Engine not cranking over why?

HELEN CRAIG

MEMBER
1989 BUICK CENTURY
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
32,224 MILES

It has always run great (was my mother's car) up until
a couple of months ago. I tried to start it one morning and the motor would try to turn over but wouldn't. I had it checked and was told the motor had locked up but was asked if it made a clunking noise or anything when driving it before which it didn't. When the mechanic checked it out oil was running out where the dip stick was like it had too
much oil. It had been almost six months since oil was changed and I had checked it since then and it wasn't.

I would like to get your opinion as to why the motor
would have locked up and why with low mileage like it has (32,224) miles. Could the mechanic possibly be wrong about it?

2 Replies

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,938 POSTS

Hi there, the engine may be hydraulically locked, that is fluid is in the cylinder stopping the engine from turning over, what you should do first is drain the oil checking for contaminants such as petrol or coolant, remove the spark plugs and turn the engine over checking for any fluid in the cylinder, just don't have anyone stand in front as the fluid if there will be ejected with force, check for coolant loose as well, re fill sump and run engine, see what this does, with out having the car to inspect I can only think that it is coolant filling up the sump. Start here with the diagnostics and re post any further findings.

Mark (mhpautos)