98 camry v6 engine seize

[vracar]

My 98 Camry V6 engine suddenly seized. It has 200k. Crankshaft can't rotate at all, like welded. I just started on green traffic light, it was low rpm and speed when I heard screaming and engine died immediately. Not possible to crank. Not possible to rotate by any tool in the garage.
What happened? Is it fixable or not? Service told me I need to replace engine!?

[PortugalFocus]

If you can not turn the engine by hand, there is most likely catastrophic failure.

Possible low oil pressure and lubrication to rod bearings, broken oil pump, broken crank, hole in the side of the block, there can be many things that can cause an engine to fail. Heat is the #1 killer though. Whether it is lack of oil to keep the rotating assembly cool, or coolant to keep the engine cool, what ever it was, if the engine can not dissipate heat in a timely fashion, death is imminent.

[Manny1337]

sorry to hear about your loss

[SamKT]

That engine's probably sludged up?

[vracar]

Oil was just replaced three days ago, at the filter too. There was no oil lekeage, the engine is clean outside like new. I've check oil level and it was OK. I was surprized with oil color, it was bright like not used at all, 200 to 300 km after change. Themperature was normal.

[xtremeskier97]

Originally Posted by vracar

.... I was surprized with oil color, it was bright like not used at all, 200 to 300 km after change....

uhh...bright?! No oil Ive ever seen, new OR used, would I consider 'bright'. Are you sure you didnt put ATF in the Oil?

[vracar]

Oil was bright as from store. I was expecting a little dirt from old oil remains. No chance it was wrong oil. I am changing oil always in the same garage where I stay beside the car all the time.

[hill8570]

If you're lucky, the water pump seized up, and it's preventing everything else from turning. Wouldn't be all that near the top of my list of possibilities, but it's one of the few that holds out hope of salvaging the engine.

[Hajoca]

Water pump seizeing would explain screaming sound.

[SamKT]

Remove the timing belt cover and have a look. If it's a seized water pump it will be easy to tell.

However, the pump is driven off the back (flat side) of the belt; therefore, you should still be able to turn it but with great difficulty?

[hill8570]

Originally Posted by SamKT

However, the pump is driven off the back (flat side) of the belt; therefore, you should still be able to turn it but with great difficulty?

Maybe with great, great difficulty. I've seen seized water pumps cause timing belts to get stripped of teeth or outright snapped -- takes a good bit of force to do that.

[500KCamry]

Originally Posted by SamKT

Remove the timing belt cover and have a look. If it's a seized water pump it will be easy to tell.

However, the pump is driven off the back (flat side) of the belt; therefore, you should still be able to turn it but with great difficulty?

Like he says, with the V6, the back of the belt drives the pump. It should be possible to turn the crank shaft with a siezed pump.

While the timing belt cover is off, why not take the belt off and check the cams and crank for ease of movement separately.

[samarai912]

I bet one of your rods caps failed and is in there crooked pinned agianst the one next to it. hard to tell unless we're there. either way your looking at a lot of fun later fixing it.

[ShotgunCheeks]

You see kids thats what happens when you dont stay on top of oil changes.

[95WhiteCamry]

^^ he just said he changed the oil a few days ago.

good luck on the repairs, and keep us posted!