Sitting Three Years - Ready to Try Starting

OK-944 · 11-23-2010, 05:33 AM

I'm just about ready to try restarting my 85.5, which has been sitting for just over three years, and want to run some "pre-starting" ideas by this forum.

I'd earlier dropped and resealed the engine top to bottom. All fluids refreshed. Siphoned out old gas. Had quite a time determining proper oil to run but have already put in Mobil 1 (synthetic) 10W40. Arguably should have used 5W30 to allow oil to re-lube the engine better, but what's done is done. Any comments on this are still welcome.

What I'm thinking for initial startup is that I'll pull the spark plugs and pour about a tablespoon of engine oil into the top of each hole, leave the plugs out and disconnect the coil wire from the distributor cap, pull the fuel pump relay from the relay box, and crank the engine...first by hand a few times, then with the starter for about ten seconds, then again for 20 to 30 seconds, to get some oil flowing around and hopefully to see some oil pressure on the guage.

Assuming I get oil pressure, I'll check around for any initial leaks, then put in the plugs, plug in the fuel relay, and try starting up the car. If it starts, I'll let it idle for about 30 seconds and shut it off and again to check for leaks/smoke (aside from smoke created by oil burning off above the pistons where I'd dumped it earlier). I also will carefully check the connections at the fuel rail (although they look great, I'm a little nervous about these). I'll have my fire extinguisher handy!

If all is well, I'll restart again and let the car warm up a bit, enough to allow coolant to circulate and (hopefully!) cooling fans to come on, and will monitor the gages to see if the cooling system is being effective. I'll then watch the engine, paying attention to seal areas (especially above the exhaust headers) to make sure that there are no leaks. I've also left the upper belt cover off so I can watch (and listen to) the belts.

If all is still well, I'll try turning the steering wheel from lock to lock a few times, to recharge the power steering. At this point I'll also back the car out of the garage and try driving it around a bit - although slowly as I have not yet bled the brakes. I live on a very quite street so this should be no problem. I'll check everything again while the car is still running, then just after shutting off will loosen the coolant bleeder screw on the upper water neck to let any trapped air escape (I'll likely need to do this a few times). If all is well, I'll bleed the brakes and start looking for new tires.

That's about all I can think of. Have I missed anything? Thanks!

matthewb · 11-23-2010, 05:38 AM

Where has this thing been sitting? Just get in and start the thing up. If the engine has been sitting there com/plete (spark plugs in and everything) just start it up and there won't be any problems. Changing the fluids was obviously a good idea but I don't think oil in the cylinders or any of that stuff is needed.

jpk · 11-23-2010, 08:03 AM

I second the above sentiment. It probably wouldn't hurt to pull the plugs and DME relay and crank it until you get oil pressure, but other than that, I'd just fire it up.

wild man · 11-23-2010, 08:11 AM

You might should have maybe jumpered the FP relay to flush out old fuel in the lines and rail. Besides that, I think you have everything covered. It will probably need to run for a little while before all of the lifter noise goes away.

OK-944 · 11-23-2010, 12:14 PM

I won't be ready to try restarting until tomorrow...and in the meantime, I'm wondering if I should just try firing the car up.

I just did a short web-search, to find others who'd cranked without ignition in attempt to build oil pressure (sometimes first attempting to prime through the oil feed hole with filter removed, etc.), but to no avail, after which they'd gone ahead and cranked with ignition - resulting in a quick buildup of oil pressure.

Seems like cranking without ignition might not be a reliable way to build oil pressure, and may lead to a false diagnosis of a failed oil pump and/or oprv problems.

I'm now thinking that I'll put just a little oil in the plug ports to protect the cylinder walls initially, hand crank a few times, fire her up and if she catches pay close attention to oil pressure, and if none is indicated shut her down quickly.