Restarting a Dormant C5
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
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Restarting a Dormant C5
Helping a friend with a C5. It been sitting for about a year outside. Any things to be concerned about other than the normal stuff like putting some oil (Marvel Mystery oil) in the cylinders hand crank the engine a little before attempting start-up? Stabilizer was added to the fuel so we're hoping that there's no problem as far as fuel delivery goes.
Drifting
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,694
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From: Denver, NC
Personally I wouldn't pull the plugs to oil cylinders - you'll only end up with broken ignition wires.
If you're concerned about building oil pressure just disable fuel and crank it with the starter. Turning it over by hand won't build any oil pressure. If you have any damage it's there now - turning it over by hand isn't going to do anything less than just cranking it. The time to oil the cylinders was when storing it a year ago with fogging oil.
Also as an aside - many people turn engines over by using the crank bolt. Depending on the engine you can end up with a broken off crank bolt because some applications aren't meant to have that kind of stress on the bolt. Just food for thought as you work on other engines in your travels.
If you're concerned about building oil pressure just disable fuel and crank it with the starter. Turning it over by hand won't build any oil pressure. If you have any damage it's there now - turning it over by hand isn't going to do anything less than just cranking it. The time to oil the cylinders was when storing it a year ago with fogging oil.
Also as an aside - many people turn engines over by using the crank bolt. Depending on the engine you can end up with a broken off crank bolt because some applications aren't meant to have that kind of stress on the bolt. Just food for thought as you work on other engines in your travels.
Last edited by Ed Ramberger; Nov 30, 2017 at 09:04 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2017
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From: North Georgia, USA
I'd pull the fuel pump relay (to disable fuel delivery) and depressurized the fuel rail at the Schrader valve. Then, I'd crank it with the starter for a 30 second burst, waiting 3 minutes between bursts, until I see oil pressure on the gauge. Then, put the fuel pump relay in and you're good to go.
When doing an oil change, I do that to get fresh oil in the system after the oil change, before firing the engine up. Alternatively, for an oil change (or for now), you can disconnect the crank position sensor, to prevent ignition, or pull the ECM fuse that energized the ECM and the coils, if it will still crank with that fuse out.
When doing an oil change, I do that to get fresh oil in the system after the oil change, before firing the engine up. Alternatively, for an oil change (or for now), you can disconnect the crank position sensor, to prevent ignition, or pull the ECM fuse that energized the ECM and the coils, if it will still crank with that fuse out.
Last edited by C6_Racer_X; Nov 30, 2017 at 09:19 AM.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 641
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From: Chandler Az
I'd pull the fuel pump relay (to disable fuel delivery) and depressurized the fuel rail at the Schrader valve. Then, I'd crank it with the starter for a 30 second burst, waiting 3 minutes between bursts, until I see oil pressure on the gauge. Then, put the fuel pump relay in and you're good to go.
When doing an oil change, I do that to get fresh oil in the system after the oil change, before firing the engine up. Alternatively, for an oil change (or for now), you can disconnect the crank position sensor, to prevent ignition, or pull the ECM fuse that energized the ECM and the coils, if it will still crank with that fuse out.
When doing an oil change, I do that to get fresh oil in the system after the oil change, before firing the engine up. Alternatively, for an oil change (or for now), you can disconnect the crank position sensor, to prevent ignition, or pull the ECM fuse that energized the ECM and the coils, if it will still crank with that fuse out.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 4,786
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From: North Georgia, USA
I wouldn't know.
I also usually fill the new oil filter with oil before installing it, provided the placement of the filter allows for that.
My general rule, after an oil change, is I don't run the engine (with spark and fuel) until there's oil in all the bearings. I crank without spark and/or without fuel until I see pressure on the gauge, or until the idiot light goes off if that's all it has.
I also usually fill the new oil filter with oil before installing it, provided the placement of the filter allows for that.
My general rule, after an oil change, is I don't run the engine (with spark and fuel) until there's oil in all the bearings. I crank without spark and/or without fuel until I see pressure on the gauge, or until the idiot light goes off if that's all it has.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 641
Likes: 126
From: Chandler Az
I wouldn't know.
I also usually fill the new oil filter with oil before installing it, provided the placement of the filter allows for that.
My general rule, after an oil change, is I don't run the engine (with spark and fuel) until there's oil in all the bearings. I crank without spark and/or without fuel until I see pressure on the gauge, or until the idiot light goes off if that's all it has.
I also usually fill the new oil filter with oil before installing it, provided the placement of the filter allows for that.
My general rule, after an oil change, is I don't run the engine (with spark and fuel) until there's oil in all the bearings. I crank without spark and/or without fuel until I see pressure on the gauge, or until the idiot light goes off if that's all it has.
No problems here
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Stella, North Carolina
I believe if you press the throttle to full wide open before you press start , that will shut of the injectors and turn the engine over, just let off the button before letting off the gas. It works on my C6...
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Team Owner
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From: At the beach in little Rhody
A year isn't that long. Just fire it up. Do you think dealers and other places go through this with a car sitting for a long time? Heck, motorhomes sit for months on end in dealer lots and they fire right up. Unless you suspect there has been a water intrusion into the motor fire it up then change the oil.
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1 year isn't that long a period of time. I've started old Corvettes that have sat alot longer with no heroics. Fresh gas and a battery charge and turn the key. That's all I would do.
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From: Guinness Its whats for B'fast JAWGA
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If I did anything special I would disconnect the harness to the injectors turn it over for a few seconds, reconnect and fire it off.
Last edited by 93Polo; Dec 1, 2017 at 08:49 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Stella, North Carolina
Isn't that what the flood start procedure is? Hold throttle wide open before turning over the starter ,will shut of the injectors? Engine will spin without firing? Am I wrong on this?
Team Owner
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From: Guinness Its whats for B'fast JAWGA
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I was basically priming the motor as everything has drained to the pan. You could pull the fuel pump fuse but I am always hesitant that I actually found the correct fuse. I believe you can trace the wires and disconnect the injector harnesses under the hood relatively easily on all C5s.
Last edited by 93Polo; Dec 1, 2017 at 09:10 PM.
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Wonder what happened? The OP hasn't been back on since the morning of the post.
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