hello,

any tips on starting up an rx7 that hasn't been run in a few years? its just been sitting and was given to a friend of mine. its an 88 non turbo with 80k miles on it. it should run, it just hasn't in awhile.

thanks


p.s.
good god i hate that server busy message...

 

anything at all guys? someone recommended lubeguard to me, anyone heard of it?

sheesh, less than a day and my message is buried...

 

Squirt some motor oil (about a tablespoon on each rotor) and TURN OVER BY HAND.&nbsp Use a 19mm socket and crank the engine clockwise on the alternator pulley.

Change ALL FLUIDS - this means coolant, oil, AND gasoline.&nbsp This should also cover brake fluid and clutch fluid, if applicable.



-Ted

 

if it doesnt start, do the ATF trick, I just got one started the other day that sat for a year or so.

 

heya RETed, sorry to be a bother but when you say
what do you mean exactly?

and J-Rat, what do by the ATF trick you mentioned. i looked for it but didnt find anyone going over what it was or entailed.

sorry guys, newbie here.
thanks for the help

 

i don't know guys... if its been sitting for a while... and it wasn't stored properly... you might have rust devloping on the rotor or any part of the internal engine...

it might have been seized... i would crank it by hand to make sure the apex seals are seized to the rotor housings though

 

To clarify what Ted said:

Remove the bottom spark plugs one at a time, and squirt about a tsp of motor oil into each hole. Then use a 19mm socket and breaker bar to rotate the engine clockwise.

This restores compression to the rotors (rotaries use oil by design to build compression), so it'll be easier to start.

The ATF trick is basically the same thing as above. The difference between ATF (Auto Tranny Fluid) and regular motor oil is ATF helps break down carbon in the rotor housings.

Try the motor oil first. If you can't get the engine to turn by hand, squirt a tsp of ATF into each of the lower spark plug holes and let it sit overnite (so the ATF has time to work), then try hand cranking or tapping the starter the next day.

If it starts, it's gonna smoke like a chimney for awhile. Let it warm up for 10-15 min, then shut it off and change/flush ALL fluids and your plugs (they get nasty from the ATF). Then take it out for a spirited drive to blow all the ATF and excess oil out.

Hope that helps....and good luck!

- JB

 

Like Taranis said...

Two ways to do this.&nbsp Expensive it to buy a "mechanics syringe" that allows you to draw and inject fluids.&nbsp This is normally used for gear oils and trans fluid changes.

Cheap is to get a hose enough to fit into the spark plug hole - use the leading (lower) one cause it's bigger.&nbsp Carefully hold the hose in the spark plugs hole (after removing spark plugs) and pour the oil down into the hose - it helps to have two people doing this.



-Ted

 

You could use one of those things you suck snot out of babies noses with. I'll need to try the ATF trick for my car is badly flooded.