Identify the Causes Behind Engine Seizure in Volkswagen Golf by Oakland Mechanic

In most vehicles, the seized engine is the biggest problem that would lead to costly repairs. Thus, the engine of the Volkswagen Golf is a sophisticated component that contains several working parts. If any of the engine components are breaking down, the whole system is unbalanced and leads to a seized engine.

On the other hand, the seized engine is indicating that the major engine parts have stopped working and failed entirely. Many times, you will notice that the radio and other electronic components are working fine, but the starter is producing a clicking sound when you turn the key. Subsequently, you will also notice a burnt oil smell from the engine.

What is a seized engine?

However, the seized engine is indicating that the engine doesn’t turn over at right time. If the engine doesn’t turn over, then it will clearly indicate that the engine parts that rotate and move get stuck. Apparently, the seized engine of the Volkswagen Golf can be identified through the following ways:

• The pulleys are unable to turn by hand and will seem like welded in their place.
• At this point, when you are trying to crank the engine, you will hear a clicking sound.
• When the starter is failed, it tries to turn over the engine but seized it frequently.

Causes behind the engine seizing

The most common reason behind the engine seizing is the lack of engine oil in the oil pan. On the other hand, the engine is also seized for other reasons such as broken crankshaft rod, cracked pistons, and water in the cylinders as well as driving the car with an overheated engine. The following points briefly define the causes behind engine seizing in Volkswagen Golf.

Lack of engine oil

Thus, the engine of the car needs the right amount of oil for maintaining the proper lubrication of the engine parts. The main purpose of the engine oil is to maintain the temperature of the engine components and cool them down.

If the engine oil is lower down, then it begins to heat up and all of its starts rubbing together. As a result, a lot of friction is generated due to the dry-out internal engine components. If you are running the engine for a long interval with a lower amount of engine oil, eventually it will seize up.

Mechanical failures

The engine of the car also seized up even if it have the right amount of engine oil. Sometimes, the mechanical failure within the engine may seize it poorly. When any of the mechanical components are failed in the car such as failed piston rings, damaged crankshaft bearings, worn-out connecting rod, etc then it will eventually seize the engine with a knocking or clunking sound.

When it happens in your Volkswagen, you have to diagnose the engine by a mechanic as soon as possible for preventing major breakdowns. So, whenever you will notice any unusual noises coming from the engine try to fix it immediately.

Overheated engine

If you are running the vehicle with an overheated engine, then it might be lead to complete engine seizing. When the engine is overheated, you will find that the crucial engine parts like pistons are expanding, creating damage to the cylinder walls, and producing a lot more friction and heat than normal.

When it happens frequently in your car, it may lead to complete engine failure. Aside from the issues, the blown head gaskets also cause engine overheating with other expensive repairs in your car.

Broken timing belt or chain

When the engine is seized, one major thing you should check is the broken timing belt or timing chain. Moreover, these problems are causing havoc inside the engine. On the other hand, the collision of pistons with the valves and both the broken valves and pistons will make the engine completely seize.

As compared to the timing chains, the timing belts are more prone to engine damage. So, it's always advisable to replace those parts on time before they are affecting the functions of engine components.

Laid idle for a long time

Another most neglected reason behind the seized engine is the car isn't driven for a long time and the engine hasn't been started for longer. In this condition, the oil of the car is completely going into the oil pump and drying the engine parts. When it happens, thin rust starts to buildup within the engine especially between the piston rings and the cylinder walls.

Over time, they are welded with each other. So, in this case, when you are trying to crank the engine, you will hear a clicking sound from the starter. To avoid major engine damage, you have to manually turn over the engine before starting.

Conclusion

All of the reasons behind engine seizing can be avoided successfully through proper maintenance and by keeping a close eye on the condition of the engine and its related parts. If you are currently living near Oakland and found that the engine seized up in your Volkswagen Golf, then consult with your nearest mechanic to diagnose and fix it immediately.

We at Germany's Best INC. located at College Avenue in Oakland, CA are the most trusted German auto center in Oakland having over 25 years of exceptional service experience. We carry out maintenance & repair of some of the most popular German cars.