Starting a Engine thats been Sat for 20yrs...?

[DB1380]

Hi all.

Has anyone ever tried this. Think it would be quite interesting.

So, an engine (998) that had been taken out of a car 20 odd yrs ago that was fully running and all ok at the time, any reason why you should'nt give it a good service and Fire it up ?

Ok it might go Bang, but then again it might not..lol. I'd like to see what happens.

[Dearg1275]

Take the plugs out and air filter out and see that mice etc haven’t been making a home in there. If it looks clean squirt some WD 40 or the down the bores and turn it over by hand, if it will. Drain the old oil which will have picked up moisture and refill with a thin 30 grade oil , and Change the oil filter. Take the banjo out of the oil pipe and prime the pump with oil. Rocker cover off and turn over on starter until you see oil from rockers. Then yo can try for real.

Have fun and good luck,

D

[Polarsilver]

My 1300Gt Engine had been standing for 28 years .. the biggest issue was crud in the waterways.

[Daz1968]

I had an 850 that hadn’t been ran for about 25 years, and my 998 Cooper that hadn’t run for about 22 years, as above biggest issue was the waterways,
On the 850 I reverse flushed the block with a hose and removed thermostat, then new oil and filter and turned over until oil pressure up, then it fired into life.
On the 998 I did dismantle it but there was nothing wrong other than the antifreeze had gone solid blocking waterways. Again all flushed out with a hose.

Both had been dry stored

Nothing to lose by trying anyway.

[DB1380]

Fantastic. I thought as much.

This is a 1968 998 Cooper engine that my father in law has. Its been sat in his workshop for 20+yrs if not more.

It turns over at the mo so could be a goer.....Only problem being, ive got a 12hr drive over to France next year to pick it up, but will be well worth it.
Along with the Engine, ive got the Doors, Bootlid and loads of other bits n pieces. Shell was scrapped long ago.

Cheers all, i'll keep you updated.

Dick.

[mab01uk]

Remove plugs, disconnect the coil and crank up oil pressure on starter motor before starting the engine. If you don't get oil pressure doing this you will need to prime the oil pump, see link below.

Regaining Oil Pressure After Long-Term "Mini" Storage:-
https://www.7ent.com/pages/article-rega ... orage.html

[Fanfaniracing]

Hi Dick

Did this serval times and i have been lucky every time. These were very cheap engines for me and two of them are still running today...

Do it as described above: Sparks out, new oil & filter, oil pressure up, new sparks, fuel and go!

Good luck!