It may sound like a dumb question, but how exactly is our motor affected by sitting for 18 months? I know its been turned over monthly, but I wouldn't think that would make any difference since it hadn't been running. I'll be parting out a '93 in the next couple of weeks, and I need to know if I'll have to sell the motor as running or as in need of a rebuild. TIA,

-BN

 

It'll be fine. Put a little oil in the plug holes and fire it up.

Jeff

 

if the same gas has been in there i wouldnt go racing it around on year and a half old gas... try and get a new tank of gas before you drive on it too much... but i guess if youre selling, then its no big deal

 

replace the fluids before starting and try to prelube the motor before firing it up.....check for leaks after start-up...depending on storage environment you could find some deteriorated hoses etc....

 

Check fluids, change plugs, check battery (sometimes cells die), if you had gas in it, you can get a fuel stabalizer that will remove the water and any other contamination. Run it out then fill it back up.

Only real problem is the fuel (that and anything else that might be brittle from the storage).

Good Luck, these cars don't like being stored too long without starting.

 

This is a good time for my question... I am moving to HI for 6 months and, sadly, my car has to stay... with weekly startups and let it run for 5-10 min. How do you guys think it will hold up?
Thanks
Catlin M

 

itll be fine....maybe a drive around the block also...and try not to leave too much gas in the tank...it goes bad...

 

I wouldn't have it started every week. I'd probably have it started every 2-3 weeks instead, hopefully driven for at least 10 miles.

Fill the gas tank up, air in the tank allows condensation to build up. 6 months isn't really that long, you won't have a problem, especially if the car is in warm California.

I think people tend to think thier car is special or extra high performance if you have to do a bunch of stuff to it to store it. If the car sits for an extremly long time, especially outside problems pop up with brakes (rusted rotors, water in the fluid corrodes calipers, etc), wiring issues, corrosion in the cooling system, etc. People have said in other threads that apex seals "dry up". Uh, no they are made of cast iron.

Truth is that new cars sit on the boat for weeks without being run on the trip over from Japan. Then they get here and sit in the port for more time.

Jeff

 

Thanks for the replies.

In that case, I have a Pettit Street-Ported motor, with roughly 15k mi on it that has been sitting for 18-24 months, and turned over monthly. Let me know if you're interested,

-BN

(no--I don't yet know what it's worth--I havn't had time to research it--it's finals week, and I'm already loosing enough sleep--I'll let everyone know)

 

Holy ****! I will buy your engine from you in June... Lets make a deal! I wont have much use for it until then with my moving and all, plus the need for all my funds right now.
Let me know,
Catlin M

 

I would echo what Jeff said and add more detail: put some oil in each rotor, and then crank it for about 30 seconds, with the plug wires removed (so it won't fire). Make sure you mark the wires so you can get them back where they belong.

I have some info on storing cars on my site. Go to How-to --> Maintenance.

I just saw an add for these anti-moisture thingies you put in the spark plug holes to keep moisture out of the cumbustion chambers. They screw in like spark plugs, and are filled with a dessicate like those little packets that are packaged with electronics to prevent moisture build-up. Might be worth trying if you are going to store a car for a long period. I think you can get them from Eastwood (http://www.eastwoodco.com).

Cheers,