Starting a car that hasnt been started in a while.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,746
Likes: 2
From: St. james NY
Starting a car that hasnt been started in a while.
Hey guys,
As some of you know my zo6 sits for about 4 months at a time because I go to medical school in the carribean. Anyway I keep a battery tender on it and always change to fresh oil before I put her away in the garage.
Now my question is when I come back to start it 4 months later should I add some oil so all the parts have some oil on it? I feel that sitting for 4 months all the oil is drained from the engine into the pan and there probably isnt much lubrication. Last time I started her up after a 4 month break I heard some metal rubbing against metal noise for about a second or two which I did not like! It went away and ran fine all summer.
Or is it better that I should tell my brother to start her up every month so she stays properly lubed internally?
Just need some advice.
Thanks guys..
Z
As some of you know my zo6 sits for about 4 months at a time because I go to medical school in the carribean. Anyway I keep a battery tender on it and always change to fresh oil before I put her away in the garage.
Now my question is when I come back to start it 4 months later should I add some oil so all the parts have some oil on it? I feel that sitting for 4 months all the oil is drained from the engine into the pan and there probably isnt much lubrication. Last time I started her up after a 4 month break I heard some metal rubbing against metal noise for about a second or two which I did not like! It went away and ran fine all summer.
Or is it better that I should tell my brother to start her up every month so she stays properly lubed internally?
Just need some advice.
Thanks guys..
Z
Last edited by CraZee ZO6; Sep 24, 2006 at 01:06 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Just come back and start it. Oil pressure comes up quick. If the car is in a moist area like I am (near the ocean) you can also put it in a carbag. This is basically a sleeping bag with the car in it and dessicant to keep it dry. Also put some fuel preservative in the gas as well. I wouldn't occasionally start it, unless you run it good to get up the oil temp, you may do more harm than good.
Just looking in the parts section, here you go:
Carbag for sale
Just looking in the parts section, here you go:
Carbag for sale
Last edited by vettenuts; Sep 24, 2006 at 01:34 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,094
Likes: 53
From: Dunkirk N.Y.
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09
Starting a car that hasnt been started in a while
I asked Mobil Oil the same question and received this answer:
We first recomment that you check with your dealer about vehicle storage. We suggest that starting the car at least once a month would be the best procedure to make sure oil is circulated throughout the engine.
Makes sense to me, although most people say it is not necessary?
We first recomment that you check with your dealer about vehicle storage. We suggest that starting the car at least once a month would be the best procedure to make sure oil is circulated throughout the engine.
Makes sense to me, although most people say it is not necessary?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,707
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles
Originally Posted by Spark 2
I asked Mobil Oil the same question and received this answer:
We first recomment that you check with your dealer about vehicle storage. We suggest that starting the car at least once a month would be the best procedure to make sure oil is circulated throughout the engine.
Makes sense to me, although most people say it is not necessary?
We first recomment that you check with your dealer about vehicle storage. We suggest that starting the car at least once a month would be the best procedure to make sure oil is circulated throughout the engine.
Makes sense to me, although most people say it is not necessary?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
How long to you guys think new cars sit? Starting it and not letting it come to correct temps will cause more harm then good. The car is in NY, starting in cold weather will take a long time to get the oil to temp, let it sit. Four months is no time and will not gum up the injectors.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,707
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles
Originally Posted by vettenuts
How long to you guys think new cars sit? Starting it and not letting it come to correct temps will cause more harm then good. The car is in NY, starting in cold weather will take a long time to get the oil to temp, let it sit. Four months is no time and will not gum up the injectors.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 50,808
Likes: 10
From: Buy USA products! Check the label! Employ Americans
I left mine over the winter with no racing and the noise after 5 months was
No oil and it made some noise. Couldn't have been good and it is in a heated garage. I would start it once a month. Just leave your brother one wheel short so he can't have some fun
I'd pul the coil wires and crank it before starting it after a long shut down.
No oil and it made some noise. Couldn't have been good and it is in a heated garage. I would start it once a month. Just leave your brother one wheel short so he can't have some fun I'd pul the coil wires and crank it before starting it after a long shut down.
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,769
Likes: 147
From: Penfield NY
I'm in Upstate NY so my car gets stored from November through March. I'm on my third C5 and have done the same process each year with no problems. Most important of the things I do to prep for storage is to change the oil and put Stabil in and fill the tank. I never have started the cars through the months they're in storage and I've never had a bit of trouble with any of them come Springtime.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,484
Likes: 20
From: FLORIDA
Originally Posted by C5LOU
I'm in Upstate NY so my car gets stored from November through March. I'm on my third C5 and have done the same process each year with no problems. Most important of the things I do to prep for storage is to change the oil and put Stabil in and fill the tank. I never have started the cars through the months they're in storage and I've never had a bit of trouble with any of them come Springtime.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,949
Likes: 10
From: Monticello MN
Originally Posted by C5LOU
I'm in Upstate NY so my car gets stored from November through March. I'm on my third C5 and have done the same process each year with no problems. Most important of the things I do to prep for storage is to change the oil and put Stabil in and fill the tank. I never have started the cars through the months they're in storage and I've never had a bit of trouble with any of them come Springtime.
(Minnesota, here)Ed
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Originally Posted by C5LOU
I'm in Upstate NY so my car gets stored from November through March. I'm on my third C5 and have done the same process each year with no problems. Most important of the things I do to prep for storage is to change the oil and put Stabil in and fill the tank. I never have started the cars through the months they're in storage and I've never had a bit of trouble with any of them come Springtime.
I have a few friends in Wisconsin that put their car in this giant warehouse over the winter. They dont even see the car until spring
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 770
Likes: 0
Best to leave it untouched for 4 months, rather than starting it up monthly just to let it idle. It will just suck in water from the air but not get hot enough to get rid of it, and it will end up in the oil, which you ALWAYS want to change right before putting the car up for storage.
I had the same idea as John above - Pull all the plug wires, and when you are ready to put the car back on the road - crank the engine over for about 10 seconds - watch the oil pressure gauge to see that it comes up to 40 psi or so. Repeat this a few times. This will get the oil back to all the bearings with out any load on them. Then put the plug wires back on and hit the road. You can also do this after an oil change to avoid running the engine without oil pressure for a few seconds.
Wish I had to go to school on some tropical island...
I had the same idea as John above - Pull all the plug wires, and when you are ready to put the car back on the road - crank the engine over for about 10 seconds - watch the oil pressure gauge to see that it comes up to 40 psi or so. Repeat this a few times. This will get the oil back to all the bearings with out any load on them. Then put the plug wires back on and hit the road. You can also do this after an oil change to avoid running the engine without oil pressure for a few seconds.
Wish I had to go to school on some tropical island...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,512
Likes: 49
From: Franklin IN
Originally Posted by John Shiels
I left mine over the winter with no racing and the noise after 5 months was No oil and it made some noise. Couldn't have been good and it is in a heated garage. I would start it once a month. Just leave your brother one wheel short so he can't have some fun I'd pul the coil wires and crank it before starting it after a long shut down.
No oil and it made some noise. Couldn't have been good and it is in a heated garage. I would start it once a month. Just leave your brother one wheel short so he can't have some fun I'd pul the coil wires and crank it before starting it after a long shut down.
I don't agree with this. If you do this you need to pull the power from the fuel injectors, or you will dump unburned fuel into your cylinders this will wash the oil from the cylinder walls. He is on the right track about rolling the engine over which will push oil through the engine. You just need to find a easy way to diss-able the fuel system. Maybe one of the CF resident experts has a way to accomplish this.
