSoto 8<BR>'59 Nash Metropolitan<BR>'23 Chevrolet Touring<P> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 11, 2000 Share Posted February 11, 2000 I THINK IT WAS HAROLD SHARRON WHO STATED IN ONE OF HIS PHILA. SEMINARS THAT"MARVEL MYSTERY OIL WAS MORE OF A MYSTERY, THAN IT WAS AN OIL" I AGREE THAT I WOULD BE NOT BE PRUDENT TO"FIRE-UP"<BR>AN ENGINE THAT HAS SET FOR A LONG TIME,WITH OUT DOING AN "EXPLORITY". A BIT OF CAUTION COULD SAVE YOU A GREAT DEAL OF EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. PHIL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 19, 2000 Share Posted February 19, 2000 Here is a good source on starting an engine that has been sitting <A HREF="http://www.efn.org/~d_morgan/running.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.efn.org/~d_morgan/running.html</A> <P>------------------<BR>Lmmax<BR><A HREF="http://1964cadillac.carsouth.com/" TARGET=_blank>Classic car web site<P>Post your Caddy parts & cars FREE!</A><P><BR> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 20, 2000 Share Posted February 20, 2000 Thanks! I bookmarked that one.<P>Cheers, 3MP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 21, 2000 Share Posted February 21, 2000 <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by 3 Mad Ponchos:<BR><B>Thanks! I bookmarked that one.<P>Cheers, 3MP</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Yes a few people put there heads together to make that,dave had so many people asking the same question, so I just refer them to his page.<P><P>------------------<BR>Lmmax<BR>!964 Cadillac & Classic car Photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 10, 2000 Share Posted March 10, 2000 If you are going to pull the engine down at all, it would be advisable to pull the pistons ,as I usually find 1 or 2 stuck rings in a situation like that!The engine will run ,but it will never be right until you free up those rings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 23, 2000 Share Posted March 23, 2000 My car had been sitting with a blown head gasket for a long time. After replacing it I had a compression of next to nothing (rings seized). Letting it sit with WD40 on the pistons for a few days it fired right up and compression was ok! (not a magic "motor-up" story) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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