How to Start a Vehicle After Long Term Storage - DIY

[@Megalocade]

I do this with my Mr2 turbo, it goes away in the winter, when summer comes round I do what you do, though I drop 3 or 4 drops of engine oil down into each cylinder then crank it over without plugs, injectors and ign relays disconnected, then hook it all back up, I then manually trip the fuel pump to get the fuel flowing into the rail as it saves on extended cranking and knackering the starter and battery, it always fires instantly, just got my motor back on the road after 5 years laid up still started beautifully.

[@joshuasimpson3751]

Hey, you should do a short video on your process with the MR2! I just bought an MR2 that had been in storage for a year. I'd really like to see your process in action! Thanks

[@Goldenaxebeats]

@@joshuasimpson3751agree!

[@aboutmyfathersbusiness8324]

When you sprayed the lube, you probably washed all the rocks and garbage collected around the plug into the cylinder. Yikes. Also I think it's easier to remove the injector fuses.

[@6thGearGarage]

Just make sure you use one of those long straw tunes on the nozzle like the one I had and put the end in the spark plug hole 👍

[@aboutmyfathersbusiness8324]

@@6thGearGarage yep or before dousing, use a air hose and blow out all the contaminants for security.

[@jeffbeerkens5286]

With a subaru you just need to unplug the crankshaft sensor under the alternator to prime the oil pump 👍🏼👍🏼

[@6thGearGarage]

Good tip!

[@whome5810]

What does unplugging the crankshaft sensor do? I have a Subaru Legacy Spec B 3.0 that has sat for a couple of years! Thanks.

[@jeffbeerkens5286]

The crankshaft sensors the crankshaft to computer and that unplugged wont start the ignition. So unplugged try running it for 10 seconds and it should have oil circulating and than plug it back in and run it with new oil than should be less harmful on first start up

[@Defyant204]

I was going to say it would be a real pain if I had to pull out the sparkplugs on mine ahaha

[@AlexKasper]

If the car is manual transmission, would pushing the car in first gear for a few meters be an alternative to put lubricants inside the cylinders ? Not pushing the car too fast that the engine starts but just enough that it doesn't fire.

[@6thGearGarage]

I think that pushing the car in gear would be very difficult because you're fighting the compression of the engine. Even if you could push it, it would be similar to cranking the motor without letting it fire up, just a lot more work and would take longer because the oil pump would be rotating slower.

[@XtheeU]

What should I do if the cars gas tank was left pretty much empty, drain the 1 gallon of old gas, and then put fresh gas in? Or just top it off with fresh gas should be okay?

[@6thGearGarage]

I think you could do either, depending on how long it has been sitting. If you add 5 or more gallons of fresh gas, it should dilute it enough to be fine. Also fuel injected cars seem to be pickier about running on old gas than a carburated car. I've ran some realy old nasty gas in my carb trucks, but had old gas cause issues in a fuel injected truck.

[@SpartanA31xx]

Great video. Do you crank the engine with the spark plugs completely out?

[@6thGearGarage]

Yes you can do it either way. Plugs out will eliminate compression, so it will crank very easily.

[@Moocow444]

Would I be fine to just disconnect spark plug wires then do this? Or best to unplug the fuel injector clips also?

[@6thGearGarage]

It really depends on the type of ignition your vehicle uses, but most should be OK. Unplugging the injectors is also a good idea so you're not dumping fuel into the cylinders.

[@Moocow444]

@@6thGearGarage it’s a Bmw e30 but that makes sense thanks for the reply

[@Moocow444]

Can I just unplug the fuel fuse?

[@6thGearGarage]

@@Moocow444 That will also work

[@theperson2939]

Hey noob question but instead of unplugging injectors and coilpack, could I just unplug the ECU so the fuel system wont work?

[@6thGearGarage]

Yes, That should work for most vehicles👍

[@EJR20]

I have always wondered, does the cranking without starting procedure still not move the internals just as it would when it starts? I’m looking for a way to prime the motor before even cranking.

[@6thGearGarage]

Yep, any time the engine is rotating, the oil pump is spinning, sending oil pressure throughout the engine. Not as much pressure as when the engine is running, but still enough to send some oil through the engine.

[@EJR20]

Hey man! I have a 2009 Audi A4 that has been sitting and not been started since about April 2023. Apart from the obvious battery, what should I expect to discover (potential oil leaks from dried seals?) I had a motor overhaul in April 2021 most parts including the cylinder head were replaced so the head gasket and such seals only have a couple thousand miles on them. The tires were also brand new, did you find any flat spots on your tires? (I assume the car was stationary during the 8 months of storage, mine definitely is.) Therefore what should I inspect and do before I attempt to even let it crank with the fuel pump fuse or injector harness pulled? Also apart from spraying lubricant inside the cylinder, what else can I do to prime this engine better? I left it with a full tank of gas, added some Stabil Fuel Stabilizer in April 2023. Would the gas need to be drained?

