How do you start an engine that has been sitting for a long time?

Answer 1

the same way you start an engine that you used yesterday. However, if it doesn't start as it should, then you have to deal with whatever problem is preventing it from starting. I am going to assume the engine was in a car. I'd be surprised if the battery is any good at all, sitting this long, it's plates have probably sulfated so badly it isn't likely to take and hold a charge. If you do try to recharge it, make sure the cells are covered with DISTILLED WATER & try recharging at a very low rate, say from 2.5 to 6 amps. It may take 4-5 days to brake down the sulfates & recharge at this rate, but I doubt the battery will be any good, having set unattended this long, so I'd plan on a new one. You'll likely need new coolant & heater hoses too, maybe a new belt/s. If this puppy was rode hard, put up wet & none of the fluids were changed before storage, I'd begin with ALL new fluids. Brake fluid, Coolant, Engine oil, Re-lube the wheel bearings, Tyranny lube, Drain the gas tank & the fuel lines, if the old gas is still in there, ya gotta get rid of it. Refill the tank with fresh gas, with 0.4 oz per gallon of Marvel oil mixed in with the new petrol. After you run a tank or two through it, I'd change the fuel filter too. I'd remove the spark plugs & squirt about 4 tablespoons of Marvel Oil in each cylinder & let it sit over night. Then remove the plugs & disable the spark. Then crank the engine for maybe two 15 second periods, (so as not to overheat the starter) to distribute the Marvel oil in the cylinders, build oil pressure & prime the fuel system. Then replace the plugs & enable the spark & start her up. Don't try to roll the car, as the wheel bearings may be welded from all the vehicles weight being on them this long, clean & re lube them first. I don't know what to tell you about the tires, as we don't know under what conditions it's been stored.

Answer 2

Disconnect the wire going from the coil to the distributer cap, turn the engine over for about 30 seconds, then reconnect the coil wire. This will get oil to all parts of the engine before the stress of the engine running is exerted. Do not crank the engine for longer than 30 seconds at a time, and always let the starter rest for 2 minutes after each cranking. If the engine is carbeurated, remove the air cleaner and pour a small amount of gasoline down the carb throat. If it is fuel injected, buy a can of starting fluid and spray a small amount into the air intake. Be patient. Avoid cranking the engine for prolonged peroids of time, do not pump the gas pedal, and always let the starter motor rest for at least two minutes after any cranking over 10 seconds. Have a second car connected to the car you are trying to start, with the engine running. Connect the positive jumper cable to the positive terminals on each battery. Connect the negative jumper cable to the block of the engine that you are trying to start, and to the negative terminal on the battery of the car that is running. Allow the battery on the car that is to be started to charge for about 5 minutes prior to cranking the engine. Rev the engine of the second car up slightly, to engage the alternator.

Answer 3

First, try to drain as much of the old gasoline out of it as possible...CAREFULLY. Add fresh fuel to the tank and also add fuel injector cleaner. Before actually trying to start it, turn the key to the on position a few times. This will pressurize the fuel system(it may take a few tries before it is fully pressurized,,,OOPS!- Change the fuel filter if it is accessible! After you try to pressurize the system a few times that try to start it. There will probably be smoke in the exhaust and the car probably will not run very well until the engine clears some of the "gunk" left there for the 3 years of sitting. Some cars will just start right up like they have never sat but others need coaxing to get going.

Answer 4

Charge the battery ,check the engine oil, clean out the nest in the air cleaner . new battery, oil changed, new spark plugs, full tank of gas from year it sat