Spring Startup Question - Priming with a Push Start
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 271
Likes: 19
Spring Startup Question - Priming with a Push Start
Hi everyone,
I have what may be a silly question but I want to ask to be sure - maybe someone else is wondering too.
I am about to take my C6Z out of winter storage and want to make the first start a little easier on the engine. Normally, any time I start a car with a key, leaving the key in the on position for a few secs allows the fuel pump to prime and then I start the engine. Obviously this procedure doesn't happen the same way in the C6 due to the push start.
When I hold the ACC (pushed down), I don't hear any fuel pump priming - is it just quiet on these cars or not happening at all, as I suspect?
I figure the least I can do is make sure the fuel pump is primed before hitting the start button, but I'm not entirely sure how to do it with this car.
Can anyone shed some light on this?
Thanks in advance.
Anthony
I have what may be a silly question but I want to ask to be sure - maybe someone else is wondering too.
I am about to take my C6Z out of winter storage and want to make the first start a little easier on the engine. Normally, any time I start a car with a key, leaving the key in the on position for a few secs allows the fuel pump to prime and then I start the engine. Obviously this procedure doesn't happen the same way in the C6 due to the push start.
When I hold the ACC (pushed down), I don't hear any fuel pump priming - is it just quiet on these cars or not happening at all, as I suspect?
I figure the least I can do is make sure the fuel pump is primed before hitting the start button, but I'm not entirely sure how to do it with this car.
Can anyone shed some light on this?
Thanks in advance.
Anthony
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 14,475
Likes: 785
From: Las Vegas NV
You can hold the gas pedal to the floor and it will crank without starting. I don't see the point though. Most people want to do this to prime the oil pump, not the fuel pump. Just start the car. Everything will get circulating within a second or 2.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 2,157
Likes: 244
From: carlisle pa
There was just a thread a week ago on this and you will find different opinions just like wax and tires... I did notice that mechanics and engine builders for the most part, including mine, suggest building some oil pressure and getting the oil on everything before firing. I do the 20 second gas pedal to the floor and push button for five seconds two or three times. Even with various opinion's, that extra minute spent, "could" prevent damage on a cold start and I think its worth it...
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 10,459
Likes: 1,749
From: North Texas
There was just a thread a week ago on this and you will find different opinions just like wax and tires... I did notice that mechanics and engine builders for the most part, including mine, suggest building some oil pressure and getting the oil on everything before firing. I do the 20 second gas pedal to the floor and push button for five seconds two or three times. Even with various opinion's, that extra minute spent, "could" prevent damage on a cold start and I think its worth it...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 271
Likes: 19
Thanks guys - I was not aware of the gas pedal technique so I'll take a closer look into this. I agree with the opinion that if it *might* prevent additional wear and tear, why not when it is easy to do.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 877
Likes: 102
From: TX Hill Country
I have a 2008 Z51 A6 base coupe and holding the gas pedal to the floor and hitting the push to start button results in the car starting and running very rough.
The pedal is all the way to floor and won't go any further. Any ideas on why mine will start and run rough?
The pedal is all the way to floor and won't go any further. Any ideas on why mine will start and run rough?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 2,157
Likes: 244
From: carlisle pa
Are you holding it to the floor and leaving there for 20 seconds? Do not release pedal when you push the ignitor switch...
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,079
Likes: 98
From: York PA
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 877
Likes: 102
From: TX Hill Country
I saw this procedure in the Tips and Trick thread. It doesn't say anything about holding the pedal to the floor for 20 seconds.
I tried your suggestion of 20 seconds and the engine just motored over and did not start. I also tried it for 5 seconds with the same result. Motored and no start.
Thanks for the info.
I tried your suggestion of 20 seconds and the engine just motored over and did not start. I also tried it for 5 seconds with the same result. Motored and no start.
Thanks for the info.
Last edited by PDsVettes; Apr 9, 2015 at 04:36 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 11,048
Likes: 3,390
I'm not sure if it's only my car or Maybe just cars with the dry sump but my car cranks slightly longer than any other car I've owned.
I say another second. Maybe 2 seconds longer.
I thought it was normal so the engine can prime itself with Oil. My car only has 6k miles so I don't think it's abnormal. Car drives perfect.
Unless something is wrong? Lol
I say another second. Maybe 2 seconds longer.
I thought it was normal so the engine can prime itself with Oil. My car only has 6k miles so I don't think it's abnormal. Car drives perfect.
Unless something is wrong? Lol
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 2,157
Likes: 244
From: carlisle pa
I saw this procedure in the Tips and Trick thread. It doesn't say anything about holding the pedal to the floor for 20 seconds.
I tried your suggestion of 20 seconds and the engine just motored over and did not start. I also tried it for 5 seconds with the same result. Motored and no start.
Thanks for the info.
I tried your suggestion of 20 seconds and the engine just motored over and did not start. I also tried it for 5 seconds with the same result. Motored and no start.
Thanks for the info.