starting engine after 4 months

[ripp]

unfortunately I had an accident 4 months ago, and the car is due to be finished in about 2 weeks. it hasn't been started since and wondered if there is something to know when starting an engine after such a period

 

[JonClioE3]

id just check the battery voltage, quick check of the fluid levels (most importantly oil and coolant), make sure the tyres are upto the correct pressures etc

then just turn it over till it starts, and leave it idling for a while to get everything upto temperature and wait for any bad exhaust smoke to clear, re check your oil level when the engine is hot, then take it for a slow ride around the block.

p.s would be a good idea to be abit heavy on your brakes at first to get them re-bedded in, the disks will be covered in rust and it should free off the caliper pistons should any of them have stuck in.

 

[Beef-Mc]

Pretty sure there was a thread on this before and someone said to crank it over by hand a couple of times IIRC.

 

[Seriosha]

Ehm sorry, with Oil Re-Check i have to disagree! Thin about, when the Motor was running the Oil is spread throughout the Motor, so when re-checking the Dipstick will not show the correct amount because much of it will be somewhere around in the motor! And when the Oil was OK when cold itll be OK after a few minutes too. Unless the Car smokes like hell or so... but then you will know somethings wrong anyway

 

[Phil_hill]

Ehm sorry, with Oil Re-Check i have to disagree! Thin about, when the Motor was running the Oil is spread throughout the Motor, so when re-checking the Dipstick will not show the correct amount because much of it will be somewhere around in the motor! And when the Oil was OK when cold itll be OK after a few minutes too. Unless the Car smokes like hell or so... but then you will know somethings wrong anyway

Wouldn't all the oil find its way into the sump after been stood still? - therefore giving a 'true' reading

 

[LouisQ]

Turn it over by hand or disconnect the coilpack and turn it over first

 

[keg]

just start it up 4 months not do anything my escort engine was sat for over a year and that fired up 1st time once the ignition was set right lol

 

[saltyhair81]

Ehm sorry, with Oil Re-Check i have to disagree! Thin about, when the Motor was running the Oil is spread throughout the Motor, so when re-checking the Dipstick will not show the correct amount because much of it will be somewhere around in the motor! And when the Oil was OK when cold itll be OK after a few minutes too. Unless the Car smokes like hell or so... but then you will know somethings wrong anyway

lol

 

[Russ_16v]

just start it up 4 months not do anything my escort engine was sat for over a year and that fired up 1st time once the ignition was set right lol

Agreed, just check the oil and water, start it, leave it running for a bit, check the levels again and take it for a drive.

mine has been stood up for over 3 months and fired up on first crank

 

[-Leigh-]

Yeh, my 306 was sat for months, I got in it, and had it up to the guvnor in 1st and 2nd to get the oil circulating. Seemed fine. A year or so, you'd probably want to check a few things first though.

 

[Seriosha]

Dont you agree Saltyhair? Or why the lol?

 

[rory182]

My 205 was sitting for 3 months at a time for the last 6 months and the first time it needed a new battery and some coolant, the 2nd time it got an oil change for the hell of it and it started 1st time. Brakes need some bedding in, also check the condition and pressure of the tyres

 

[ripp]

one other question: after the accident I may have lost some brake fluid (I guess since the engine oil level is ok), this I guess means that if I press the brake pedal it will go to the floor right? quite a lot of yellowish fluid was under the car

 

[rory182]

check the power steering fluid too

 

[ripp]

that one seems fine since it's red an nothing red was leaking back then

 

[JonClioE3]

Ehm sorry, with Oil Re-Check i have to disagree! Thin about, when the Motor was running the Oil is spread throughout the Motor, so when re-checking the Dipstick will not show the correct amount because much of it will be somewhere around in the motor! And when the Oil was OK when cold itll be OK after a few minutes too. Unless the Car smokes like hell or so... but then you will know somethings wrong anyway

disagree, as said the oil will have probably found its way back down to the sump, and for the sake of 10 seconds that it takes to check it, could save youself alot of hastle (wouldnt want to be running an engine long thats been sitting for months if it doesnt have sufficient oil!)

 

[Seriosha]

Surely itll find his way back, but that takes a bit time, so what i meant was just dont do a "turn motor off, check dispstick" thing!