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Posted by: Beakster Aug 27 2015, 05:07 PM

I bought a 1973 2.0 914 that has been sitting for the last 5 years in a guys garage .. he thinks the eng hasn't turned over and is seized ... is there any tricks in trying to get it to turn over .. I have heard of bus engines sitting for years and guys going out and firing them up .. would love to hear from anyone that has had the same problem .. Thanks..

Posted by: Cairo94507 Aug 27 2015, 05:35 PM

Drain oil and see if you can see any metal particles or objects. Refill after replacing filter. Remove spark plugs and squirt some Marvel Mystery Oil or the likes into each cylinder and do that for a couple of days to allow it to penetrate and soak into the cylinders. Jack the rear of the car up and put it into 5th gear and see if you can spin a wheel and make the engine turn. Good luck. Disclaimer - I know nothing about engines.

Posted by: Johny Blackstain Aug 27 2015, 05:47 PM

I agree w/ the Marvel Mystery oil, oil & filter change & trying to turn it by hand. I'd let it sit w/ that stuff for @ least 24 hrs before trying to turn. Leave the plugs out. If you get it to turn then fresh plugs, points, gasoline & fuel filter/hoses before trying to start it.

Posted by: flmont Aug 27 2015, 05:49 PM

Yep,..Thats the best way to do it,..

Posted by: whatabout1 Aug 27 2015, 05:56 PM

Yea, I go with Cairo. But if you have a standard dif you can only lift 1 wheel off the ground.
Otherwise the other wheel will spin in the opposite direction not turning the motor.

But that would test to see if the diff, axles, wheel bearings, etc are still turning free.

Posted by: BeatNavy Aug 27 2015, 05:57 PM

That's what I did before I got my 1.7L fired up after 12 years - Marvel Mystery Oil. Once you get close to firing it up, make sure nothing valuable is behind the tailpipe (like your wife's Mercedes) or you might get lots of ancient crud bits all over it. Ask me how I know. Once I got mine running it took about a half hour of running before that oil burned off. In the meantime, I laid down a nice white smokescreen for the neighborhood.

Posted by: Mike Bellis Aug 27 2015, 06:56 PM

Maybe fill it with tranny fluid and acetone. Might free it up too. Just don't run it without flushing it out with motor oil first.

Posted by: Beakster Aug 27 2015, 07:38 PM

Hey Guys what's this Marvel Mystery Oil ?? .. I have never heard of that Stuff Up here in Canada ..

Posted by: Johny Blackstain Aug 27 2015, 07:59 PM

Google it to find a nearby vendor


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Posted by: Beakster Aug 27 2015, 08:05 PM

Thanks Johnny ... We don't have that stuff in Canada..

Posted by: Johny Blackstain Aug 27 2015, 08:08 PM

Can you order it online & have it shipped? Shouldn't be that expensive & it's available almost everywhere here in the States.

Posted by: Spoke Aug 27 2015, 08:23 PM

I bought a seized 1.8L engine. Drained the oil; most of what came out was water.

Removed the plugs; squirted WD40 and motor oil into each cylinder.

Forced the engine to move about 1 degree and back. Then 2 degrees and back a bit, then 3, 4, ... until the engine turned 360 degrees. Never removed the heads. Tested and installed the original FI. I'm still running the engine 5 years later. Pulls good for a 1.8L.