Thread: Restarting SIII petrol engine which has been parked up for 3 years

Afternoon All

Some advice pls. I've had my SIII 'Game' parked up for three years, and to my shame I have not turned the engine over in that time. I need to get the vehicle going soon so need to get the engine started.

I would like to minimise the risk of damage on spinning an engine that has been in one position so long. My current thinking is to take out all 4 spark plugs and inject a small amount of diesel into each cylinder and then hand crank it to get some lubrication before I use the starter motor. Does this seem reasonable? Am I being overly cautious?

Thanks for any advice.

Michael

nope, not being overly cautious...

Drain the fuel tank, add fresh fuel, drop the sedimentor bowl and make sure its not gummed up, reassemble prime the fuel pump to the carby

remove the intake horn from the carby, make sure the accelerator pump works, repalce the intake horn after making sure the inlet is clear, if its not using a broad mesh cloth cover the carby intake and secure with a hose clamp or band.

Drain some of the oil, make sure its not got water sitting at the bottom of the sump, remove the rocker cover and pour some fresh oil over the rockers and down the pushrode tubes.

Plugs out, a little bit of oil down the plug holes, turn it over a couple of times by hand to make sure the rings and bearings arent sticking, thatthe rockers move as they should.

wind it over on the starter with the ignition on, the plugs connected and grounded, check the plugs for spark and keep cranking till oil starts to dribble off the rockers.

Rocker cover back on plugs back in and go for a start.