Hey all been a ford person my whole life just got my first ranger for $300. Someone from work had an oil change done on it and the “mechanic” didn’t tighten the oil filter in good not even hand tight. So the owner was driving along and low oil light came on and then he pulled over and turned the car off. He went to check the oil on the dipstick couldn’t get the hood open because the cable broke. Tried to start it again and nothing. Had it towed to a mechanic and when he told them what happened they said engine was no good. I offered him $300 for it he said yes and I flat towed it to my house. They didn’t even notice the oil filter was loose or anything. The engine is seized but other than that is in pristine shape inside and out. I want to try and revive this engine with oil hopes and dreams. What is the best way to turn this engine by hand? I can’t get enough leverage on the breaker bar on the driveshaft that drives the serpentine belt from the bottom. I put wd40 in all the cylinders for now to start it soaking and up added some old used oil in the crankcase for now just to have something in it for now. I’m Going to the auto parts store tomorrow to get supplies for an actual oil change and some marvel mystery oil to fill the cylinders with so it can soak down into everything. Anything else you all think I need to get for this experiment? Tips tricks? If I can’t get the engine going I’ll just find a donor and have it dropped in instead after I save up for a bit. But I want to try and get this one going.

 

You're approaching this as if the engine has sat for many years, but if this low-oil event happened recently, the engine likely overheated to the point of welding itself together and that's how it locked up. No amount of lubricant at this point will un-stick it if that's the case. If your WD-40 and other mixtures still don't break it loose with a breaker bar, you would be better off cutting your losses and just looking for a new engine.

 

yes I realize that there is a difference between seized from sitting and from over heat from lack of lubricant. But people have had success treating it the same way. A lot of the time they still have irreparable damage but not always. I will probably end up putting a new engine in but like I said living in hopes and dreams