how long can a engine sit for?
 

I have a 91 N/a where the trans swap is taking longer then expected. I picked up a 90 miata to DD for now. But how long can the fc engine sit for before something bad happens?

As long as the engine is kept in a protective state in a protective environment, it should be able to sit forever...

Well, i have engine and others trans back in the engine bay and the car is covered. Just sitting on my lot for now.i was just hunting down a different mount for the rear trans. Finally got it but waiting for the rain to pass if it rains like they said it would.

put some oil in the chambers and spin it every few weeks and it should keep forever

My engine has been sitting on a stand for about a year and a half. I squirt a small amount of oil into the exhaust ports and turn it over by hand a few times on a regular basis. As long as you keep it from drying out and rusting, I'd imagine it can sit indefinitely.

Before you start it, pull the EGI fuse and crank it for a few seconds to get the oil flowing again before it starts. I'd probably shoot a little oil into the combustion chambers right before starting too, just to be safe.

I just started mine after it sat for 4 years.

Okay
Well it's only been about two weeks. Just not sure when i will get to mount it. Thanks for the info guys.

Mine sat for 2 months after I blew up a transmission and had no problems. The first rx7 I got had sat for 3 years, turns out was a bad fuel pump(owner abandoned the car). Throw a pump in and starts up after topping off fluids, smoked like hell at first but after that was ok.

9 and a half years wasnt a issue for me

Wow. Getting a lot of awesome feed back! As for putting oil in the chamber, how do i do that? Never done it before. Is it just through the exhaust exit of the engine? And spin it from there?

Also 9years....holy cow!

yup, oil in the exhaust or in the intake runners, and then duct tape the ports shut.

Mine sat for about a year or two with the PO, he kept oil/mmo in it and when I finally got it started it smoked like a bitch for an hour or so then it chilled out.

mine sat for 3 years outside before i bought it. it started right up and i drove it home although by the time i made it all the belts were falling to pieces....lol

i bought a car that sat in a yard outside uncovered since 1995. 12a engine, had it running good in 2 hours after cleaning the carb.
i had to dig the car out of the yard with a shovel, engine had 114 miles on it.

Wow. Lots of help. Thank you guys. I have new belts waiting to be placed in. :)

^
I'd defnitely take this advice.

I would never let an engine sit 3 months, 5 years or whatever, without lubing and cranking it by hand... Especially if I am going to put it into my vehicle for reliable transportation/enjoyment.

the seals will take abuse from sitting but it is unavoidable.

engines do a have a shelf life... but it is close to 20 years if everything is new and lubricated adequately and kept away from humidity.

Sick.

I should note mine was a fresh build caked in assembly oil.

How much oil should I put in the chamber? And what should I use to place it in?

I use fogging oil when I put the turbo into storage. I remove a vacuum line, have someone crank it, and spray the oil. A good heavy spray bogs it down and keeps it from firing up, so I don't even have to cut fuel or spark.

Cool.good to know. I will be trying to get the oil in sometime. This week to spin it.

put oil down the oil filter pedastal center hole too. keeps the bearings oiled. or so im told

sta-bil,the same ones that make the fuel stabilizer that you use when storing vehicles/boats,makes a fogging spray for this very purpose,thats what i would use

on another note,ive heard that if a rotary sets for a long time with a seal compressed against the housing then it will weaken the spring,so it would be a good idea to relube and turn the motor over frequently anyways..