??? Huh?

In any case, S-types couldn't care less about cold temps- block heater or not. There's several of us here that regularly start our cars at -20 or -30C with out thinking twice about it.

Something else was going on with the OP's car.

 

Let's see. I was a mechanic for over 20 years and I saw a lot of this. I had a bunch of frozen engines where I had to put diesel fuel into the cylinders and pump diesel fuel into the oil lines. Let it set for a while to let the diesel fuel get in everywhere. It penetrates like you won't believe. Then I would pry the engine loose and crank it around a few times, seal it back up and fire them up.

In heavy construction, folks know to not shut engines down in cold weather, or they'll freeze up.

We weren't told what oil is in that engine, but follow the book on going to a grade that handles cold weather better.

The big tip off here is the ice that was found. If he didn't get it hot enough, water vapor will condense in places. Since the mech's at the dealer didn't catch it, I would guess that they are getting those record cold temps that are going around and not familiar with what can happen.

When I read his first post, my first thought has a hydraulic lock. I would have first checked the radiator level for lost water. Back in the carb days, this would happen if the floats took a dive. The plugs should have been pulled first to see if liquid was in the cylinders.

Been there, Done that.

 

Diesels are affected by cold temps in ways that gasoline engines are not. I've never seen a Diesel engine freeze from cold weather, but I've seen the fuel gel.

 

Ironically, the video you picked was of a car with a rotary (Wankel) engine- no rods in those!

 

Damnit, I was just going to say that!!! 2 rotors to be precise (an Aussie outfit was able to put a third rotor in the Mazda motors...)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P31IN...eature=related

 

Yes, but you list yourself as being in California.

People from snowbelt climates aren't buying the frozen engine story. Not for 7 degrees F anyways. Even at -30F, cars start routinely if the systems are well maintained.

 

If you somehow managed to wind up here via the search feature, and have become interested, the saga continues, some 3 yrs on, in early 2014, whilst CBS is trotting out a physicist (who happens to also be an idiot) to explain how the magnificent hoax known as global warming is causing much of the world to be colder than the proverbial witch's thorax......meanwhile supercharged Jaguar V-8's continue to be hardest-hit. No...Noodlearm never got back to us but this X350 thread throws a little more light on the subject: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...engine-110573/

 

I forgot all about this saga. Quite a mystery. It appears that this is actually happening but no one yet has come up with a reasonable explanation as to why.

 

I love the "hoax" part.

Oh - it's not April 1st!

 

Heheh....how 'bout we split the blame with ya? Ok, we're responsible for the shyster Gore and his hoax movie and all....but it was your lot in the university that doctored the data...

OTOH, we could just assign blame to "global warming" (aka "Climate change" once the former moniker no longer fit so well) to any and all Jag SC V-8's that won't crank in winter. It's every bit as good a fit as other stuff said to be fostered by the hoax!

 

It's like smoking. For decades the lobby groups and big tobacco lied and did their best to subvert the facts. Now you have to be mad to think smoking is safe and doesn't cause cancer.

There are huge amounts of data on CO2, temperatures etc and it's not hard to see facts but what matters is what people/governments choose to do - just as it was regarding smoking. The planet doesn't care and life will survive. Mankind may really suffer, but hey that's like saying smokers generally die young. They're allowed to make that choice, right? (It ought not to be made based on lies, though.)

 

And what does global warming have to do with blown rods and frozen engines

Fact is: STRs do throw rods!!!!

 

Yes. What led up to it - was it definitely (as opposed to allegedly or maybe) ice inside it?

 

The person I purchased the car from stated it was due to "global Engine Warming" He stated that the car had been properly maintained, but each year it was running a little hotter and hotter. Others wouldn't believe him. He had lots of data indicating that it was running hotter, but it ran cooler in winter, and occasionally it ran really cold, so they told him not to worry about it. Then one day it blew up.

 

That sounds suspiciously like a failing thermostat... That is functioning intermittently, But I have no idea why that would hurt the bottom end.

Take care,

George

 

Intermittent thermostat (V8's normally stick closed, not open) so "sticky" but not stuck thus running hotter....blows a bit of coolant out the reliefs (maybe he had a busted expansion tank?) low coolant, top up with water, lather rinse, repeat for a few years until the antifreeze isn't capable of it running "really cold?" and pops a hole in the block?

 

Thanks Tijoe, doesn't sound to be ice.

 

I was joking about "global Warming" killing the engine. I purchased the car with 2 broken rods, and the seller didn't know what caused the engine to blow up.

 

I figure this is a good thread to post some images of my severely damaged 03 STR engine block. 4 rods shattered, and another 2 with overheated spun bearings.

 

Thanks Tijoe.

I have been looking for a picture if the STR piston oil squirters forever!

This was a key update by Jaguar to prevent bore wash with cold engines on the 4.2L V-8. I knew we had them but I have never tore a block down to see them.
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