Starting a car after a year

sgt_doofey · 15-03-2008, 06:07 PM

Well, we'll be bringing the XE home to live in our shed instead of a friends shed next weekend. Problem is that it hasn't been started in over a year.
What is recommended before starting a car that hasn't been started in a while?
We (my brother and I) were planning on changing the oil, coolant and probably petrol before attempting to start it. Anything else we should worry about beforehand?

Also, the car hasn't been moved in that time period as well. Should we worry about the diff and transmission oils as well?

vanman_75 · 15-03-2008, 06:30 PM

i would run it all first then do the things you planned ,sounds like your on to it ,attention to rusty discs ride brakes a few times to make sure they pull you up, they might grab and carry on

JAZSXY · 15-03-2008, 06:31 PM

Oil down the bores mate.

**Silver Ghia** · 15-03-2008, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanman_75

i would run it all first then do the things you planned ,sounds like your on to it ,attention to rusty discs ride brakes a few times to make sure they pull you up, they might grab and carry on

Yes, best to drain the oils when hot. Make sure the brakes arent locked up and work properly. And a little oil down the bores as said.
Would drain the fuel and put new fuel in if possible before starting.
Also turn the motor over several times also to get fuel into the system and let it sit for a few hours before actually starting. This allows the fuel system to soak up the new fuel and vapours so it runs smoother once started.

Kryton · 15-03-2008, 07:34 PM

bit of petrol down the carby (if its a carby model??), fresh battery and start it up.
give it a run and get it to operating temp.
after it cools then you can give it a service.

**Silver Ghia** · 15-03-2008, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davway

bit of petrol down the carby (if its a carby model??), fresh battery and start it up.
give it a run and get it to operating temp.
after it cools then you can give it a service.

Never pour petrol down the carby in carby models, as I've heard too often of people suffering severe burns (including one related to a close work colleague). Dont do it, ever.

Let the fuel go down on its own accord with the air cleaner on.

Windsor220 · 15-03-2008, 08:32 PM

The main issue is going to be having all the oil drained to the sump. Theres going to be nothing to protect it on initial startup. Oil down the bores, maybe take the rocker cover off and pour some over the rocker gear etc.

Other fluids can be changed later on.

JACK250 · 15-03-2008, 08:36 PM

Get some aerostart or something like that, put in the the carby before you start it and it should make things a lot easier.
Last year we started up my old man's Oldsmobile for the first time in two years, using aerostart, made things a lot easier, (and a battery pack to get it cranking quicker). Ran fine after that except for some tappet noise

XR6_190 · 15-03-2008, 08:38 PM

There's a good chance you will probably need a new battery

fmc351 · 15-03-2008, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

Never pour petrol down the carby in carby models, as I've heard too often of people suffering severe burns (including one related to a close work colleague). Dont do it, ever.

Let the fuel go down on its own accord with the air cleaner on.

What? The last thing he wants to be doing is cranking and cranking while it pumps enough fuel up, you want to get oil flowing as quick as possible.

How much fuel do you think you "shouldnt" be puring down the carb? A cap full for a 6, maybe one and a half - two caps for an 8 dumped on the closed throttle butterfly and turn the key with your hands away from it, probably need to do it a second time. The only way youd get burnt is if you poured a heap down the throat, poured fuel froma can while cranking and it carb backfired. Even if does carb backfire, it wont be like a raging inferno anyway and is easy to put out with a clean rag, as long as your not pouring it while cranking. Have a mate turn the key while you stand next to the motor, after dropping fuel in the carb.

**Silver Ghia** · 15-03-2008, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fmc351

What?

How much fuel do you think you "shouldnt" be puring down the carb? A cap full for a 6, maybe two caps for an 8 dumped on the closed throttle butterfly and turn the key with your hands away from it. The only way youd get burnt is if you poured a heap down the throat, or if it carb backfired which isnt like a raging inferno anyway and is easy to put out with a clean rag. Have a mate turn the key while you stand next to the motor.

Thats how my colleagues brother got badly burnt, on his whole face and arm, not just his hands. I'm just saying if you're not quite sure what you're doing, its best to play safe as the consequences are considerable.

The method you give here will help avoid accidents but I wouldnt stand close when the engine is being cranked

Kryton · 15-03-2008, 10:01 PM

pour a touch of fuel down the carb.
walk back to the drivers seat and turn the key.
its pretty bloody simple.

mik · 15-03-2008, 10:14 PM

carb might need some attention , accelerator pump, gasgets dry out, fuel bowl might be full of crap, see how it runs.

**Captain Stubing** · 15-03-2008, 10:17 PM

I'm interested in this thread, as I'll be collecting a car in a couple of months that hasn't been started in 10 years.

I was thinking of damage to the cylinder walls, maybe from rust between the rings and the cylinder walls. I was thinking about spraying RP7 or WD40 into each cylinder to help break that seal.

