Where is the most probable location of an antifreeze leak on a 1997 Chevy Blazer 4 x 4 The leak is pure antifreeze leaking under the front of the engine?

When an engine is suffering from hydrostatic engine lock it refers to the piston trying to compress an unwelcome fluid that has made its way into the combustion chamber. The most common cause of an automobile to experience this scenario is when it travels through a very deep puddle. However, this is not the only way for a liquid to find its way into an engine cylinder.

Here we'll talk about the most common causes of hydrostatic engine lock and review some of the unique symptoms associated with each type. We'll also talk about assessing the damage caused by this unfortunate occurrence. Automotive manufacturers try to mount the air intake as high in the engine compartment as they can.

However, the aerodynamic body styles of some automobiles leave this inlet lower than desired. Unfortunately many motorists don't learn about this subject until it's too late. If you're going through a puddle and the engine stalls suddenly, it's a sign the air has been replaced with water.

Although it doesn't mean the engine is destroyed it does mean you need professional diagnosis. When an automobile has traveled through a puddle that was deeper than it could handle the first sign is finding an air filter that is completely soaked with water. They designed the air filter element to stop dust and dirt from entering the engine.

It was not installed to prevent water from making its way into the intake manifold. With that said, it does provide some resistance. One of the things that can make a bad situation worse is when the driver tries to restart the engine while water is in the cylinders.

Therefore, if you go through a puddle and the engine turns off, get the car towed from that point. Do not attempt to start the engine. When the car arrives at the repair facility the mechanic will make a few checks to get an idea of how severe the problem is.

As mentioned above, the first thing they check is for a wet air filter. Next they check the oil level and see if any water is present in the crankcase. Since you can't compress a fluid in the cylinder the spark plugs are removed(http://autorepair.answers.com/maintenance/how-to-remove-stuck-spark-plugs) to provide an exit point for the H2O.

With all the spark plugs removed the engine turns over quickly, expelling any water remaining in the combustion chamber. After the cylinders are dry, the oil is changed and the air filters replaced. Now the repair facility can attempt to start the engine and see if there's any internal damage.

In severe cases the engine won't start at all. In minor cases the engine could fire right up with no harm done. Although going through a puddle is the most common cause of this situation it's far from the only reason to have fluid inside the combustion chamber.

Engine coolant which is an antifreeze and water mixture(http://autorepair.answers.com/cooling-and-heating/engine-coolant-maintenance-and-common-problems) can find its way into a cylinder under certain circumstances. The most common of these is a leaking head gasket. This gasket seals the cylinder head to the engine block.

A leak in this area can allow engine coolant to flow where it doesn't belong. Another fluid that can find its way into a combustion chamber is excess fuel. When you turn the engine off the injectors close and stop gas from enter the cylinder.

If an injector malfunctions or dirt and carbon prevent it from closing all the way, fuel can continue the flow. Finally, the last kind of fluid that can find its way into a combustion chamber is engine oil. Although a rare situation, a cracked cylinder head or a completely failed valve stem seal can cause this problem.

If large amounts of fluid enter the cylinder as in the puddle scenario, it probably won't turn over at all. In a situation when you have a leaky fuel injector(http://autorepair.answers.com/fuel/how-to-test-fuel-injectors), a small leak from the head gasket or even a worn valve stem seal, small amounts of unwanted fluid enter. Furthermore, the issue might be isolated to one cylinder.

These types of problems can cause slow engine cranking. When the engine does fire up it emits heavy amounts of smoke. It is the color of this emission that can point you in the direction of the problem.

In the case of the leaky fuel injector black smoke is common. With a worn valve stem seal you see a bluish smoke. When a head gasket is the cause of the malfunction large amounts of white smoke and steam are emitted from the tailpipe.