turning over a 360 engine without starting the car

[bordseye]

Having stored the car for almost 12 months I would like to get oil pressure before ignition. How do I do this? Asked before but never got an answer - removing all the plugs as you used to do with a Mini just isnt practical on a 360, and I cannot identify a fuse that would do the job either.

[ex-devonpaul]

Removing the plug caps would work, although you'd still get compression.

[Trev450]

Disconnect the crank sensor if you can get to it.

[Panamax]

Unless you shut off both spark AND fuel the cylinders will get washed with unburnt petrol, rinsing away any remaining oil and achieving the opposite of what you're hoping for. If anything, that's likely to make the car harder to start when you eventually re-connect power and again not what you want at all.

I guess if you pull the right fuses you might achieve what you're looking for although you'll have to listen for oil pressure if those fuses also shut off the oil pressure gauge.

[voicey]

Remove the fuel pump relays and release the pressure in the rails using the schrader valves.

Having the spark plugs firing with the fuel cut off isn't going to cause any harm

[bordseye]

Thanks voicey. Now all I have to do is to find the relays and the valves two hours with the PC should do it!!

[tomtom]

Can't you just crank it with the immobiliser enabled?

[bordseye]

no. with the immobiliser enabled it wont crank.

any idea where the schrader valves are and what they look like. The workshop manual doesnt mention them as such.

[m4tti]

How long has your car sat for? I’ve been doing some work on mine, haven’t used it since the last weekend in October (I think).

I fired it up today, it started on the turn of the key, oil pressure straight up. That’ll do minimum damage.

The valves are on the fuel rail.

[bordseye]

same time as yours. But some years ago I had a Stag. It was rarely used but over almost 30 years of ownership and starting it up after it had stood usually for a year, I ran the camshaft bearing furthest from the oil pump. When running it had always had good oil pressure - the issue was that the oil had drained from the bearing and whilst the warning light went out straight away it obviously took a second or two for it to get to the then dry bearing.

I have seen warnings elsewhere that the complicated and delicate valvegear in the 360 can suffer from the same issue. Makes sense to take the precaution.

[belfry]

Slightly off topic, but the DB9 has a system where you hold the accelerator pedal to the floor while turning the car over. It won't fire up but it is properly scary to do on a cold engine! I use this system when my car has sat unused over the winter, as it builds oil pressure but doesn't start.

[supersport]

If it's only since the last weekend in October I would imagine it would be fine, I would just fire it up and go for a gentle drive.

Traditionally my cars don't get started from the onset of gritting until it's gone. This was always the last weekend in October until early March.

The last two years its crept into mid November.


The 430 used to just fire up straight away and was happy.

[bordseye]

Removing the relays was a simple job as was releasing the non existant pressure in the rails. The engine turned over fine without starting and oil pressure built up very quickly.