If vehicles aren't used.....

**Robbo** · 17-10-2010, 09:32 PM

If a vehicle has been standing, unused, for a few years, is there a possibility of engine damage? Such as seal's drying out and needing replacement, in the motor and gearbox etc. I know that air con compressor's dont like it.

Cheer's.

**ozbox** · 17-10-2010, 09:38 PM

it depends on the environment they are left in..i have purchased many cars that have been left to sit..i usually make sure the motor is not seized and then use a remote fuel can with fresh fuel and start them..if they start and run then look at the brakes and work it from there..if the seals are rooted you will soon find out..:shifty:

**agr071** · 17-10-2010, 09:38 PM

I just bought a car off a member of this forum, which had been sitting for about 2 1/2 years.
I started it and ran around in it for a fortnight before changing oil (and coolant) and have had no drama's at all.

**ozbox** · 17-10-2010, 09:47 PM

yeh but thats coz im good with stuff...

and technically it had been driven for 2 years in 6 years of sitting and it had been a few times between starts...longest would have been close to 2 years maybe a bit more..

**agr071** · 17-10-2010, 09:48 PM

:shifty::shifty::shifty::shifty:

**adam perth** · 17-10-2010, 11:43 PM

never leave them sitting with the handbrake on, otherwise you will have a battle to get it off. and brake shoes will stick.

i have found with motors that have sat for say 5 + years, the lifters bleed off and take about 1 hr of running before they pump up again and work correctly.

autos that sit tend to dry out and take about 10 km to start shifting properly again...

**ozbox** · 18-10-2010, 09:26 AM

turbo 350 and 400 boxes do not like to sit..they always drop there guts on the ground.

**Epic_Dragon** · 18-10-2010, 09:36 AM

a 253 went into my car before the engine in there at the min, it had been sitting around for 11 years. car had rusted around it. and engine looked very dirty. but it was a very smooth runner. soon as it went in mine and was all plumbed up, and a minor service, started very easy

i also tried to destroy that engine before it came out, my old trimatic died. but the engine lives on! it liked doing circles in the paddock! it did however have a lovely leak from the sump gasket.

**ozbox** · 18-10-2010, 01:23 PM

one of the best ive had was years ago when i was wrecking everything with wheels...bought a xj6 jag that had 308 t400 and a hit in the front,the bonnet had been taken off and they had put a blue tarp on it.that was ok till the tarp rotted away and then someone stole the aircleaner lid and it rained for weeks..this 308 was full to the top of the carby..we drained the oil/water sludge..poured 10 litres of kero back down the carb to clean out the sludge,pulled the plugs and filled the bores with wd40 and let it sit a couple of days..we then gently back and forthed with a big bar and socket on the harmonic balancer bolt/crank and unseized it..we then just drained all the kero and more sludge,replaced it with oils,gave it new plugs etc and it started..once the smoke had cleared we ran it for a while and then changed the oil again and then sold the car to a regular customer..that motor kept going for years...old style cast iron motors can take a heap of abuse compared to the newer all alloy which will corrode away while you drive them if you dont have a good earth...

--- Updated ---

Originally Posted by Epic_Dragon

a 253 went into my car before the engine in there at the min, it had been sitting around for 11 years. car had rusted around it. and engine looked very dirty. but it was a very smooth runner. soon as it went in mine and was all plumbed up, and a minor service, started very easy

i also tried to destroy that engine before it came out, my old trimatic died. but the engine lives on! it liked doing circles in the paddock! it did however have a lovely leak from the sump gasket.

when our bush bashers would no longer drive,if the motors were still running we would put bricks on the go pedal and sit back and wait for them to blow up..it would generally take at least 30 minutes before a rod came out the side or something else exciting happened..:Texas:

**Epic_Dragon** · 18-10-2010, 05:28 PM

wow they r pretty tough!!!! that would have been loud doing that LOL!!! it was very fun attempting to kill my old engine. was impressed it was ever faithful and wouldnt die. ill have to upload the video of the effort. silly trans letting the whole team down.