Hydra Lock and its problems

[uglymug]

Hi , might have the chance of buying a cheap Merc but it is suffering from Hydra Lock, the ingestion of water into the engine. Worst case scenario is an engine swap, but ! if not could this phenomenon cause there to be a bent con-rod, enough water to pressurise in the bore. Anyone ever done this before and what to look out for .........................thanks

[BritishRacinGrin]

It could've done a multitude of damage, from bent conrods to blown head gaskets, stripped head bolt threads, holed pistons, bore damage from running whilst the oil was contaminated etc etc. The only sensible course of action is normally a replacement engine, so you should work on the basis that a replacement engine will be required.

[littleredrooster]

If it's ingested water into the engine, there's a possibility it will be in the gearbox too.

If it's been in deep water, the rapid cooling effect makes the box suck in air through the gearbox breather. If it too is under water, it swallows it!

An acquaintance rebuilt his Peugeot engine after a hydro-lock only to have the box fail shortly afterwards.

[interloper]

Strangely there has been a lot of this lately!

Obviously the engine may well be toast, as stated it can bend con rods but also it can break rods which can do permanent damage.

Its best to give the gearbox and diff an oil change as they can take in water, its also a good idea to drop and empty the fuel tank as the breather can pick up water. You might as well blow out the fuel pipes as well just in case.

In short its not necessarily the kiss of death for a car but you need to go in with your eyes open.