I've got a friend that has a Galaxie with a 289 that's been sitting for a couple years. He wants to start it up, but are there any precautions he should take before starting it to avoid any potential damage? It was running fine before he parked it.

[Edited on February 23, 2007 at 11:45 AM. Reason : ]

2/23/2007 11:41:34 AM

at the least, i would reccomend:

1. change the oil/coolant/trans fluid if it's an auto

2. pull the distributor and spin the oil pump with a drill and a tool for a ford.

3. it would also be good to drain the gas tank and make sure it's clean, then add fresh fuel. i usually don't do this though, just add fresh gas to the old and a stabilizer type additive.

there's a few other things you could do if you really want to be cautious, but what i listed are the main things to avoid damage and are good enough for 99% of cars that have been sitting.

expect it may need to have the carb rebuilt after you get it going, especially if it's had gas sitting in it. at the least it'll probably need a tune.

2/23/2007 11:50:28 AM

not so much precautions as much as work that will need to be done to make it start - were any fluids in it when he parked it?

2/23/2007 11:52:14 AM

cool, thanks for the suggestions.

^ yes, all the fluids were in it when he parked it.

2/23/2007 11:55:14 AM

We put marvel mystery oil in the plugs on an old inline 6 ford truck and it cranked right up after sitting for about 10 years.

2/23/2007 2:19:52 PM

^yeah, that works good if you've got a motor that's siezed.

2/23/2007 2:21:44 PM

i have actually heard it was good to put a little oil in the cylinders if the car has been sitting, but didn't really find a credible source to back it up.

2/23/2007 2:21:49 PM

it wouldn't hurt to put a little in the cylinders. it doesn't do a whole lot though, unless you're trying to free one up.

the point of turning the oil pump is to oil everything before you start spinning parts.

[Edited on February 23, 2007 at 2:24 PM. Reason : .]

2/23/2007 2:24:05 PM

taking the said precations is a good idea if you plan to drive it all over the place but those cars are bullet proof, and if you just want to start it up and move it a couple feet you dont need to do anything but make sure the fluids are full and ther isnt like sand in the block or some shit

yeahitis weird but i had a friend that someone did that too, ruined his whole motor

2/23/2007 2:38:35 PM

actually, everything i mentioned applies for just starting and/or driving it. you can easily destroy major engine parts by not doing at least the first two things i mentioned, i don't care how "bulletproof" it is.

2/23/2007 3:04:34 PM

disagree except maybe the oil pump step

if the fluids are that bad off from sitting all that time and have potentially seized components up, changing them out aint going to do a thing for it, if it is gone it is gone no matter how new the fluids are

each to his own

2/23/2007 3:16:10 PM

it's not really a matter of opinion though. i'm not recommending changing fluids for siezed parts, it's the damage that can occur cranking/running the vehicle.

it's fact that fluids attract moisture when they sit. gas tanks rust. it's a fact that contaminated fluids (oil/gas) can cause engine damage. it's fact that no oil on internal rotating parts leads to failure.

[Edited on February 23, 2007 at 3:39 PM. Reason : .]

2/23/2007 3:38:07 PM

point is the car has sat for 2 years assuming it has never been started during the time... the parts that are in that engine covered in fluids or not, will rust if it was not in a controlled envoirnment (even then they will rust)

the cylinder walls..... they are rusted, every damn thing in the engine is rusted, yes changing the fluids can help. but you are telling me that it is going to stop contaiminets such as built up rust from possibly damaging your cylinder walls (or anywhere else for that matter) and not create grooves that may lead to lost compression? or something else

the only 100% fact is that no engine should sit that long without being started, any engine that does sit that long is going to be a great risk to have damage done to it when started (changing the fluids or not).... yes fluids changes could potentially help but by no means will solve your problem completely

the only sure fire thing to do to make sure that you do no damage to that engine at that stage is to completely tear it apart before even cranking it over

where is/was this car located anyway?

like i said each to your own, i have started up a bunch of cars like this and never had any problems, if something is going to go wrong it is going to go wrong but generally in those engiens it usually doesnt

[Edited on February 23, 2007 at 3:52 PM. Reason : ]

2/23/2007 3:47:33 PM

no, even taking the precautions i mentioned there's still the chance of damage happening after it's cranked, and the chance that damage has already occured.

doing those few simple things will greatly reduce that chance though. it doesn't make any sense to increase the risk over a few bucks and a little time.

your main concerns starting an engine that's been sitting are bearings, cylinder walls, and the fuel system.

2/23/2007 3:59:41 PM

i think the car has just been sitting in his driveway all this time.

2/23/2007 4:00:20 PM

^^agreed

^like where, this the mountains? low lands? Lots of mositure around? shade? covered and by what? Nc? Arizona?

all these things can play a roll into the amount of mositure building that takes place on any part of the car

either way he is running a risk, thats why i am glad my parents have my car, my dad drives it during the summer and keeps it running during the winter

[Edited on February 23, 2007 at 4:08 PM. Reason : ]

2/23/2007 4:06:05 PM

he lives in garner. not covered, and not in any shade i don't believe.

2/23/2007 4:39:55 PM

holy fuck guys whats going on here i would just come in there throw a set of damn jumper cables on and drive that bitch back drop it off at juffy lube the next day.

its only been 2 years

2/23/2007 4:51:17 PM