OFHG Replace and Engine Seized. No Metal Shavings or Coolant in the Oil

lwgrenier · 11-12-2018, 11:07 AM

I had my ofhg done on Friday. The oil was changed and coolant topped off during the fix. Picked up my car and was accelerating about 50mph, maybe 3500 rpm and the engine shut off and would not come back on. Towed the car back to the mechanic. This morning he called and said the engine is seized but there are no metal shavings or coolant in the oil. In other words they don't know what happened. Not a lot to go on but I'm trying to figure out any other possibilities that could be looked into. Car has MHD stage 1 with 68k miles.

9krpmrx8 · 11-12-2018, 11:13 AM

Well the oil that was changed probably had a lot of coolant in it. But if they did a simple change then there was still quite a bit of the oil oil left in the engine. They should have changed it twice if they knew coolant got in the oil. But send a sample of the oil to blackstone and have it tested, that should tell you a story.

lwgrenier · 11-12-2018, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9krpmrx8

Well the oil that was changed probably had a lot of coolant in it. But if they did a simple change then there was still quite a bit of the oil oil left in the engine. They should have changed it twice if they knew coolant got in the oil. But send a sample of the oil to blackstone and have it tested, that should tell you a story.

Will do. So you're thinking coolant got in the oil and the engine overheated?

9krpmrx8 · 11-12-2018, 11:38 AM

No, coolant in the oil will not allow the oil to do it's job and so metal parts will not be lubricated properly.

Pladi · 11-12-2018, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9krpmrx8

No, coolant in the oil will not allow the oil to do it's job and so metal parts will not be lubricated properly.

Thats a heck of a story dude LOL. We know pretty much nothing about why his engine might have seized. So that a wild speculation.

9krpmrx8 · 11-12-2018, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pladi

Thats a heck of a story dude LOL. We know pretty much nothing about why his engine might have seized. So that a wild speculation.

I am just saying what coolant in the oil can do, I'm not saying that is what caused his engine to fail but the fact that it failed right after having this problem and replacing the OFHG, it's a good guess that it is related.

But It's the internet, any input is speculation without doing a proper diagnosis.

lwgrenier · 11-12-2018, 02:16 PM

Probably no chance it won't need to be replaced if it seized? Trying to figure out what the cheapest option would be.

9krpmrx8 · 11-12-2018, 02:22 PM

Well if it seized just don't start it again. There is a chance it's just the rod bearings and if that is the case, it could be fixed without a full rebuild. But it would have to be looked at by a professional.

bbnks2 · 11-13-2018, 07:47 AM

Did the shop actually change the oil? Or, maybe they just charged you for it and said effit???

Quiet a few people seem to post up rod bearing failure after an OFHG job. I don't see any possible way the two can be related unless fluids mixed.

HawkeyeGeoff · 11-13-2018, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbnks2

Did the shop actually change the oil? Or, maybe they just charged you for it and said effit???

Quiet a few people seem to post up rod bearing failure after an OFHG job. I don't see any possible way the two can be related unless fluids mixed.

Or something was left in the Oil filter housing and caused a clog somewhere.

TheMidnightNarwhal · 11-13-2018, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pladi

Thats a heck of a story dude LOL. We know pretty much nothing about why his engine might have seized. So that a wild speculation.

Unless you have liters of coolant... I agree. I don't see how a bit of coolant could affect the oil that bad?

Joebie · 11-13-2018, 08:45 AM

You took it back to the same mechanic that did the OFHG?

I'd be concerned that he's lying to cover his own ass or something.

Lets say he did mess it up, he can either take the blame and pay for a new engine and the time to install it to the tune of like $6000, or just lie and say there isn't anything wrong and he has no idea why the engine seized. Easy choice for anyone with even slightly questionable morals.

I'm with 9krpm, complete engine failure happening immediately after you pick up your car from getting worked on sure is one heck of a coincidence, right?

This is why everyone should DIY everything. You can only trust yourself. I can't say it enough.

Pladi · 11-13-2018, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

Unless you have liters of coolant... I agree. I don't see how a bit of coolant could affect the oil that bad?

You would have to run the engine for so long with coolant in it and large quantities for it to seize the engine.. I just dont see that. Personally.

