STARTING ENGINE

[Guest]

Hi,

What is the correct proceedure/recommendations for starting the engine after a 12 month lay up? Before the lay up, the car had a mini-service, new plugs, filters & oil change etc. When I went down to the body shop, I was told that a "Stag specialist" had told them (the repairers) to be very cautious when firing up the engine, otherwise terminal damage will occur.

Steve

[seaside bill]

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Steve

I'd suggest:

Make sure battery is fully charged and blow up the tyres

Drain/flush outas much of the old petrol out as you can and put in some fresh stuff.

Check the oil in the carb dashpots has not drained away.

Take out the sparkplugs and squirt some oil down each hole - turn the engine over by hand a few times to get all the bores lubricated.

Disconnect the HT lead from the coil, isolate the fuel pump via the inertia switch and crank the engine over on the starter a few times (in short bursts) until you register some oil pressure (or warning light goes out if you've not got a guage).

Reconnect everything and start her up - don't rev it too hard until it's been running for a few minutes.

If you've got a manual check the clutch plate hasn't stuck to the flywheel e.g. clutch wont disengage

Depending on how it's been stored, I'd also be inclined to check the brakes are OK e.g. take wheels off and check operation of calipers/shoes before venturing out.

Finally, after a short run change the oil, coolant and (ideally) the brake fluid.

[steveg]

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Thanks Seaside Bill for an excellent and informative response. I'll keep everyone posted on the progress.

Regards

Steve

[Mark S]

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And if it's a manual, dont press the clutch in when you spin the engine over.

Mark.

[dogsnadgers]

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Errr - why not?

Dave

[Mark S]

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It's a common misconception that depressing the clutch to start an engine relieves the stress on the starter motor, plus, if the car is in gear it won't lurch forward- that's what I was taught many years ago anyway. The truth is that it takes very little effort to turn the gearbox input shaft in neutral.

Depressing the clutch puts a veryheavy axial load on thecrank which is opposed by the front thrust washer.If the engine has been stood for any period of time, any oil will have drained away and this plain bearing will be unlubricated. Putting a heavy load on a stationary unlubricated bearing, then expecting it to perform for a couple of seconds until the oil gets round does the thrust washer and crank no favours.

I'd suggest it is good practice to not depress the clutch to start the engine.

Mark.