The engine/gearbox/diff oil change, plus petrol change is a given.

fmc351 · 15-03-2008, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

Thats how my colleagues brother got badly burnt, on his whole face and arm, not just his hands. I'm just saying if you're not quite sure what you're doing, its best to play safe as the consequences are considerable.

The method you give here will help avoid accidents but I wouldnt stand close when the engine is being cranked

I stand next to the car, not in the engine bay

Kryton · 15-03-2008, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fmc351

I stand next to the car, not in the engine bay

"check this out.....you can see all the way down the carby!"

fmc351 · 15-03-2008, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davway

"check this out.....you can see all the way down the carby!"

"its like an airport, theres both planes and jets".

**Silver Ghia** · 15-03-2008, 10:50 PM

Not really sure what the funny side is to ending up in a hospital burns unit for several months, losing income during that time and ending up with financial difficulties.

See last bullet point in this link:
http://www.burnfoundation.org.au/Con...trol-Fires.seo

**aussiblue** · 15-03-2008, 10:53 PM

Redx rather than just engine oil down the bores and leave in soaking for half an hour.

**Captain Stubing** · 15-03-2008, 10:54 PM

There are issues with how carbies can be primed, but the original post was asking about what problems might arise, when starting a car that has been sitting for awhile.

Kryton · 15-03-2008, 10:56 PM

whos laughing at the burns victim?
tell me again how you could possibly set fire to yourself if your not standing near the engine bay.
maybe it would be safer if the car never ran, that way it could never crash either.

**Silver Ghia** · 15-03-2008, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davway

whos laughing at the burns victim?
im laughing because your making it out to be a much bigger deal than it really is.
no one said you had to stick your head in the engine bay did they?

I didnt say that.

Kryton · 15-03-2008, 10:58 PM

so..........
back on topic then.

fmc351 · 15-03-2008, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

Not really sure what the funny side is to ending up in a hospital burns unit for several months, losing income during that time and ending up with financial difficulties.

See last bullet point in this link:
http://www.burnfoundation.org.au/Con...trol-Fires.seo

When I said cap full, youre aware I didnt mean a baseball cap full right? A cap (mower fuel tin lid size) full of fuel wont set you on fire. If the car burns to the ground, or there is an "explosion", then something else is wrong, and the cap of fuel had nothing to do with it.

For your mate to have been burnt severely, he would have to been pouring fuel into a hot engine from a can or jar, or cranking while pouring from a can. Either that or he threw handfuls of petrol at the carb from a distance and it took a while to get some in.

Like I said, a cap full, keep the can away from the thing, youll be fine.

**Silver Ghia** · 15-03-2008, 11:11 PM

As I was saying before, if one doesnt know how, then dont do it. I was pointing out the potential danger.

With the type of people on this forum who make fun out of a potential danger, and that actually happens frequently, I wont be wasting any more time here.

Goodbye.

cowboy · 15-03-2008, 11:13 PM

I have started a few cars after 5+ years. I use a little diesel down the bores, penetrates better than oil. Leave for a while, small amount of petrol down the carb, walk back to ignition and crank! Easy and safe. People only get burned when they are leaning over looking down the barrels or using the good old palm of hand choke.

Be careful with aerostart, it's designed for trucks and tractors, can do serious damage to petrol engines if not used sparingly.

Krytox · 15-03-2008, 11:20 PM

just crank the bastard, its only year.

otherwise...
stale fuel, old oil, mouldy brake fluid, its an XE! it'll love it.

Run it, take it for a gentle spin up the street give it a fluids birthday.

After that, go over it like a lesbian in jail.

Krytox · 15-03-2008, 11:29 PM

ohh another thing about the fuel in the carby, never do it with a mate.

assumption is the.. well you know,

Seriously If you don't know what your doing or how much fuel to put in, and your under the engine bay whilst someone is at the key... You shouldn't be doing it plain and simple.

Me personally would remove the plugs, wet the bores, prime the oil lines (via sender hole) or most prolly cranking with no plugs. with a final charged 900cca battery until i kill the starter or bring it to life. after thats its fair game, blow out the cobwebs.

bodes-sh · 15-03-2008, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowboy

Be careful with aerostart, it's designed for trucks and tractors, can do serious damage to petrol engines if not used sparingly.

lol, it's not even good for trucks sometimes, i've heard a story of someone trying to start a truck at some stage, someone cranking it while the other spraying aerostart into the inlet, long story short, cracked a piston lol

LUXO_8 · 15-03-2008, 11:49 PM

we pulled the plugs on my ea, turned it over to get some oil up, put new plugs leads dizzy coil in, and it runs perfect, it had been sitting for well over a year. was a little sluggish due to crap fuel i would imagine, but otherwise its great.

a year is nothing really, just get some oil up first