Starting an engine first time in two years

[baconsarney]

Advice so far is remove plugs, spray each cylinder with wd40, leave for (time) the spray each cylinder with engine oil, then turn over by hand before putting plugs back in and firing up…. Any thoughts or suggestions guys

[Weekendrebuild]

Just start it let it idle for 5 mins

[CraigyMc]

baconsarney said:

Advice so far is remove plugs, spray each cylinder with wd40, leave for (time) the spray each cylinder with engine oil, then turn over by hand before putting plugs back in and firing up . Any thoughts or suggestions guys

Full beans straight from cold. This is no place for the weak.

[brillomaster]

I kinda agree, I didn't do anything at all special when I started my car after three months away. And in engine terms, 3 months might as well be two years.

Depending on how it was stored, I'd be more worried about rodents chewing wires and the like.

Only thing I'd check before starting is the level of oil. But then change the oil and get fresh fuel before going too far.

[Lester H]

Weekendrebuild said:

Just start it let it idle for 5 mins

Yes but . make sure all electrics are dry, check levels, put a heavy duty battery on or risk Noco shock starter. Then, as above . If it starts, an early full service! I have had to start some ‘ driver retired from motoring’ and bereavement cars. With the basic advice already given, you will notice how quickly the vehicle comes to robust life once driven eg electric mirrors starting to work and, as battery charges, stop- start re booting ( unfortunately) but with a weeks use with premium fuel, the car will recover.

Edited by Lester H on Wednesday 1st October 19:37

[hidetheelephants]

I'd skip the WD40, it won't do much of anything.

[vaud]

Add some fresh fuel, couple of litres.

[Triumph Man]

CraigyMc said:

baconsarney said:

Advice so far is remove plugs, spray each cylinder with wd40, leave for (time) the spray each cylinder with engine oil, then turn over by hand before putting plugs back in and firing up . Any thoughts or suggestions guys

Full beans straight from cold. This is no place for the weak.

This. Leave it with a brick on the throttle pedal whilst making a brew.

[Watcher of the skies]

Take the plugs out and crank over for a minute or two first to build up some oil pressure.

[gotoPzero]

What car?

[GeniusOfLove]

Watcher of the skies said:

Take the plugs out and crank over for a minute or two first to build up some oil pressure.

If you're going to do that you might as well squirt a bit of oil down the bores and leave it for a while.

I wouldn't bother though if it's anything vaguely modern, I'd start it up and let it run and see how badly it runs and if it runs but could do with fresh fuel I'd drive it to the petrol station.

[RustyNissanPrairie]

Disable the fuelling circuit, remove filler cap,crank engine over on the starter. Repeat till oil is seen through the filler cap.

Replace fuelling circuit fuse, start engine.

[gazza285]

Anything you put in the cylinders is going to end up in the cat.

Just start it.

[vaud]

gazza285 said:

Anything you put in the cylinders is going to end up in the cat.

Just start it.

Poor cat.



Had to spell it backwards as gen AI doesn't like me feeding petrol to cartoon cats.

[CraigyMc]

vaud said:

gazza285 said:

Anything you put in the cylinders is going to end up in the cat.

Just start it.

Poor cat.



Had to spell it backwards as gen AI doesn't like me feeding petrol to cartoon cats.

Lortep for cats. Great marketing.

[hidetheelephants]

You should confuse it by asking for a can of benzole or more generically motor spirit.

[vaud]

hidetheelephants said:

You should confuse it by asking for a can of benzole or more generically motor spirit.

It's pretty "smart" and rejects most chemicals. It will accept a cat rejecting benzene:



Or one accepting dihydrogen monoxide... (which it detects is a parody)

[InitialDave]

It's quite common for engine management systems to have a cutout where if you apply full throttle on cranking, it'll dry crank without fuel or spark.

Worth checking if your car does, then you can crank it to ensure you get oil pressure before firing up.

[DonkeyApple]

baconsarney said:

Advice so far is remove plugs, spray each cylinder with wd40, leave for (time) the spray each cylinder with engine oil, then turn over by hand before putting plugs back in and firing up . Any thoughts or suggestions guys

If it's the chimp, just crank it a bit with the leads and fuel off. Get some oil up into the engine.

Next thing to consider is how you left the fuel status and where the car has been stored. If left topped up and in a dry garage then next to no concerns, if left almost empty and in a garage that sweats then you probably want to at least pour in some fresh fuel.

Ultimately, you can just fire it up and it'll be fine but it makes sense to do the basics, especially getting some oil around the engine.

[dhutch]

If it where mine and in normal condition when parked, I would probably just start it with the throttle at idle, and just avoid reeving it for the first 30 seconds.
If it was easy (ie not coil on plug) I might pull the coil pack feed or main HT lead and crank for 30 seconds to build oil pressure before firing.

As said, I wouldn't spray any wd40/deiseal down unless its seized, and adding oil risks hydrolock and or fouling the cat if it has one.
The bores and bearing will still have a thin film of oil on them, I doubt 2 years in materially worse than 2 weeks in this instance.

Also, whats the car?