[oldtimebaseballfan]

If an engine has sat for 18 months does it need to be pre-lubed before start up? Will the engine turn-over slower if it is not pre-lubed? The car has been kept in a controlled temperature garage. I turned the harmonic balancer 90 degrees once a week.

I recently sprayed Marvel Mystery Oil in each spark plug hole and spun the engine over.

 

[pborsari]

Hi Tim,
Definitely pre-lube it. Mine wasn't started for a whole year (I turned it over a few times), so I squirted some Mystery oil in the cylinders, turned the engine over again and put new plugs in. fortunately for me, it started right up on the second try. I was very lucky since I hadn't planned on it being off the road, and didn't use any gas stabilizer. I did change the oil after it started.
Paul

 

[oldtimebaseballfan]

Thanks Paul. These projects don't always come together as quickly as planned.

 

[badrad]

I would recommend spinning the oil pump will a drill adapter to ensure a well lubed assembly. This is a prime opertunity to wipe a bearing.

 

[BillK]

Tim,
Is this a new engine that has never been started ? Or one that was run before and has jsut been sitting ? If it was run before, make sure there is fresh gas in the tank and start it. I have had cars sit several years and not had a single problem just getting in and starting them up. By the time gas gets to the carb, it will have oil pressure just from cranking it. I dont see any difference between one sitting over the winter and one that sits for a year or so. Think about all of the boat engines out there. They all sit for 6 months every year. How many of those guys do you think go out and preoil them each spring ? None that I know of.

Just my opinion,

 

[oldtimebaseballfan]

Bill, this is an engine that has been in the car. It has sat for 18 months. It is not a new assembly.

I will drain the tank and put in new fuel.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Bubba's 69]

You shouldn't be too worried about it.. A year and a half won't bother it.

Mine sat for 11 years. I squirted some motor oil in each cylinder, changed the oil and filter, and cranked it over till I got good oil pressure. Then I hooked the power to the dizzy and fired it up. I also ran mine on 50:1 premix for the first tankfull.

 

[kettbo]

New fuel, and get one or two fuel filters.
Take the current one and toss it.
You will have more problems with fuel and battery than engine oil.

 

[PCB67SS]

Tim,
Is this a new engine that has never been started ? Or one that was run before and has jsut been sitting ? If it was run before, make sure there is fresh gas in the tank and start it. I have had cars sit several years and not had a single problem just getting in and starting them up. By the time gas gets to the carb, it will have oil pressure just from cranking it. I dont see any difference between one sitting over the winter and one that sits for a year or so. Think about all of the boat engines out there. They all sit for 6 months every year. How many of those guys do you think go out and preoil them each spring ? None that I know of.

Just my opinion,

X2 .....As Bill mentioned I've been doing this with my boat for the last 12 years. I always crank mine and watch my oil pressure come up before pumping the throttle levers for any gas.

 

[novaderrik]

change the oil, dump a coupleo f gallons of fresh gas in the tank- and some i nthe carb- and fire that sucker up and check for leaks or funny noises.
no leaks or noises= ready for a nice mellow drive around the block.

 

[oldtimebaseballfan]

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Dandydynodon]

I put my Elcamino in storage in 2005 when my Dad passed away,just didnt have the heart to drive his car. I moved it home this spring by trailer expecting to work on it a while to get it going all I did was put pri in the fuel in 2005.....when I got it home I put plugs, points, and condenser as well as wires. I called a buddy to set the dwell I turned the car over and it started......!!!:hurray:couldn't believe it. Just cant kill the old stuff!!

 

[Keith Tedford]

A few years ago I disassembled a 327 that had sat for several years. There was still lots of oil on the bearings but the cylinder walls were bone dry. With a fresh engine or one that has sat all winter, I fill the fuel bowls with the 50-1 two stroke gas oil mix, like mentioned in a post above. At least that way the cylinder walls get some lubrication at start up and the plugs don't get fouled. It seems to have worked for me over the years. If you are used to pulling the distributor, it is pretty straight forward to prime the oiling system. Can't hurt.