Hydrolock- should I be concerned

superduty4x4 · Sep 13, 2011

Long story short I put new injectors in last weekend, and the cylinders didn't get purged even though I tried to clear them and the motor hydrolocked on me. Hit the key and it only turned a little bit before it locked up, did it once more, then I was able to get it to roll over by bumping the key. Truck seems to be fine, power seems good and all that happy horse chit, so how worried should I be? Anything I can do to check things over short of pulling the pan to look for U shaped rods?

Wackerjr · Sep 13, 2011

drive it you will be fine.

Clem1226 · Sep 13, 2011

if your REALLY worried you could do a compression test but if it was me......drive it and forget it.

SkySki Jason · Sep 13, 2011

Most likely no damage done. The oil just was pushed past the rings. Its a good idea to spin engine over by hand a couple revs before using starter after installing injectors.

superduty4x4 · Sep 13, 2011

SkySki Jason said:
Its a good idea to spin engine over by hand a couple revs before using starter after installing injectors.

I did both actually. However, I did it with both the injectors AND glow plugs removed from the head, which is probably why I didn't get everything out. I know most guys put the injectors in then clear the cylinders, but I got advice from someone that I thought was sound saying I could do it with both removed. Well... lesson learned.

Arisley · Sep 14, 2011

If you do it with both removed, you will be adding more fluid at the same time you are pumping fluid out.

RedSmokey · Sep 14, 2011

Arisley said:
If you do it with both removed, you will be adding more fluid at the same time you are pumping fluid out.

:whs:

superduty4x4 · Sep 14, 2011

Arisley said:
If you do it with both removed, you will be adding more fluid at the same time you are pumping fluid out.

You know... I was in a hurry when I did the install and I didn't even think of that.

Arisley · Sep 14, 2011

My Grandpa tought me a really good lesson. When you are in a hurry, slow down, you will probably get done faster.

superduty4x4 · Sep 14, 2011

Arisley said:
My Grandpa tought me a really good lesson. When you are in a hurry, slow down, you will probably get done faster.

Very true!

Chvyrkr · Sep 14, 2011

I usually use a cattle syringe and a piece of tubing to clear the cylinders after I pull injectors, before I install new injectors.

Hasn't failed me yet.

SkySki Jason · Sep 14, 2011

Chvyrkr said:
I usually use a cattle syringe and a piece of tubing to clear the cylinders after I pull injectors, before I install new injectors.

Hasn't failed me yet.

Thats what I do, but I use a piece of brake line tubing that fits tightly into my Mighty Vac hose, but fits thru the hole. Before stabbing new injectors, slurp out the oil/fuel thru injector hole, then after injectors are in and before GP's - spin engine over by hand.

Chvyrkr · Sep 14, 2011

I haven't even pulled glow plugs the last few times, cranks normally.

moose99psd · Sep 14, 2011

Pull last two injectors on each side, wait till gluggin stops, pull injectors, install new injectors, pull gps, place valve covers on with one bolt, turn motor over with starter solenoid, reinstall gps and fire it up. I do oil changes with injetor installs allways so no need to worry about fuel in oil. Hasn't failed yet.

moose99psd · Sep 14, 2011

Imo suckin out the cylinders is overkill.

Chvyrkr · Sep 14, 2011

moose99psd said:
Imo suckin out the cylinders is overkill.

Could be, IMO it's more time efficient than pullin glow plugs and cleaner than blowing the fluid out against partially installed VC's.

Although possibly harder on the starter as your first hit against the starter that primes the rails is a full compression crank over.

superduty4x4 · Sep 14, 2011

SkySki Jason said:
Thats what I do, but I use a piece of brake line tubing that fits tightly into my Mighty Vac hose, but fits thru the hole. Before stabbing new injectors, slurp out the oil/fuel thru injector hole, then after injectors are in and before GP's - spin engine over by hand.

The problem was I wasn't at home, so I didn't have my Mityvac or my "special glow plug removal tool" with me. I called a friend and he gave me the advice above, which sounded good at the time since I didn't want to have to fight getting the glow plugs started with the injectors in.
Oh well, it's running fine even though the tunes are too smoky for my taste. Sure scoots down the road good now!

CSIPSD · Sep 14, 2011

superduty4x4 said:
The problem was I wasn't at home, so I didn't have my Mityvac or my "special glow plug removal tool" with me. I called a friend and he gave me the advice above, which sounded good at the time since I didn't want to have to fight getting the glow plugs started with the injectors in.
Oh well, it's running fine even though the tunes are too smoky for my taste. Sure scoots down the road good now!

You didnt call me... And I didnt tell you that... LOL

Otherwise it will be fine.