Eriedor Posted July 13, 2022 Share Posted July 13, 2022 In the next couple days I'll be starting my K Series which hasn't been started for 7 months and has been empty of fluids for ~3 months.Any best practices I should follow before turning the key? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted July 13, 2022 Share Posted July 13, 2022 Remove the plugs, disconnect the fuel pump (unplug inertia switch ?) And crank the engine until you see oil pressure registered. Then refit plugs, connect switch and start engine. Look for leaks to ensure all ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beagler Posted July 13, 2022 Share Posted July 13, 2022 Be wary of overheating starter motor. A pause for a few seconds will help heat dissipation and wont lose much oil pressure so you can continue till pressure comes up. You may be able to see oil on cams through oil filler with a torch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted July 13, 2022 Share Posted July 13, 2022 Prime the fuel pump a few times to ensure you have fuel pressure and fire it straight up - up will do for more damage cranking it than just starting it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beagler Posted July 13, 2022 Share Posted July 13, 2022 Dont do it. It will run dry for a few seconds till the oil gets round. Oil will have drained back. Engine rebuilds are done with specific lubricants to prevent damage on startup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eriedor Posted July 13, 2022 Author Share Posted July 13, 2022 Great ideas thanks.Question - How do I see oil pressure "registered"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beagler Posted July 13, 2022 Share Posted July 13, 2022 Dont you have a gauge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted July 13, 2022 Share Posted July 13, 2022 Oil pressure gauge ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eriedor Posted July 13, 2022 Author Share Posted July 13, 2022 Ah of course. lolBeagler are you saying don't crank the engine manually or don't just start it up without cranking engine manually? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted July 13, 2022 Share Posted July 13, 2022 who said it had been rebuilt...?so cranking for considerably longer over until you see oil pressure does no damage at all then...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ACFowles Posted July 13, 2022 Share Posted July 13, 2022 Maybe this guy could offer some advice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beagler Posted July 13, 2022 Share Posted July 13, 2022 No one it wasnt was just stood but oil will have drained down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beagler Posted July 13, 2022 Share Posted July 13, 2022 Use the starter with the above suggestions. Ie plugs removed etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted July 13, 2022 Share Posted July 13, 2022 There is no difference to leaving an engine stood for 3 or more months with oil in the engine, there will still be sufficient residual oil film to protect the critical areas once the sump has been refilled and fired straight up.If its running DS even better as the pressure pump will have oil to the pump prior to starting, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beagler Posted July 13, 2022 Share Posted July 13, 2022 Thats one view. After the Morgan I bought a new MX5. When restarting after winter I removed plugs and fuel injection relay and cranked engine till oil pressure came up. Rather listen to Radio 4 than empty hydraulic cam followers/tappets rattling.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerobod - near CYYC Posted July 13, 2022 Share Posted July 13, 2022 My R400D with a dry sump sits all winter (5 to 6 months) without being started. Oil pressure builds just as quickly as when it has been last started the previous day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted July 13, 2022 Share Posted July 13, 2022 It is.... based on knowledge and experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted July 13, 2022 Share Posted July 13, 2022 James,Mine have all been exactly the same Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beagler Posted July 13, 2022 Share Posted July 13, 2022 I believe you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revilla Posted July 14, 2022 Share Posted July 14, 2022 If I've completely rebuilt an engine (so all oilways will be empty and dry, lifters probably deflated, but everything assembled with proper assembly lube) I will always crank it for oil pressure with the plugs out and crank sensor off. Sometimes it takes an absolute age for the pump to start to draw oil up with no pressure showing, but once it does the pressure rises very quickly. If it does take a long time then yes you need to be mindful of overheating the starter motor. The assembly lube will protect it during this process but I'd rather keep the loads on things relatively low until I've got proper lubricant supply.But ...If it's my own car (K Series VVC) and it's been left standing over the winter, I never bother with any of that. As others have said, even if the oil has "drained down" the pressure registers almost immediately, as though the engine was run only yesterday.So long as the oil pump rotors are well wetted with oil it seems to seal the pump well enough to make it draw oil up from the sump very rapidly.And if it's like a K, you'll get rattly lifters for a while whichever way you do it. If it's been sitting for several months with at least one set of valves on each cam on lift (there always is), those lifters will have leaked down and partially deflated. Even if you crank for oil pressure, they can run like a dog for a short time until the lifters settle again. On a K you often also see the opposite problem if the engine has been stripped. As you remove the cams the lifters expand on their internal springs and can draw in a gulp of oil, leaving them unable to allow the valve to close. So long as the valve isn't sitting far enough off its seat to cause clearance issues, again a minute or two of running will settle it but it's a bit alarming to find it running on two or three cylinders when first fired up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob D. Posted July 14, 2022 Share Posted July 14, 2022 There's some great advice in this thread. I'll throw in my two pennies: With my K VHPD+ Emerald. I leave the Immobiliser switched on and crank the engine until I see good pressure. After a winter lay up and in British spring climate, this can be 3-6 seconds. Once you see decent pressure register, turn off the Immobiliser and begin ignition. I understand that the reason to remove the plugs after a lay up is to reduce compression ratio and therefore remove loading on the bearings, but in my personal opinion this is not needed if you believe you have oil film present, which you should have, even after a complete re-build as you would "hand oil" each bearing during assembly.Now if someone can tell me how to predict when I need to replace my main bearings without an intervention - that would be fantastic. RgdsRob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beagler Posted July 14, 2022 Share Posted July 14, 2022 Hi Rob removing plugs just eases load on starter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eriedor Posted July 14, 2022 Author Share Posted July 14, 2022 Great discussion here. Mine is a K series and I think I'll do the pressure pre load by cranking with inertia switch off or immobiliser on as it's not a normal lay up, the engine has been drained of oil for the last 3 months and was standing for ~4 months prior to that. I'm not in a rush so would rather take the time to do it properly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR400D Posted July 14, 2022 Share Posted July 14, 2022 Whatever the benefit, what harm could be done by removing the plugs, spinning over etc? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Lowe Posted July 14, 2022 Share Posted July 14, 2022 Are you saying that you lot are not using pre heaters? Listen to 7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD he is talking sense Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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