Pladi · 11-13-2018, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HawkeyeGeoff

Or something was left in the Oil filter housing and caused a clog somewhere.

This is a much possible scenario. We have heard that a few times now that engines breaking after OFHG replacement. I did 2 OFHG replacements on my car. You need to be very careful and clean. You can forget paper towel inside the channels if you are soaking coolant and oil.

Pladi · 11-13-2018, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbnks2

Did the shop actually change the oil? Or, maybe they just charged you for it and said effit???

Quiet a few people seem to post up rod bearing failure after an OFHG job. I don't see any possible way the two can be related unless fluids mixed.

Leaving foreign material inside will do that.

bbnks2 · 11-13-2018, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pladi

Leaving foreign material inside will do that.

yes I can see how leaving a shop towel stuffed in there might be disastrous, but you would see it in the pan and/or oil filter. Or, in the housing still lol. Should be pretty easy to find. Same as if coolant had fouled the oil. It would be pretty obvious I'd think. I wasn't saying failure can't happen. I said that the actual task of replacing an oil filter housing gasket should not have anything to do with engine failure. A mechanic screwing up a OFHG? Sure, but still unlikely. Then again we've seen like 5-6 of these posts...

Pladi · 11-13-2018, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbnks2

yes I can see how leaving a shop towel stuffed in there might be disastrous, but you would see it in the pan and/or oil filter. Or, in the housing still lol. Should be pretty easy to find. Same as if coolant had fouled the oil. It would be pretty obvious I'd think.

You think the guy is gonna say yes i found my towel there.. lol. He will go out of business.

Could have happened and most likely he stays quiet about it.

9krpmrx8 · 11-13-2018, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pladi

You would have to run the engine for so long with coolant in it and large quantities for it to seize the engine.. I just dont see that. Personally.

Well you know what they say about opinions and most are not based on actual experience. But if you think it doesn't take much glycol in your oil to cause hard parts to meet then cool.

lwgrenier · 11-13-2018, 09:50 AM

My mechanic is a family friend who I trust. They have insurance for these types of things. All the work they had done prior to this was fine, so not sure if it's just a coincidence or if maybe some error on his part. I brought them the oil to do the oil change because I was getting close to 5k miles anyways, so I know they did the change. Fortunately I have a warranty that has worked in the past (new turbo), however they don't cover "diagnostic work", i.e. tearing down the engine. That's where I'm hoping my shop will help me out. I do wish I had done it myself at this point though. I had everything purchased but have been traveling for work so much I couldn't find time.

9krpmrx8 · 11-13-2018, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lwgrenier

My mechanic is a family friend who I trust. They have insurance for these types of things. All the work they had done prior to this was fine, so not sure if it's just a coincidence or if maybe some error on his part. I brought them the oil to do the oil change because I was getting close to 5k miles anyways, so I know they did the change. Fortunately I have a warranty that has worked in the past (new turbo), however they don't cover "diagnostic work", i.e. tearing down the engine. That's where I'm hoping my shop will help me out. I do wish I had done it myself at this point though. I had everything purchased but have been traveling for work so much I couldn't find time.

Yeah man I hate letting others work on my cars but sometimes life forces you to trust others to do the work. For $28.00 I would definitely test that oil though.

Pladi · 11-13-2018, 10:09 AM

Either way this is very sad to hear. Keep us posted. Hopefully you will find an easy and not so expensive solution.

Pladi · 11-13-2018, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9krpmrx8

Yeah man I hate letting others work on my cars but sometimes life forces you to trust others to do the work. For $28.00 I would definitely test that oil though.

