Technical 2.8 Jtd Seized

[Joiner]

Evening folks.

I am a Fiat Ducato man but have gotten the chance of a 2007 Peugeot Boxer 2.8 minibus with a seized engine.
The story goes that the driver saw the oil light come on but drove the 3 miles back to the depot with care and stopped the van. Next day wouldn`t start. Has sat for about a year.

Is the engine salvageable. How to go about even seeing how bad it is.
What can go wrong with a bit of a pull to see if it will turn over to save the starter ??

Am I wasting my time and money ( £100 for the vehicle ) even thinking about sorting this thing. An engine is probably £600 with at least 100,000 miles on it, then a new clutch and the cost of fitting. Not to mention the brakes are all probably needing to be freed off, as well as all the other bits that will surprise a body.
Was hoping to create a cheap camper with the windows and lining already in place.

Any advice would be great help.

Cheers.

 

[portland_bill]

"Wouldn't start" is a vague description, but your title says seized.

Most engines require around 55psi oil pressure, with a minimum of 20psi at tickover with no load. Oil warning lights generally come on at less than 10psi, so lots of damage already done before the light comes on.

With low pressure, the crank bearings are trying to seize, but keeping it running was overcoming that. Once stopped, the crank has probably welded itself to its bearings, and is scrap.

It is likely that there is damage to the camshaft and head, and the bores will likely be damaged too. So this engine is very unlikely to be salvageable. A proper rebuild will cost lots more than the £600 for a used replacement.

BUT!

If it has been stood for a year, every other moving part will be reluctant to move. A few thoughts:
Wheel bearings will be stiff, and may well have developed a flat spot where they've sat, which will destroy them very quickly once running again.
Brakes will be seized. If apparently operating ok, seals will leak soon after being pressed back into service.
Steering rack will be reluctant to operate, but will probably recover after a week or so. Steering pump may well leak very soon.

It is possible that mice, or other creatures will have made it their home, so careful with what you find, stuff you touch may be diseased, as may dust you inhale.
Mice like to make nests in air filters, so before any attempt to turn the engine, remove the air filter and inspect. Ingesting lots of paper fluff will not help it start.

My advice, leave well alone. As you gently go through the vehicle making stuff work again, every new thing you check will fight back. You have to want this bus a lot to make this worthwhile.

Last thought. Check your licence to see if you have D1, minibus. If not, there are restrictions on how you can use it. Can be used for personal use or charity work I think, but check DVLA website. If over 3.5tonne GVW, you can't drive it on a category B licence, needs D1 or C1.

 

[Joiner]

Oh dear, you are a man of doom and gloom......................

No, really it is all as I thought myself. Have said to the lad that I will pass on the vehicle. Shame really as the body was very good.

All things considered I would be better off spending right money and getting an X250 van with some miles but fresher and easier to sell in the future.

Thanks for the response but will keep an eye to see if anybody has any other ideas.

 

[corcai]

For £100 you have nothing to loose gearbox alone is worth a few hundred anyway. Put a socket on the crank pulley and turn it over by hand that will tell you how bad things are although after a year you might need to put oil down the injector holes for compression.