How long is it safe not to use engine?

Post by **jtbo** » 06 Jun 2006 11:20 am

I have not started engine for 3 months or maybe bit more, now question came to my mind, is it still ok to just turn the key and start it up? Also what is longest time that it is safe to not start the engine?

I have heard how some ppl put oil above piston from spark plug holes when they don't start engine for over 6 months, but I haven't done anything, just left car to parking lot

Piston rings are one that worries me, they may snap if stuck or something? Also lubrication, maybe best to turn engine few times without ignition?

Tomorrow need to change summer tires on too, winter tires have not been legal for months

Post by **redline** » 06 Jun 2006 11:35 am

take plugs out but a little engine oil down each bore and turn it over on the key while plugs are still out that way it will turn over but not fire up , then replace plugs and she should start fine

Post by **jtbo** » 06 Jun 2006 11:54 am

redline wrote:take plugs out but a little engine oil down each bore and turn it over on the key while plugs are still out that way it will turn over but not fire up , then replace plugs and she should start fine

I have this little switch that kills ignition and fuel, makes life easy sometimes

But indeed need to put that oil then in, just need to find where all my stuff is, so long since last time needed

Post by **shimon340** » 06 Jun 2006 12:58 pm

hi!

ditto what redline says but WD-40 would also be good... just spray down the plug holes.

However...... my 240 stood for over a year.... unlike the 340s which take a while to start if they have stood too long ( fuel evaporates from the fuel lines and the fuel pumps arent good at pumping this air out... sometime you have to manually suck up fuel from the tank using a small hand held pump.... ) the 240 .. put a bettery on and after turing over for 5 secs it fired!!!!!! awesome!

what are you restarting?

a 360?

shimon

Post by **jtbo** » 06 Jun 2006 03:17 pm

Yes 360, electric pumps, injection and fresh fuel lines so should be quite ok.

However I think there was only 5l fuel left and modern fuel is not staying good for a long time, so maybe need to get bit fresh stuff for it too.

Post by **pettaw** » 06 Jun 2006 07:51 pm

Yep, what Redline said. IMO you shouldn't use anything but engine oil down the bores, WD-40, etc etc is a no no.

Take plugs out, put 5-10ml of oil down each bore, and turn engine over until the oil pressure light goes out, which should take about 15 seconds or so.

Then you're good to go. Once it fires up, bring the revs slowly up to about 2000 and hold there for about 30 secs to a minute, just to let oil get up to the camshaft and tappets.

Post by **redline** » 06 Jun 2006 08:07 pm

see ,the old fart still knows his stuff lol

Post by **V6 Man** » 06 Jun 2006 10:47 pm

Be brave, just start it.......

I did with my 760 which had stood for at least 9 months without being started although it had been turned over by hand about 3 months ago. She fired up after abut 4 secs of cranking!

Post by **dalahare** » 06 Jun 2006 11:09 pm

It can't hurt to put a little bit of oil down the bores if you feel like it, it will blow smoke initially obviously, but three months isn't really a long time, I wouldn't bother, just start the fecker, I recently fitted a motor to my motorbike that hadn't been started in 12 years, I changed the oil in it, but when i undid the sump plug nothing came out for about 10 seconds, then a goop of someting that was once oil came out, so i pulled the sump off and cleaned it all up, it was like the oil had seperated or something, but that's all i did, clean out sump, fresh oil and plugs in and away she went.

Post by **shimon340** » 07 Jun 2006 01:34 am

why is WD-40 a no no?

Post by **shimon340** » 07 Jun 2006 01:43 am

actually, got an idea why... Im thinking of siezed engines for which a thin oil can be used but in this case this engine is a runner which will be used on the road hence WD is a no no as you with thin and dilute the oil.............

Post by **foggyjames** » 08 Jun 2006 03:05 am

Yup, too thin. IIRC there's also some wierd property of WD which means it absorbs water or something.

cheers

James

Post by **pettaw** » 08 Jun 2006 08:44 am

WD-40 is much less of a lubricant and more of a solvent. The oil film covering the bores is IMO one of the most important parts to preserve the engine/rings etc. so I wouldn't introduce anything different other than engine oil.

Post by **shimon340** » 09 Jun 2006 12:49 pm

cheers pettaw!

James... Ive heard this before about some people saying WD absorbs water or freezes..

the solidifying is pos... i dont know the temp thou.. worth investigating one day and... as to absorbing water... ive heard others say this too but since WD-40 means "Water Dispersant 40th attempt" ( it basically got sold as its lab development name!!! ) its a hydrophobic substance so i, doubt it absorbs water.... this critism isnt at you James.. ive heard other say this too so your post just reminded me!

see ya at the VOC

Post by **Chris_C** » 09 Jun 2006 01:07 pm

I think... and this is very much a think, that WD40 is as you described water disperant 40th attempt, but, instead of the WD40 itself being hydrophobic, it is infact hydrophilic, so as to remove the water from the surface/object it is applied to, it gathers the water in the WD40 itself, and then when the WD40 leaves the object, so does the water.

Thats how I've always understood it anyway!