How should one properly store an engine?

[maveRick]

My engine has not been cranked in 7 months now.

Which leads me to two questions:

1) Other than ensuring the oil level is correct, what other precautions should be taken before turning the crank after say, a year of hybernation?

2) How should one properly store an engine (for one year - and for over a year if different)?

Thanks,

Rick

[Rusman]

in the car or out of the car on an engine stand?

Really, I guess it doesn't matter if it's fully assembled. I guess the best way would be to crank it over a few times once every so often. There's not much you can do to it other than that if it's assembled and/or in the car.

[Traceman]

I would drain out the old oil then store it. When you are ready to bring it back to life I would think you may want put oil back in it and pull the distributor and put a drill on an adapter and turn the oil pump shaft just to get everything nice and wet again before trying to start it back up.

The other thing I would do and it works is hook a shop vac up to the water pump outlet and suck out the antifreeze. This serves two purposes: you will not have to worry about the fluid breaking down and causing rust internally and the other it keeps the crap off your floor when you move the engine around.

[Saleen91]

we could store it under the hood of my car!

[maveRick]

Mine is on an engine stand, but the question was mainly just a generalized question for the tech archives.

[maveRick]

Originally posted by Traceman
I would drain out the old oil then store it.

Okay, now 'why' should one drain out the old oil? What's wrong with keeping the old oil in there (and change at time of start-up)?




Originally posted by Traceman
The other thing I would do and it works is hook a shop vac up to the water pump outlet and suck out the antifreeze. This serves two purposes: you will not have to worry about the fluid breaking down and causing rust internally and the other it keeps the crap off your floor when you move the engine around


Hmm..not trying to argue here, just trying to learn-by-understanding. Doesn't the coolant have corrosion inhibitors in it? If the fluid is gone, wouldn't the internals be more apt to corrode? What other fluids could be put in that wouldn't break-down?



Thanks, Trace.

[Traceman]

Originally posted by maveRick[B]

Okay, now 'why' should one drain out the old oil? What's wrong with keeping the old oil in there (and change at time of start-up)?




Answer:
I actually should have put "change oil" if it is still in your car because you run a greater risk of starting it with out oil. Also make sure to plug and cover any orifice on your motor because I just opened mine up and there was a mess of little beetles in my oilpan that must have got past the paper towels I had stuck in the distributor bore.

I would say you would drain it for the same reason you drain it every 3 months in the car you drive. Over time the oil will break down and solids will seperate and cake up in the bottom of your oil pan especially with no circulation. Plus you will have a hard time getting a good drain on that oil before starting the engine for the first time again.



Rick said:
Hmm..not trying to argue here, just trying to learn-by-understanding. Doesn't the coolant have corrosion inhibitors in it? If the fluid is gone, wouldn't the internals be more apt to corrode? What other fluids could be put in that wouldn't break-down?


Answer:
Corrosion inhibitors hmmmm?!.:D
Well on most any vehicle I have had the inhibitors also lose their potency and corrosion starts to set in after time anyway. That is why you have to flush your cooling system every so often.

On the same note: if you leave the coolant in there it may provide some resistance on the surfaces it is in contact with but keep in mind that it will only be in the low spots so anywater that eventually evaporates out of it will condensate on the ceiling of the passage above where the coolant is sitting and probably increase your chances of corrosion.


You could put this stuff http://www.lubegard.com/automotive/engine_free_eze.html
in your engine oil. I have used it before and it works well for locked up engines.


When I store my motorcycles for the winter I also:

Put fuel stabilizer in a half tank of gas and run it for a few miles to circulate it.

Change the oil.

Add fogging oil.

Put it up on stands to get weight off of tires.

Take the battry out and charge it. This keeps acid from chewing up your paint.

Wash dry and wax it to remove the acid rain and other contaminates from your paint.

Put a car cover on it even if it is in your garage because it WILL become a workbench or shelf guaranteed.



My BS for the day. :)

[Rusman]

If the engine is disassembled, you can always spread axle grease all over the bores and bearing faces. This will keep it fresh for ever, basically :).

It's a mess to clean up, but cheaper than taking the block to the machine shop for hot tanking.

[Zzyzxx]

Hermetically seal it and freeze it to 400 below 0!!!

:D

[Shaggy]

One word cosmoline......... :p

[grass]

on this topic... i have a quick question.

My car hasn't been started for about 1 month now because it's not legal yet and the last time i tried to move it (down the street) i got pulled over.. got real lucky but havn't moved it again..

how long is to long to have the car sit without starting it? if it's going to sit for about 1 more month.. would it be a good idea to start it?

thanks

[Timebomb]

Its a good idea to start it, but you didn't do anything to harm it by letting it sit for a month...no if the motor is out of the car for an extended period of time that's another story.

[grass]

sounds good.. :)
thanks for the info.

[HangNail]

i run my falcon atleast 10 mins a week just to move everything around ... and piss off the neighbors

[Traceman]

Originally posted by HangNail
i run my falcon atleast 10 mins a week just to move everything around ... and piss off the neighbors


Hell yeah. Whether they need it or not.

[HangNail]

=)