Engine seized up (2017 2.0 TDi)

[GregorSamsa]

So my wife was driving our 2017 Superb Combi 2.0 TDi home the other day, when it suddenly cut out going up a hill. She tried starting it again, and while the starter motor would turn over, there was nothing from the engine at all. Bit of drama, because it was on a busy rural Irish road in a dangerous spot. Luckily some passers-by stopped and helped direct traffic around her. She called her breakdown assist, and got the car towed to his garage. 

 

On the roadside, he suspected injectors or "a diesel issue", but when he got it back and inspected it properly, he now says that the engine seized up due to lack of oil. I did get an oil level warning light come on one time last year, but I topped it up and it never came on again. The car was then serviced in a Skoda dealers in December 2022, and last time I checked the oil was probably 2 months ago, and it was fine. Like I said, no oil level or oil pressure light came on before this incident. 

 

So now the car needs and engine swap. He's looking for a donor engine now. 

 

Just wondering, has anyone come across this before? Engine failure due to lack of oil with no warning whatsoever? 

[Liger1956]

I am confused. You said that the starter motor would turn over but the "mechanic" says that the engine is seized!

If the engine was seized then, in my opinion, the starter motor would not be able to turn it.

[GregorSamsa]

2 hours ago, Liger1956 said:

I am confused. You said that the starter motor would turn over but the "mechanic" says that the engine is seized!

If the engine was seized then, in my opinion, the starter motor would not be able to turn it.

I'm possibly using incorrect terminology.

 

The starter motor made its "chuuugh-chuuugh-chuuugh-chuuugh-chuuugh" sound. The engine itself never sprang to life. 

 

I should have mentioned this in the OP, but the mechanic confirmed that there was no oil in the car when he checked. 

 

I'll also note that there was no sign of any oil on the road behind where the car stopped, and we've never had any drips in the driveway.

Edited 27 July, 2023 by GregorSamsa

[J.R.]

No warning?

 

You had an oil warning light last year from a low oil level so you were aware that the engine consumes oil, it sounds like the low oil level sensor is no longer working but to be fair until recently cars never had these and checking the oil level and topping up was a weekly obligation especially on an oil burner.

 

Always double check for yourself what anyone tells you, have you checked the actual oil level now yourself?

 

If the oil level had not dropped 6 months after the service something must have changed for it to have ran out of oil in 2 months, even if the low oil sensor was not working you should have had low oil pressure warnings, is your wife the type to ignore warning lights and/or not report them to you?

[GregorSamsa]

34 minutes ago, J.R. said:

No warning?

 

You had an oil warning light last year from a low oil level so you were aware that the engine consumes oil, it sounds like the low oil level sensor is no longer working but to be fair until recently cars never had these and checking the oil level and topping up was a weekly obligation especially on an oil burner.

 

Always double check for yourself what anyone tells you, have you checked the actual oil level now yourself?

 

If the oil level had not dropped 6 months after the service something must have changed for it to have ran out of oil in 2 months, even if the low oil sensor was not working you should have had low oil pressure warnings, is your wife the type to ignore warning lights and/or not report them to you?

 

No, I haven't had the chance to check the car myself yet. 

 

We both drive the car equally, and there were no warnings before the incident on the dash from either the oil level or oil pressure sensor.

She'd be the kind to pull over and phone me even if the washer fluid level warning light came on 😉 

[ApertureS]

Id be getting a detailed engineers report first.

 

Due to lack of oil is an interesting one, there are many possibly causes -

 

Oil pump failure meaning no pressure?

High pressure leak meaning unable to build pressure?

No oil at all in the engine?

Oil diluted to the point it doesn’t do it’s job?

Oil gallery blockages?

Oil pickup blockages?

how much oil came out the engine?

Any oil contamination?

Any debris in the oil?

 

If it’s down to oil pressure - why no low pressure warning?

if it’s down to low or no oil - again why no pressure warning + no level warning?

 

You say the engine turned over before? If the engine was seized the starter motor would make a faint click and nothing more.
 

What has actually seized? The crankshaft? The camshafts?
 

Has the engine been stripped down to find out which of these parts caused the seizing? Are the bearings overheated? Is there any bearings left? 
 

can the engine be rebuilt with oversized bearings and a reground bearing surface?

 

 

 

these are just a few of the questions I would want to know the answer to - and if your mechanic can’t answer them, take the car elsewhere.

 

everyone is so quick to replace rather than repair - often at the customers expense!

Edited 27 July, 2023 by ApertureS

[Gaz]

8 minutes ago, ApertureS said:

these are just a few of the questions I would want to know the answer to - and if your mechanic can’t answer them, take the car elsewhere.

 

+1 👍

 

'"chuuugh-chuuugh-chuuugh-chuuugh-chuuugh"' - sounds more like the description of an engine turning over (i.e. not seized) than a starter/solonoid/relay clicking.

 

Gaz

[Gammyleg]

6 hours ago, Liger1956 said:

If the engine was seized then, in my opinion, the starter motor would not be able to turn it.

 

Makes sense. If the starter turns, the engine 'aint seized - unless you've stripped the flywheel or starter sprocket which is V unlikely.

[J.R.]

6 hours ago, GregorSamsa said:

No, I haven't had the chance to check the car myself yet. 

 

We both drive the car equally, and there were no warnings before the incident on the dash from either the oil level or oil pressure sensor.

She'd be the kind to pull over and phone me even if the washer fluid level warning light came on

 

Apologies, I had read but not taken in that the mechanic confirmed what the breakdown guy said about "no oil" so should not have asked if you had checked.

 

Nonetheless I endorse everything that Aperture S has said, they should have furnished you with the answers to these questions in their diagnosis or at least said "unknown at this stage" rather than seized, no oil.

 

I guarantee there will be some oil, perhaps insufficient but with no consumption over 6 months and no leaks I reckon the oil is probably at the correct level.

[J.R.]

I'm still confusing myself, now I see that mechanic and breakdown operator are the same person, have it towed to a VAG specialist, breakdown graages are often highway robbers.

 

Oh and get all your personal effects out of the vehicle ASAP if it is staying there including the service book if it has one, anything that is not screwed down!