how can I unseize my transit engine without causing anymore damage?

Question

I recently purchased a 1999 transit 2.5 di with a genuine 80k on the clock. All seemed fine, oil level was on the max mark on the dip stick, no serious smoke or rattles. A couple of days ago the oil pressure light came on when I started it then went out again, half a mile down the road it came back on and the van slowed down to a stop as if the ignition had been turned off. The engine has seized but not suddenly i.e. wheels locking up at speed but at less than 30 mph and not even a mile from home. I'm hoping this means any damage will be minimal.
I removed the plug from the sump (bucket ready) but nothing came out eventually I got some wire in the hole and managed to coax a bit of oil out or maybe bovril ? im not sure which but its reluctant to come out, its that thick! Last night I put the plug back in and poured 2 litres of white spirit in the oil filler to thin the stuff for removal & sprayed penetrating oil down each cylinder. My question is should I continue or is it knackered

Answer 1

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but sounds like your motor is trashed. It may be salvageable though because the failure wasn't catastrophic (thrown rod/spun bearing). Must be a tough motor. The only way to tell what damage was done is to have a mechanic take it apart.

Answer 2

You are going to want to empty all of the fluid out of the block. Pour in a couple of ounces of brake fluid into each cylinder. Let it sit over night and they try to rotate the motor by hand tools the next day. Make sure to disconnect the battery first. A couple of turns and everything will start moving. Drain the fluids again. They you will be able to remove the motor and inspect it to see what happened. You may be able to put new oil and filter to the motor and be back on the road. Chances are it was the oil pump or the oil was bad to start with. Remove the oil pan and inspect the oil pickup tube. That should do it.

Answer 3

It does not sound like the pistons seized but the connecting rods and main bearings seized from lack of oil. You would be better to rebuild it or find a running used engine.