I dont think he has the oil. Its been changed already

11-12-2018, 11:07 AM	#1
lwgrenier First Lieutenant 117 Rep 255 Posts Drives: 2011 e92 335i XDrive Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	OFHG Replace and Engine Seized. No Metal Shavings or Coolant in the Oil I had my ofhg done on Friday. The oil was changed and coolant topped off during the fix. Picked up my car and was accelerating about 50mph, maybe 3500 rpm and the engine shut off and would not come back on. Towed the car back to the mechanic. This morning he called and said the engine is seized but there are no metal shavings or coolant in the oil. In other words they don't know what happened. Not a lot to go on but I'm trying to figure out any other possibilities that could be looked into. Car has MHD stage 1 with 68k miles.
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11-12-2018, 11:13 AM	#2
9krpmrx8 Clean is the new cool, keep it that way. 808 Rep 1,685 Posts Drives: 11' Alpine White 335i Sedan Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: San Antonio, Texas iTrader: (0)	Well the oil that was changed probably had a lot of coolant in it. But if they did a simple change then there was still quite a bit of the oil oil left in the engine. They should have changed it twice if they knew coolant got in the oil. But send a sample of the oil to blackstone and have it tested, that should tell you a story. __________________ 2011 335i, FBO, N55+ Turbo, full E85, S55 intercooler, etc. 2015 X5 35i Xdrive
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11-12-2018, 11:38 AM	#4
9krpmrx8 Clean is the new cool, keep it that way. 808 Rep 1,685 Posts Drives: 11' Alpine White 335i Sedan Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: San Antonio, Texas iTrader: (0)	No, coolant in the oil will not allow the oil to do it's job and so metal parts will not be lubricated properly. __________________ 2011 335i, FBO, N55+ Turbo, full E85, S55 intercooler, etc. 2015 X5 35i Xdrive
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11-12-2018, 02:16 PM	#7
lwgrenier First Lieutenant 117 Rep 255 Posts Drives: 2011 e92 335i XDrive Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	Probably no chance it won't need to be replaced if it seized? Trying to figure out what the cheapest option would be.
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11-12-2018, 02:22 PM	#8
9krpmrx8 Clean is the new cool, keep it that way. 808 Rep 1,685 Posts Drives: 11' Alpine White 335i Sedan Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: San Antonio, Texas iTrader: (0)	Well if it seized just don't start it again. There is a chance it's just the rod bearings and if that is the case, it could be fixed without a full rebuild. But it would have to be looked at by a professional. __________________ 2011 335i, FBO, N55+ Turbo, full E85, S55 intercooler, etc. 2015 X5 35i Xdrive
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11-13-2018, 07:47 AM	#9
bbnks2 Colonel 1207 Rep 2,025 Posts Drives: 135i N55 Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	Did the shop actually change the oil? Or, maybe they just charged you for it and said effit??? Quiet a few people seem to post up rod bearing failure after an OFHG job. I don't see any possible way the two can be related unless fluids mixed.
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11-13-2018, 08:45 AM	#12
Joebie Grandmaster 768 Rep 798 Posts Drives: 2018 ///M2 6MT Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: St. Louis iTrader: (0)	You took it back to the same mechanic that did the OFHG? I'd be concerned that he's lying to cover his own ass or something. Lets say he did mess it up, he can either take the blame and pay for a new engine and the time to install it to the tune of like $6000, or just lie and say there isn't anything wrong and he has no idea why the engine seized. Easy choice for anyone with even slightly questionable morals. I'm with 9krpm, complete engine failure happening immediately after you pick up your car from getting worked on sure is one heck of a coincidence, right? This is why everyone should DIY everything. You can only trust yourself. I can't say it enough. __________________ Daily - 2018 Alpinweiß ///M2 6MT Exec Rain/Snow/Winter - 2011 328i 6MT Sedan - Black on Black, Sport Package Sold, But Not Forgotten - 2009 135i 6MT - Black on Black, M-sport, JB4
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11-13-2018, 09:50 AM	#19
lwgrenier First Lieutenant 117 Rep 255 Posts Drives: 2011 e92 335i XDrive Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	My mechanic is a family friend who I trust. They have insurance for these types of things. All the work they had done prior to this was fine, so not sure if it's just a coincidence or if maybe some error on his part. I brought them the oil to do the oil change because I was getting close to 5k miles anyways, so I know they did the change. Fortunately I have a warranty that has worked in the past (new turbo), however they don't cover "diagnostic work", i.e. tearing down the engine. That's where I'm hoping my shop will help me out. I do wish I had done it myself at this point though. I had everything purchased but have been traveling for work so much I couldn't find time.
	Appreciate 2 9krpmrx8808.00 JB4N78.50

11-13-2018, 10:09 AM	#21
Pladi Lieutenant Colonel 718 Rep 1,753 Posts Drives: 2011 335i xdrive Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Waterloo, ON Canada iTrader: (0)	Either way this is very sad to hear. Keep us posted. Hopefully you will find an easy and not so expensive solution.
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