[@6thGearGarage]

A little over 1 year should be no problem. for most of the things you mentioned. I would definitely pull the plugs/coils and lubricate each cylinder. If there is a way to crank the engine without fuel/spark on your audi, go for it. If not, I would just check all fluids and give it a go. Gas maybe fine with Stabil after 15 months. If it's running poor then the gas may be bad and need drained. Tires should be good, just check the pressure to be sure they didn't lose any air.

[@EJR20]

@@6thGearGarage I’ll definitely pull the spark plugs in order to prime the cylinder walls then. I’ve read that if you pull the fuel pump fuse it should crank without starting, but I’ve also read that since it has gas in the fuel lines, sometimes that enough for it to actually start with the fuse out and die after a few seconds, and it actually makes sense. I’m looking for a certain way to crank it without starting, would it be pulling the spark plugs, injector harnesses, or what?

[@6thGearGarage]

@@EJR20 I'd think If the pump doesn't prime, then there should not be enough pressure left in the lines for it to start after sitting for 15 months. As a double measure, you could also unplug the coil packs or pull the spark plugs if it has them.

[@EJR20]

@@6thGearGarage that is true, I’ll be sure to pull the fuel pump fuse before installing a new battery to ensure it doesn’t prime the lines. I should be with the car early September, I’ll report back.

[@nitinbhugun2181]

Would it be possible to crank the engine by removing the ignition coil fuse in the fuse box instead of unplugging the coils?

[@6thGearGarage]

Yeah, that's actually the easier/faster way to do it if you have the room to access the crank pulley.

[@nikolajstarvids9047]

Hey guys i need help,so my car has been sitting for more then six months end I have a little amount of gas in gas tank,what should i do before starting my car?

[@6thGearGarage]

What kind of car do you have?

[@nikolajstarvids9047]

@@6thGearGarage I have Honda civic 1991 ED6 hatch... 😊

[@sebastiandelbasto5820]

Same here, for a 2001 Ford Laser 1.6. Left it 5 months and has a dead battery

[@6thGearGarage]

@@nikolajstarvids9047 I just saw this... my 92 had a drain plug on the fuel tank, maybe your 91 does too: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYW9YqmPeqidd8k

[@6thGearGarage]

@@sebastiandelbasto5820 Not surprised at the dead battery. I'd try charging it first before buying a replacement. As for the old fuel, check the bottom of the tank for a drain plug.

[@leopoldocasita7825]

How about for diesel engine?

[@6thGearGarage]

Sorry, I can't offer any advice on that, as I've never owned a diesel.

[@leschaelli9485]

It's like a service not a work doing replacement ( fix)?

[@history5889]

If the car runs 20 kilometres in 20 days then the battery will be down. Or not

[@6thGearGarage]

It really depends on a number of factors. Battery age and health, temperature, rpm of engine while driving.

[@history5889]

@@6thGearGarage If I start in 7 days then the battery will be down or not start engine only 10 min

[@6thGearGarage]

The battery should last longer than that. The battery is either weak, or not being charged properly/enough when engine is running, or there’s something electrical causing the battery to slowly drain.

[@mindbodyandsoul81]

Hey man great vid, im worried about my Mercedes ML 63 amg its been parked in my garage for 7 months while ive been overseas. I know I never topped the fuel to the top , I had a oil change done not to long before i parked it. But how screwed am I ? do you think aot of components would be dried up by now? should i get few jerry cans and put new gas in before i attempt to start it? and should I get it serviced right away and not just driven it around as normal. Im freaking panicking . Its been stored in a garage not outside

[@6thGearGarage]

7 months isn't really that long/bad at all. I would just follow the stops in this video and the gas might be old now but you could add some fresh gas in the tank if it is low and that will help.

[@bjornironsides6474]

It’s fine. Cars can sit for more than a year and no harm done

[@cdn5535]

Jeeze, it’s only been 8 months. You could have skipped all of that and just started it. It would have been fine.

[@eduardogamez2661]

Really? I have a mustang too that’s been sitting for 6 months and I fear that upon starting it, it may get the pistons to scratch the cylinder walls

[@cdn5535]

@@eduardogamez2661 your fear is real. But the reality is that it would probably be fine.

[@eduardogamez2661]

@@cdn5535 in the end everything went very smooth, just replaced some filters and added new fluids before startup

[@heroknaderi]

Thanks I enjoyed it

[@turbinatorlou]

Hello there sir. Until now I’ve never dealt with an over head cams engine. 4V 2015. The engine has just over 1k miles and did an oil change a few weeks before it finally had to go into hibernation for soon to be 5 months. My worries aren’t just the cylinder walls but also the cams. I’ve been searching for some info on the web and haven’t really come up with anything on startups of this engine. I see yours is a 4.6 OHC so I’m thinking this would be the same procedure less “coil packs”. Please correct me if I’m wrong. Thanks

[@6thGearGarage]

turbinatorlou I have seen ohc engines sit for years and develop very slight rust in only a few tiny areas on the cam lobes- hardly noticeable. I would think that our engines would be ok over winter, but for a piece of mind, you could unbolt the valve cover and spray the cam down with some fogging/storage oil. Removing the covers is more labor on newer vehicles than older vehicles. I imagine that might be why most people don't bother.

