Can an engine seize when it has oil?

Question

We have a Mazda B2600, and it was having some issues with losing power on hills, but fine on the flat. My husband took it out, and was driving along and it quit. He tried starting it again, but it quit. Then it wouldn't start at all. You can't manually turn over the motor. It has clean oil, full dipstick. It did not smoke or anything, it just quit. What could be wrong with it. It has fresh plugs and wires.

Answer 1

if your engine has a timing belt it could have broken. take the oil fill cap off and watch to see if the camshaft is turning while someone is cranking it over.

Answer 2

you could have spun a main bearing ...that will def seize the engine...cam could have gone flat..lifters could have gone valves could have seized could be any number of things ..but hope this helps

Answer 3

I'm getting mixed messages from you. You said he tried to start it and it quit. In my book the motor must be turning over.  

Before throwing in the towel remove all the spark plugs, put the car in neutral and the motor should easily spin by grabbing on the serpentine belt. If the crankshaft will not turn bu the belt or a big old metric wrench at the end of the crank dampener you've really got big problems.

The oil pump may have failed thus the main bearings are probably seized to the crankshaft.

Answer 4

could be lots of things, like a pluged exhaust or cat, when the car was under load( up the hill) you lost power, on the flat no load it was better

something like that

Answer 5

Yes, an engine can seize when it is full of oil.  I had one do it about ten years ago...In my case, the rear crankshaft bearing locked up and caused the motor to lock up.  Bearing do wear out, even when they have plenty of oil on them.