Frozen engine

[glennard]

Just got a 230SL with a frozen engine - assumed from non use in 20 years.  Any ideas?

[JimVillers]

Glennard ..... I was able to un-freeze a MGB engine by spraying lots of PB Blaster in the cylinders aand then rocking the car in fourth gear.  It took about a week with rocking twice a day.  It just takes time for the penitrating fluid to work.

Jim Villers
190SL, 230SL 5-Speed, 190E 2.3-16 Kompressor, MGB 5-Speed

[rwmastel]

1. Remove engine from car.
2. Send to Metric Motors!

Seriously, you have quite a task.  Best of luck, I'm sure the gurus here will help.

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[Shvegel]

My engine also sat for 20 years In a heated garage and was frozen. There is something about the old oil or the composition of the pistons that causes them to almost grow into the cylinder walls. I have worked on alot of old engines but never have I had as tough a time as when I tried to unstick my engine. I ended up dissasembling the entire engine and literally smashing the pistons apart from the bottom(carefull not to damage the rods).

The really neat part was once the pistons were out the cylinder walls cleaned up with just a little honing using a good micrometer hone and I was able to put stock bore pistons back into it.

Even if you do get it to turn without tearing it apart the chances of getting the rings to unstick is pretty slim...Rebuild time.