Frozen Engine, Now What?

[Handyjay]

My friend's 1993 has been sitting for 3 years. Went to start, frozen! Its an automatic.
Delivered it to mechanic and he tried to manually break it lose, no result. Now what?
Any suggestions before he bites the big tear down $$$$?

[awave]

Did you add a little oil the cylinders and crank it manually before turning the key?

[john walker's workshop]

Pull the plugs. May be hydrauliced.

[JJK78-951]

Sitting 3 years should not lock a motor up unless it was left exposed to the elements. Pull the plugs as Mr. Walker suggested... could be hydro locked... try forward and backwards to see if it moves. It should not be locked up though, no way.

[tdw28210]

^^^ Agreed. 3 years is way too short a period for a motor to lock. The flat 6 design doesn't really lend itself to it. But given it is an automatic, there may be more to the story, like the connection between the motor and transmission are somehow binding. Keep us updated.

[Handyjay]

Thanks for the feed back. I passed on your thoughts to the owner and encouraged him
to join the forum. The forum has always been a great help when I had my 930 for many years. Will keep all informed.

[Joe Bob]

How do you know it's frozen? Did the starter click and then nothing? Did you try to manually spin the crank? Is the battery up to 12+ volts?

IMHO lots of questions and places to look. My advice is free...

[Handyjay]

My understanding is the battery was good, but would not turn over the engine. The shop manually tried to rotate the engine, I assume with a breaker bar on the pulley.
They were now told to pull the plugs and do what has been suggested on this forum.
I have owned and rebuilt several P car engines, but I am not in the same location as my friend and his Porsche so trying to help long distance. I will and my friend will appreciate any and all input and expertise.

[Joe Bob]

I'm done....good luck.

[Handyjay]

Is Otto's in Venice still operating? I used them before John passed. Looking for options
if needed.

[proporsche]

Go to Chequered Flags .not far from Ottos in marina del Rey ..on 4128 Lincoln Blvd.And ask for Jan or the boss Neil Jaffe..Jan can fix anything regarding 911-964-993...e.t.c.
i worked with Neil for many many years..here is the number 301 827 8665

Ivan

[Handyjay]

Thanks for the tip.

[Handyjay]

As a followup. The shop that my friend took his Porsche to, still has not pulled the plugs as requested. Instead they gave him a quote of nearly $30K for a rebuild. He is retrieving his Porsche. A 993 engine with twin plugs is not a walk in the park per Pelican
how to article. I have advised him to get the car home and pull the lower plugs to see if oil in the cylinders is the problem. He now thinks he might have over filled oil at some time. Will post the out come when it is known. Thanks for all the support.

[Marc Bixen]

Drain the crankcase oil also, then try to turn the engine. We had a 964 come in a few years ago, oil from the sump backed up into the crankcase, couldn't turn the engine. When we drained the case, a huge amount of oil came out, then the motor tuned by hand. Finished the oil & filter change, started right up, smoked for about 30 min. and vioala', fixed!

[Handyjay]

Thank you. Passed this to my friend and he will follow up. I’m trying to remember the oil system. Must be a check valve that normally prevents the back flow of oil to the engine. Will post result.