Sitting oil

[Va914]

How bad is it to leave oil in an engine for 18 months with out starting the engine. Is the oil that acidic to the engine it will damage things?

Thanks

[maf 914]

I think the problem with oil sitting idle for a long time is that the humidity in the air will condense if the case is cold and settle in the crankcase. How much, i don't know. I don't think new oil will become acidic due to age. Acidity in oil is due to combustion products that sneak past the rings and valve guides.

Mike

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Some of the combustion byproducts that make their way into the oil are acidic. Moreover, moisture will get into your combustion chambers and cylinders, and without any oil on the cylinder walls they will start to rust. The oil is put there when you run the motor, but eventually runs off.

Fresh oil won't be acidic. However, you'll still have the oil running off of the cylinder walls and other wear surfaces. I would let the motor run until the oil gets up to operating temp about once per month. (At a guess, about 20 minutes.) It would be preferable to drive the car at that time, but it is often not practical to do that. If you can't get to the car to start it during its down-time, that can be dealt with but it isn't as good.

Just make sure all of the fluids--oil and brake fluid most especially--are fresh before storage. And it may even be a good idea to change them again at the end of storage...

--DD

[BenI]

I had to store my car in humid Florida in mid-restoration while I went to school for a year. I had just rebuilt the engine. I pulled the plugs, took a syringe and squirted fresh oil into the cylinders. I then cranked the engine a few times to work it around, and put the plugs back in. I checked the cylinder walls with a scope when I returned and found no signs of rust. Engine ran great ever since. Oh, I also had left the oil in the case. I pulled the dipstick and it looked good (maybe not the best test) before I ran the engine, but i ended up running it without changing the oil. Ive also drained oil from 914 engines that had sat for years (like 7-8) and examined and smelled it and it seemed pretty good.

[Joe Ricard]

I had to store my 928 for two years. Fortunately I was able to get it in my mother in laws garage in Arizona. Changed oil ran in around town all day. Put the car up on jack stands for the long slumber. sprayed half a can of WD40 into cylinders installed plugs.
When I returned I pulled plugs used half a can of WD40 spun engine with out plugs (note put rags over plug holes) put plugs backl in changed ALL! car fluids and roled engine by hand three rotations, cranked it up. Fired right up and drove to Mississippi the next day.
OH Yea. back to the point. OIL IS CHEAP! CHANGE IT!
Cylinders get dry Lube them before you crank.