[@turbinatorlou]

6th Gear Garage Gotcha thank you. The covers on these are actually pretty simple. Great idea though. I’ll go ahead and pull those off so I can blast them cams with oil spray. Thanks again sir much appreciated

[@TheZeusQ8]

Should I do this if my car has been sitting for only 6 months?

[@6thGearGarage]

Yeah, 6 months is about the amount of time that my vehicles sit through winter. You could also spray fogging oil into each cylinder before storing them and then there's no need to lubricate the cylinder walls/piston rings after sitting.

[@mudassar34]

Hi there nice video wish I saw this first...got a BMW and Volvo that won't start but I think the prime part is too late for me now but I ain't getting any fuel what else can I do? I've put unleaded in the Volvo. The BMW is showing quarter tank

[@6thGearGarage]

If it’s not getting any fuel, the fuel pump may have seized or the wiring could have been chewed by mice while in storage.

[@mudassar34]

@@6thGearGarage hi thanks for your reply...funny or shd I say not so funnily enough I saw large mouse droppings on the top of the Volvo engine. Also I hear no action from the pump under the rear seat although it is a bit weird as there is no wiring going under there. On the other hand the BMW pump under the seat does seem to have a strong buzzing sound maybe it's out of fuel although showing quarter tank but in my experience BMW gauges aren't reliable especially when nearing empty. Should I take out the pump or add fuel.

[@6thGearGarage]

@@mudassar34 I'd add a little fuel first since that's easiest. Are you sure you're not getting any fuel pressure? You can always loosen the banjo bolt fitting going to the fuel rail to check for fuel pressure after cranking the engine. Put a rag under it, fuel should spray out.

[@N3wbMa5t3r]

You don't need to do any of this... Siphon gas from tank, change the oil, and make sure battery is working...

[@Moocow444]

Why would u start ur car w a dry engine

[@andreaphillian3947]

@@Moocow444your comprehension skills are top notch, change the oil means the engine isn’t dry. We drive modern cars & not 1976 trash trucks. My Kia will start with no oil

[@Garymayo]

Blowing rust into the cylinders

[@aloysiusjones3985]

Gary Mayo, that is exactly what I thought. 🇦🇺

[@Erick-fs3km]

I left my car sitting in another city for two months with the tank full because I thought I could be back soon, but I won't go back until another month. How do I start it if my battery probably discharged?

[@6thGearGarage]

You could buy a portable jump pack for under $100. It's like having jumper cables but a fraction of the size and you don't need another vehicle to jump from.

[@calebgooding5298]

Can I disconnect the coil pack and the fuel pump and turnover the engine do I still need to spray fogging oil in the cylinders

[@6thGearGarage]

You can, but the fogging oil will really help lubricate the piston rings if it has been sitting for a long period of time (6+ months). Or if you sprayed the cylinder with fogging oil when putting the car away, then the cylinders should still be lubricated and you shouldn't need to spray them again, unless it has been years.

[@6thGearGarage]

RumbleYoungMan Rumble yes engine oil is fine to use. Just spray some into the threaded spark plug hole. Any way to stop the fuel from entering the cylinder works, including disabling the fuel pump, injectors, or on some cars unplugging the ecu.

[@6thGearGarage]

A heated garage is the best place to store your car if you have cold winters. It's the fluctuation from cold to warm over and over in late winter/early spring that can cause condensation on metal parts and that can eventually lead to rust.

[@6thGearGarage]

@ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΣ ΦΛΩΡΟΣ Yes I spray into each hole, but no I did not use dielectric grease.

[@mindbodyandsoul81]

How screwed am I?

[@b3ngxtrralb3ngco-leader91]

I have a 2012 chrysler 300c hemi and i have no clue what to do Its been sitting for about 4 months o.O Plz help

[@6thGearGarage]

4 months isn't too long. How much fuel is in the tank?

[@b3ngxtrralb3ngco-leader91]

@@6thGearGarage almost full o.O

[@b3ngxtrralb3ngco-leader91]

@@6thGearGarage should i just try to start it up or is that risky?

[@theperson2939]

@@b3ngxtrralb3ngco-leader91 did you add fuel stablizer?

[@b3ngxtrralb3ngco-leader91]

@@theperson2939 nope, it started 1st try

[@andreaphillian3947]

Typical old car, newer cars don’t need all that prepping